A domain name is
an address for the Internet. It helps people find your web site. Just as homes
and businesses have street addresses, all web sites have domain names. The
Yahoo! domain name is yahoo.com.
A domain name is made up of two parts, typically preceded by www. Let's use
yahoo.com as an example:
The first part, yahoo, is a unique name that represents the web site.
The second part, com, is the extension, and stands for "commercial." There are
many extensions available, though .com, .net, .biz, .info, and .us are the most
popular extensions in the United States.
A good domain name helps you in numerous ways.
For Businesses
Add your domain
name to your business card, email signature, and other advertisements.
Build credibility: Show your customers that you have an established business.
Improve your marketing: Provide customers an easy way to remember and contact
you.
Protect your brand: Secure the domain name that best represents your business
name — and keep it out of the hands of your competitors.
For Consumers
Describe your site
as best you can with your domain name. For example, a pair of amateur magicians
might use their stage names, some combination of words including magic, or the
name of their most famous trick.
Keep these tips in
mind as you select your domain name.
Your domain name should reflect your business name or the topic your site will
cover.
It should be a unique and concise name that is easy to say, remember, and spell.
You can use only letters, numbers, and hyphens in your domain name. Spaces or
other symbols are not allowed.
If your first choice isn't available, try rearranging the word order, adding
hyphens, or using abbreviations or locations to come up with a unique
alternative.
Once you have a domain name, you need a web site! Luckily, you came to the right
place. It's easy to add Yahoo! services that help you build a full web site or
open an online store.
source: http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/domain-name-basics
