Your domain name is your piece of virtual land. You must purchase your own "property" in cyberspace to being construction of your web site. It can't be any simpler and you can buy a domain name as easily as any other product online.

Consider these questions before you begin your quest: why are you interested in your own web site? Do you want a personal area just for your own words? Do you want a professional area for potential employers or a more family-oriented site for relatives and/or community? This is beneficial for decisions later on!

The next step is finding your domain name. Most people are shocked to see how many web names are taken. Before you are overwhelmed by this, consider the number of companies who "invest" in virtual property. There are companies who intentionally buy as many domains as possible and raise the price in hopes someone will pay out extra just because it's the one they want. Unless you really want to waste the money, don't buy into this.

Having some plan or idea prior to searching for your unique property can save you much time. Web names are becoming longer every day. Before, webmasters were encouraged to choose short names that are concise and easier to remember. This practice isn't so any longer.

Take the fictional web site www.sos.com. This could be extremely confusing to potential visitors or customers. This web site could be mistaken for everything from a tee-shirt retailer claiming they, "Sell Only Shirts," to a wildlife foundation titled "Sabrina's Octopus Society," or even a maritime web site titled, "Ships of the Sea."

As you can see, it's best to avoid acronyms for your property.

Let's further the exploration into picking your identity. Consider these two names:

• www.laurawrites.net
• www.lw.net

The first name is longer, however it says much more than the second. For example, let's say you are designing a web site for readers. In this instance, we'll use these two domain names:

• www.books.com
• www.booksandmore.com

A general web visitor may take one look at the top name and assume many things. They may believe your company publishes, that you carry all books, that you simply list books and reviews about them, or that you discuss the technical details of publication. That is a vague term that implies many things.

The second name is much more indicative. It is apparent that you own "books and more." This can be magazines, periodicals, academic essays, and everything else. This would most likely draw in more visitors because web surfers see it isn't limited to just "books." That you may have wares that interest more than just authors and dedicated readers.

Since most of the general domain names are taken, and so many sites are in competition, it's best to give yourself every advantage. Clearly state what your site is about through an effective property name.

Most of the domain registrars, the companies who sell domain names, offer a WHOIS search when you begin the process to purchase your place. A WHOIS is a database listing all domain names. The one you choose will either be free or currently under the ownership of someone else. If your desired domain is currently owned, you have two options. Either wait for the expiration or move on to another name. Since property owners can ultimately continue paying on a name, its better that you move on. Otherwise, you might be waiting ten years or more for a single domain name that may or may not become open.

Your "closing costs," will be your initial purchase of the domain. It shouldn't be more than 10.00 per year. Web sites such as www.GoDaddy.com, offer most domains for around 9.95 per year. Yes, you pay for your domain YEARLY, you can think of this as "taxes" on your property. You pay the same tax once a year. There are several companies offering free domains, however much consideration and research should be conducted prior to accepting such an offer. For the "newbie," it is better to go with an established web site and pay the yearly cost. You can then take advantage of tech support and premium services that can greatly assist in understanding how the web works. Once you have developed your virtual home and learn more of how it works, then you can begin exploring the more obscure services.

When you purchase your property, you must wait a certain period of time for your name to "propagate." This confusing term is really simple. It just means that your information, as owner, needs 24-48 hours to go throughout the internet. It must update on WHOIS lists around the world.

While you wait on your domain name to propagate, you can begin searching for hosting companies.