web site question (building my own, a question about domain names)

[bertha katzenengel]

I want to buy a new domain name - something easier to remember & spell than katzenengel.org. My host tells me the name is available and offered to purchase it for me.

Here's what they wrote me:

"Let me know if you would like me to purchase the domain name and/or set up a domain alias for katzenengel.org, or if you have any other questions."

What's a domain alias?

What I want the new name to do is just redirect people to katzenengel.org. I don't want to scrap katzenengel, but I'm sure no one's going to be able -- or even inclined to want to -- remember it. "Cool name!" I thought, "Way cool name!" :eyes:

Thanks.

Signed,

Clueless

[Duer 157099]

1. I'm confused

First off, if you want the domain name, you might consider purchasing it yourself (GoDaddy.com or something similar). It's easy for your host to set up the redirection thing.

If you don't like the original name, why do you want to redirect traffic to it, rather than just using the new name (whatever that is?)?

[bertha katzenengel]

3. I'm confused too.

I have my new domain name; my host is buying it for me and setting up the redirection.

I want to keep the "cool" name. It means "cats' angel" in German, and my "mission," my moral imperative, is to trap wild cats wherever I can and get them spayed & neutered.

My domain alias will be much easier to remember - and spell.

:hi:

[Duer 157099]

8. Regarding someone "buying it for you"

That could be a bad idea. It's so much better for you to buy it for yourself, UNLESS you are confident that your host is actually putting YOU as the owner. Make sure of that first. Otherwise, you risk them later trying to "sell" you the domain for much more -- I don't know that this happens, I just know that you need to be careful.

Would you allow your realtor to buy your property for you -- like use your money but put the property in their name? I mean, it all depends on what they mean, but just clarify it up front. If they put themselves as the Technical contact or even the Administrative contact, that's probably fine, but make SURE they put YOU as the owner, and make sure you know how to access the domain in case you want to change anything (such as who it is hosted with).

Everything else after that is just technical stuff that's easily managed. You get a web host to host the site, they are everywhere, from Freeservers.com and many others like it.

[REP]

2. Aliasing

First, what the other poster said - buy it yourself. It's cheaper.

Second, aliasing allows you host a domain at one site and point other domain names to that original site. That way you could have your beloved but hard to spell domain but use an easier to spell and remember one to point to it. You would need to purcase both domain names.

[bertha katzenengel]

4. Thank you, REP

:hi:

You said it's cheaper -- my host said they'd buy it for me for $15. ??

[Neoma]

5. 0.o

[bertha katzenengel]

6. ??

[Redstone]

7. Just go to Network Solutions (www.netsol.com).

Register the domain with them, then find a hosting company...Interland and Hurricane Electric are good solid ones. (www.interland.com or www.he.net)

Redstone