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Domain Name

Domain Name

Register Your Domain

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Manage your domain
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Transfer Your Domain with IGV and Save

Transfer your domain name to IGV for only $15.00.

This process will also add one year to your domain registration period!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Domain Lookup and Registration FAQ

What is a domain name?

A domain name is the essence of your company's online identity. It is the address your customers use to find information about your products and services on the web. Domain names allow Internet users to type in a name, such as igvinc.com, to identify a numeric Internet Protocol (IP) address such as 147.202.42.126. The purpose of domain names is to allow users connected to the Internet the ability to find web sites without having to memorize the long, numerical (IP) addresses that actually locate the computers or servers on the Internet. So, in essence, when you register a domain, you register the URL for the home page of your site.
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How much should I have to pay for domain registration?

At one time, companies were able to get away with charging reservation fees plus a "mandatory" $70 InterNIC fee. Recently, it was decided that other companies should be able to compete to sell domain names. This has lowered prices dramatically. IGV offers the following prices for domain registration:


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What extension should I use when I register a URL?

There are many different domain extensions (the letters after the "dot" in the URL - like .com, info, etc.) available right now. If you are a business, we recommend a .com suffix. It is the first extension that most people try when searching for a site and most who try finding you by typing a logical URL manually will usually try a .com extension first. Also, since it is one of the oldest extensions, .com implies to your visitors that your business has been around for a while and has a well established presence on the web.
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Should I register more than one URL?

Sometimes, it isn't a bad idea to check for several similar domain names while you are doing a domain lookup and register those domains if they are available. For example, if you have "yourname.com", you should probably also register "yourname.net" so no one else takes it. You can register your full company and a shorter, easier to remember version.

Some people even register URLs with common misspellings of their company's name. It's a good idea to get these misspelled domain names before your competitor does!
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What characters are accepted for domain registration?

Just a reminder: Domain names can only use letters, numbers, and hyphens ("-"). Spaces and other symbols are not allowed. Your URL (domain name) Cannot begin or end with a hyphen. Domain names are not case sensitive. Domain names ending in .com, .net, and .org cannot exceed 63 characters total. Other domain names cannot exceed 22 characters, not including the extension. When you perform a domain lookup, the lookup tool will advise you if you have entered an unacceptable combination or number of characters.
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How should I go about choosing a domain name?

For help finding a domain name do the Domain Twist. After you do a domain lookup, make note of several available domain names that are available and then consider running them by your friends and/or your clients for an opinion. A name that may make perfect sense to you may be too hard for others to remember. Is your domain easy to say? Is it hard to spell? Do you have to explain why you chose the name? Other factors to consider when choosing a domain name are your branding - your company name - as well as keywords (search terms) that your visitors might be likely to use when conducting a search for your company or its products and services.
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What does it mean to "Register" a URL or domain name?

There is a central registry of all domain names on the Internet. The act of "registering" a domain name means that you are adding it to the central registry and associates you with that domain name for the period of the registration. "Registering" a name means you own it, and no one else can register that exact same name unless and until you let your domain registration expire. That's why it's often a good practice to set up automatic domain renewals in case your forget. Choosing a longer term for your domain registration means you'll have to deal with renewals less often.
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Who should register a domain name?

Anyone thinking about establishing a presence on the Internet should register a domain name. You don't have to utilize it right away, but you can reserve it for your future use. Domains are being registered at the rate of more than 900,000 per month- they go quickly! The longer you wait, the more likely it is that someone else will register the domain you want.
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How long does the process of registering a domain take?

Looking up a domain to see if it is available often takes longer than actual registration, which with IGV's domain application process should take less than two minutes. All registrations take place in real time - once your application has been processed and approved, your domain name is registered and no one else can use it.
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Is it possible for someone to register my domain name after I have registered it?

No. The availability of .com, .net and .org domain names is verified through a central registry system. This system prevents a domain name that is successfully registered from being registered by another person or entity. The IGV registration and processing system updates the central registry in real time. Once your domain name registration is confirmed, no one else can use that URL.
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What methods of payment does Innovative Global Vision accept?

IGV accepts all major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. If you don't have a credit card, please contact our sales department by calling 440.232.3122 (option 1).
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If a domain name is already registered, can I find out who owns it?

Yes. If you do a domain lookup and find out the domain is already registered, use our whois lookup service. This will display the contact information associated with that domain name.
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Who do I contact for additional assistance with domain names or to register a URL?

If you have any questions or comments you can email us at support@igvinc.com or call 440-232-3122 (option 2). Since we incorporate your ideas and suggestions, your comments are always welcome.
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I've got my domain name, now what?

There are many uses for your new domain name. Some people want to have a personal or business website; others want to establish an email address; and still others want to hold onto their domain for future use or for resale.

If you need a website, check out our web design and development page.
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I own a new domain, but when I type the URL I registered into my browser, nothing comes up. Why?

A domain name is not a website. It's simply an address URL) someone uses to find a website. Once your website has been built and placed on the hosting server, your new website will be accessible to anyone in the world to see, including you! Please keep in mind you're your Domain Server Info (DNS Info) must be updated with the name server information for your hosting account. DNS changes take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours to take effect.
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