Building a Website Series: Part 2

Make sure to read Part 1 about domain names, because each part in this series will build on the last one. Your first step involved securing one – or more – domains or online addresses. The URL includes more than that, and in order for your clients to find you, they need to know what to put in the address bar.

URL stands for uniform resource locator. More than just your business name (or whatever you called your website), it includes all the letters and characters in order to take your clients to a specific page on the internet. The resource in URL refers to the complete address itself. However, the terms domain and URL tend to be used interchangeably, even though the domain simply refers to a specific sub- component of the overall internet address.

Your actual URL will look like this: https://www.yourcompanyname.com. It specifies a website’s location on a computer network, in addition to a mechanism for how to retrieve it. But your client won’t have to even know about all that if it’s set up correctly. They’ll simply be directed to your company’s online space so they can see, read about, and contact you to do business with you.

What else does a URL do? It points a client/website user to a website (https://). I like the think of the URL as the entire address (like your house) with the postal code. Because usually when I am referring to a URL, I am talking about a website.

 However, a URL can be used can also be used for a file transfer (ftp). Its formatted text-string is useful for web browsers, email (mailto), database access (JDBC), and other utilitarian functions like software. 

URLs can direct someone to a website, a landing page, pdf documents, graphics (jpgs), or programs. It incorporates your company’s domain name, along with other details, which tell the server where to send someone looking for your business. You also use URLs to download information from the web such as files, images, documents, videos, and software programs.

What is the difference between a URL & a domain name?

In short, your url is everything that is typed into the browser bar and your domain is a part of your UR you purchased., Without it, you can’t create a website or branded email address.  Therefore it is very important you protect your domain, which is the main part of the url.

Very important: if your domain is not renewed on time due to any reason, it becomes immediately available for someone else to purchase! And then you can lose your website address! Keep a business credit or debit card for a recurring annual payment plan. You won’t lose your website files per se, but you will lose your url/domain and business branding that is centered around the domain name you purchased.  Make sure to update the credit card, if the expiration date is near, to avoid a competitor buying your address. 

Part 3 of this series goes into domain registrars – what they are, and also why you need them.