Clients often get that glazed look when we start explaining the difference between domain names and web hosting. The big guys, like GoDaddy and Network Solutions bundle services such that unless you speak the arcane language of online management, you don't know what you've got.

Always treat your domain name as the asset it is and don't let anyone, including us, own it! Buy it directly from any of the many domain registrars out there, buy it for more than one year and be sure to track your account information and update your email so you get the notice when it is time to renew. (We do offer to record your domain registration information for those clients who are paper and password challenged. We do not, however, renew it for you.)

If you are starting from scratch, we recommend Aplus.net as they have been both reasonably priced and responsive when customer service is needed. If you let someone else buy it, it is worth the effort to get the name transferred to you. Unfortunately, effort is the operative word in that scenario. And, if you want to research if names are available, who owns a name and when a name expires, go to http://www.betterwhois.com/ and enter the name.