IP address

In this article, I will tell you what an IP address is. In addition, I explain what a domain name has to do with an IP address. Finally, I talk about why choosing a domain name is one of the most important decisions you make for your business.

What is it?

IP stands for Internet Protocol and consists of a code. An IP address is recognized by a computer connected to the Internet. Each device connected to the Internet is given a unique IP address. The IP address is used to transport data over the Internet from the sender to the receiver. In addition, it ensures that computers are visible to other computers on the Internet. An IP address consists of two parts. It begins with an identification number of a particular network on the Internet. Following this is an identifier of the device used within the network.(1)

An IP address on the Internet is usually associated with a company or institution. This means that as an Internet user, you are not anonymous. When an e-mail is sent from a company, the recipient can tell who sent the e-mail by its IP address. This obtains data to be used at a later stage.

If you want to have a site as a business owner, then a unique IP address must be created for that purpose. This website address, a domain, is required to put the site online. The domain is associated with the IP address. When you type in a domain name, it is translated into the IP address.

Domain name

As mentioned earlier, the domain name is the name that visitors see. It is a unique name that forms part of the Web address. To illustrate, https://www.ralfvanveen.com.nl. ”www” is the subdomain. ”ralfvanveen.com” is the domain and ”.com” is the top-level domain.

The importance of a domain name

In other words, the domain name is an important part of your website. It is how people recognize and remember you. As such, this is something you need to think about carefully. It is one of the most important decisions made when starting a website. The domain name affects indexing by Google’s crawlers. From this, Google determines the position of your website among the organic results. Usually, the domain name is based on keywords or on a brand name. Choosing a strong domain name can do a lot for your SEO. A domain name can be keyword-specific and brand-specific in nature. (2)

Keyword-specific names initially had a definite impact on your website’s ranking. That is less relevant now. However, the authority of the domain is considered.

Brand-specific domain names are used more frequently. A domain name that is brand-specific is more likely to be remembered by visitors. Also, a brand-specific name promotes brand strength.