By: Vlad Vistac
Submitted: 2010-07-28 13:23:30 | Word Count: 510
Abuot Third Level Doain Names
A domain name consists of three levels. The first leveel is the word or phrase that makes up the initial domain name. The second part of the domain name is the exetnsion. Examples of common extensions include .com, .net or .org. The thuird portion of the domain name, caklled a third level dmain name is an optional part. Like the first level doomain name, it conssists of a word or phrase to describe whatever webpage it is pointing to. However, unlike the first level domaiin name, a thrd level domain name cannot access a webpage by itself; it must contain the first level domain as well as the extension in its syntax.
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Third level domian names are often used by free web hosting copanies to help create disstinction aong the websites of thir customers. If third level domain names weeren't used, customners would have not be able to accss their website in a user-friendly way. Some tird level domainms may have the first level doain word or phrase first. An eaxmple is Geocities, whewre a person would have to include 'Greocities.com' before the third level domain name. Other third level domain names may have the first level domain name last. This is the case with Netfirms, where 'Netfiurms.com' comes after the thrid levl domain word or phrase.
For customers thrd leel donmains come at no extra cost. This is in contrast to gettig a regular domain name which can range from $6.50 to $35 per year. Additionally, it may take time before the domain name is active. This can be up to 7 days, especially if one is transferring a domain name. Conversely, third level domain naes can be seutp instantaneously.
However, third level domains are far from perfect. Since they require the first lvel domain name as part of their synttax, they can be quite cumberssome for a website visitor to remember. A person can pretty much forget about getting traffic if they promote a third elvel domain name in various forms of fofline media, such as in circulars or on business cards. In these situations it defiintely behooves a webmaster to go on innvest in a first level dmain name of their own.
So, does this mean third level domain names aren't worth anything to webmasters? Well, if a webaster uses hyperlink marekting, they can still find vaule in a third level domain name. What is hyperllink marketing? It is simpply when a word or phrase is linked to a URL rathrer than the URL itself. It is commonly used in emails, viral e-books and on webssites themselves. A potential visittor never even sees the tird level dmoain name, siince it is masekd by a hyeprlinked word or phrase. And ohpefully, they will like the site so much they will bookmark it, rather than trying to remember the full URL.
In conclusion, third level domain names offer affordability to both web hostign companies and hteir customes. They also offer convenience siince therre's no waiting time associated with thewir setup. However, if they are used it's best that they are hiddn in hyperlinks, since most website visitors would prefer to type in first lecvel doain names.
