Before purchasing domain names, there are a few rules you should be aware of. There are a number of different domain extensions that should be used appropriately. These extensions are intended to notify others about the type of site they are viewing.

.biz extensions are to be used for commercial web sites.
.info extensions can be used for personal or commercial use.
.name extensions are specifically for people’s personal names – must meet eligibility requirements.
.net extensions are recommended for websites that involve the internet.
.gov extensions are reserved for official government pages.
.org extensions are recommended for non-profit organizations.
.com extensions are the most common and typically used for any personal or commercial use.
.edu extensions should be used for websites pertaining to education.

There are other types of domain name extensions. These are just a few of those that are more commonly seen.

In addition to using certain types of extension for their appropriate purposes, there are rules that apply to the domain names and characters that can be registered.

Domain names must have less than 63 characters (not including the extension)
Domain names must use only letters, numbers, or hyphens.
You may not begin or end a domain name with a hyphen.
Some browsers do not support domain names that exceed 26 characters.

**There are also individual domain name rules that may apply to the registration of specific extensions.

In addition to knowing the rules of domain registration, there are some good practices that can be followed for success.

Avoid tailgating off other domain names. Be aware that some company domain names are register trademarks.
It is a good idea to buy out all of the alternative extensions and even variants of your domain name to avoid copy cats.
Don’t act without thinking. Although you want to register your domain name before anyone else does, it is a good idea to gain a few opinions and sleep on an idea before making this important decision.