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1. It is all about the brand
Sure you have a great logo, a beautiful cover photo, and maybe you got professional product photos done. Unfortunately, on third-party sites not only is your logo and photos etc. masked by an ocean of other stunning logos, stores, products and photos, but most of what you see is the site’s own branding.

Think “Facebook” and you instantly see blue in your mind. “Etsy” and you see orange! Your brand will never be more important than their own brand.

On your own site your brand gets to play front and centre and you decide how you are going to be presented.
Do you want your customer to remember to shop at your store – or on  (where you are fiercely competing with hundreds of others similar businesses)?

2. Who can find you – and for what?
Good luck trying to manage or master the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) on a Facebook or Your store.

If you are active enough your Facebook page can rank well in a Google search, but for what terms? Often it will be only your business name or your most popular post, which may not be relevant to what you do or sell.

With your own website you have control over your SEO, over how the search engines will see you and the target keywords that will get people finding your business.

If you have a strong presence on the various social network sites with links back to your website, Google will see those links and will improve your rankings.

3. Playing by other people’s rules.
Social media sites and other online stores or directories are always changing their rules, often making it tough for the little guys who don’t have the time to be researching the Terms and Conditions on a regular basis. This leaves many businesses facing a situation where their accounts can be instantly closed or cut-off due to breach of site usage, often never to be re-opened.

Recently Facebook bought in a rule that limits the amount of text used in a cover photo or a sponsored photo to 20% of the total image size. If you don’t comply with this new rule, which you might not even know about, your page could be shut down without any warning.

4. What happens when things go wrong?
Any social media site, e-newsletter platform, or other online business  directory/ storefront that you are using could go belly up or shutdown tomorrow. Suddenly you have lost contact with all of your customers, sales records, contacts and followers. Or, perhaps you broke a rule (knowingly or not) and you get permanently locked out of your account or your page gets shut down.

Your followers don’t receive a notification to say you are no longer there or where they can find you to buy your products. Their life goes on blissfully unaware of the occurrence. Meanwhile, you might have just lost access to your biggest customer base with no way of contacting them to explain or informing them how to contact or buy from you.
 
When you have your own website you have much more control over the data you collect and keep. Sure your site can crash or be hacked, but the information people provide on your site is yours to keep, and can be restored or recovered.

5. It looks more professional!
It is important to give your customers, potential customers and media, the opportunity to take you seriously. When you have dedicated time and effort to creating your own website as the core online home for you and your business – even just something small like your own domain name – your business comes across far more professional and customers get the impression that you are a business and you take that seriously.

When magazine editors, bloggers etc. are sourcing content they may find you somewhere on social media, but chances are they will pass you by if you don’t have a beautiful online home they can send their readers too.
Starting your own website can be a daunting task, but it isn’t as hard or as expensive as you think. You can start simple and build on it as you learn more.

Creating an online home to showcase your talents and products can often be done for very little money and with limited technical knowledge required.
 
With content management systems like Joomla and others, this too is becoming easier than ever before. Visit https://hosting.sum-perk.com 

QR codes, or Quick Response codes, have become increasingly popular due to their versatility and ease of use. Here are some benefits and usages of QR codes:

1. Efficient Data Transfer:

   • QR codes can store a significant amount of data, including alphanumeric characters, binary, and special characters.
   • They allow for quick and efficient transfer of information, making them suitable for various applications.

2. Contactless Transactions:

   • With the rise of mobile payments, QR codes have become a popular method for facilitating contactless transactions.
   • Users can simply scan a QR code to make payments or transfer money without the need for physical cash or cards.

3. Marketing and Advertising:

   • QR codes are widely used in marketing and advertising materials. Companies use them on posters, brochures, and product packaging to provide quick access to additional information.
   • They can link to websites, promotional videos, or social media pages, enhancing the overall customer experience.

4. Product and Packaging Information:

   • QR codes are employed to provide consumers with instant access to product information, user manuals, or customer support details by scanning the code with a smartphone.
   • This is especially useful for products with limited physical space for printed information.

5. Authentication and Security:

   • QR codes are used for authentication and security purposes. For example, they are employed in two-factor authentication processes or as part of secure login systems.
   • Secure QR codes can help prevent unauthorized access or counterfeit products.

6. Event Management:

   • QR codes are widely used in event management for ticketing and check-in processes. Attendees can easily scan their tickets upon entry, reducing the need for physical tickets or manual check-ins.

7. Navigation and Location-Based Services:

   • QR codes can include geographical coordinates or links to maps, providing users with easy navigation to a specific location when scanned.
   • They are useful in tourism, allowing visitors to access relevant information about points of interest.

8. Education and Training:

   • In educational materials, QR codes can link to additional resources, multimedia content, or interactive elements, enhancing the learning experience.
   • Teachers and trainers use QR codes to share supplemental materials with students.

9. Healthcare:

   • QR codes are utilized in healthcare for patient identification, accessing medical records, or providing quick access to health-related information.
   • During the COVID-19 pandemic, QR codes were used for contact tracing and check-in processes at healthcare facilities.

10. Inventory and Asset Management:

    • QR codes are employed in inventory and asset management systems for easy tracking and identification of items.
    • They simplify the process of updating information about products or assets by scanning the code with a mobile device.

11. Wi-Fi Network Configuration:

    • QR codes can contain Wi-Fi network credentials, allowing users to connect to a network simply by scanning the code instead of manually entering the details.

12. Feedback and Surveys:

    • QR codes are used to gather feedback and conduct surveys. By scanning the code, users can quickly access online forms or questionnaires.

Overall, QR codes offer a convenient and versatile solution for a wide range of applications across various industries. Their ease of use and ability to store diverse types of information make them a valuable tool in today's digital landscape.

In the context of websites, a domain refers to the human-readable address used to identify a specific location on the internet. It serves as a more user-friendly way to access websites, as opposed to using numerical IP addresses. Here are some key aspects and terms related to domains:

1. Domain Name:

   • A domain name is the human-readable address that users type into their web browsers to access a website. For example, in the domain name "www.example.com," "example.com" is the domain.

2. Top-Level Domain (TLD):

   • The TLD is the last part of a domain name, such as .com, .org, .net, .gov, .edu, etc. TLDs are broadly categorized into generic top-level domains (gTLDs) like .com and .org, and country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) like .uk and .ca.

3. Second-Level Domain (SLD):

   • The SLD is the part of the domain name that is located directly to the left of the TLD. In "www.example.com," the "example" is the second-level domain.

4. Subdomain:

   • A subdomain is a prefix to the main domain and is placed in front of the domain name. For instance, in "blog.example.com," "blog" is a subdomain of "example.com."

5. Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN):

   • An FQDN is a complete domain name that specifies its exact location in the DNS hierarchy. It includes both the SLD and the TLD, like "www.example.com."

6. Domain Registrar:

   • A domain registrar is a company accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to sell domain names to the public. Users register domain names through these registrars.

7. Domain Registration:

   • The process of acquiring and officially owning a domain name is called domain registration. This involves paying a registration fee and providing necessary contact information to the domain registrar.

8. Domain Name System (DNS):

   • The DNS is a distributed system that translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses, allowing computers to locate and connect to each other over the internet.

9. Domain Hosting:

   • Domain hosting involves storing a website's files and data on a server connected to the internet. Web hosting providers offer services to host the files associated with a domain.

10. Domain Name Extension:

    • The domain name extension refers to the TLD, and it can provide information about the purpose or origin of a website. For example, .gov is commonly used for government websites, .edu for educational institutions, and .org for non-profit organizations.

Understanding these terms is essential for individuals and businesses when managing their online presence, as the choice of a domain name can impact branding, accessibility, and search engine optimization.

As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, there has been a continuous expansion of top-level domains (TLDs) beyond the traditional ones like .com, .org, and .net. The introduction of new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) has been an ongoing process to provide more options for website owners to choose from. However, keep in mind that the domain landscape may have evolved since then. As of my last update, some examples of new or relatively recent TLDs include:

WHOIS lookup tools are online services or command-line utilities that allow users to query a public database containing information about domain registrations. WHOIS data includes details about the domain owner, domain registrar, registration and expiration dates, name servers, and other contact information associated with the domain. These tools are widely used for various purposes, including investigating domain ownership, checking the availability of domain names, and ensuring the legitimacy of a website. Here are some key aspects related to WHOIS lookup feature tools:

1. Domain Information:

   • WHOIS lookup tools provide comprehensive information about a domain, including the domain name itself, its registration status, and various details associated with the domain registration.

2. Domain Owner Information:

   • WHOIS records typically include details about the domain owner, such as the registrant's name, organization, email address, and contact information. This information is essential for identifying and contacting the individuals or organizations behind a domain.

3. Registrar Details:

   • Information about the domain registrar is available in WHOIS records. This includes the name of the company or entity where the domain is registered, along with their contact details.

4. Registration and Expiry Dates:

   • WHOIS lookup tools provide the registration date of a domain, indicating when it was first registered, as well as the expiration date, indicating when the current registration period ends.

5. Name Servers:

   • The name servers associated with a domain are listed in WHOIS records. Name servers play a crucial role in directing traffic to the appropriate web hosting provider.

6. Technical Contact Information:

   • Technical contact details, such as the name, email address, and phone number of the person responsible for technical aspects of the domain, can be found in WHOIS records.

7. Administrative Contact Information:

   • Administrative contact information includes details about the person or entity responsible for the administrative aspects of the domain registration.

8. Privacy Protection (WHOIS Privacy or Domain Privacy):

   • Some domain registrars offer WHOIS privacy protection services to mask the personal information of the domain owner in public WHOIS records. In such cases, the registrar's information may be displayed instead.

9. Abuse Contact Information:

   • WHOIS records often include an abuse contact email address, allowing individuals to report any misuse or fraudulent activities associated with a particular domain.

10. Legal and Compliance Uses:

    • WHOIS lookup tools are commonly used by legal professionals, cybersecurity experts, and law enforcement agencies to investigate and address issues related to domain ownership, trademark infringement, and online fraud.

11. Domain Availability Check:

    • Users can use WHOIS lookup tools to check the availability of a domain name before attempting to register it. This helps in identifying whether a desired domain is already taken or available for registration.

Popular WHOIS lookup tools include websites like WHOIS.net, ICANN WHOIS, and domain registrars' own WHOIS lookup services. Additionally, command-line utilities and programming APIs are available for those who prefer integrating WHOIS functionality into their applications or scripts. Keep in mind that privacy protection services might limit the amount of information available in WHOIS records for some domains.