The price for software through an academic license provider is significantly cheaper than buying from a store or online. To qualify, you'll need to fax a copy of your West Valley Student ID and proof of registration in your class. This proof is a printout from your registration (your class schedule).
The rules are-you're learning, you get a cheaper price. Once you are using it to make money, you will upgrade to the non-academic license. The software is the same in both cases, the license is not. As such, it's not easy to "upgrade" to a new version with academic versions because they're assuming if you own it long enough to upgrade, you're out of learning mode. It often depends on the timing of a new release.
There are other academic providers. I've tried a couple, with disappointing results. You can google academic license and the name of your application to see what's available.
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Domain Names
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Deciding on your domain name Whether you elect to expand an existing site with a domain you currently own or purchase a domain name for a new site, there are a few things you may consider.
Using a .com domain continues to be the best decision. Realizing there are not as many .com offerings as there were years ago, I hesitate to recommend any extension other than .com or, in second place, .net. This is in part due to Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and in part to customer assumption.
You should purchase like-sounding and misspelled domain names. Domain names are not expensive, averaging $8-10 per year. I once worked with a client whose closely-spelled twin was a site for perusing and pursuing overseas women. Not good. For $100 a year you can purchase 10 domain names that point to your server. Any customer going to that domain instantly arrives at your site.
Stay away from domain names with a – (a dash) in them. You’ll forever be explaining, marketing, redirecting customers due to the dash.
Select a name that is easy to remember, over one that is clever and intriguing. You’ll have plenty of ways to bring creativity to your site; you want customers to be able to find you.
I also recommend you purchase all domains from one provider. They’re easy to manage this way and easy to renew.
I receive letters and renewal invitations from companies hoping to sneak in under the radar and transfer our domains to their company. When you know that one provider holds your domains, you’ll know their email and letters are legitimate.
It may be possible to purchase a domain name from someone holding the name without an associated site. There are several companies that offer buying and selling domain names. Watch, however, that you don’t pay too much money for the name. Think about your overall budget. A few hundred dollars for a name you want is doable, tens of thousands is questionable.
To search for a domain, go to a domain provider such as GoDaddy.com or Dotster.com. I use both although there are many other good domain providers on the market as well. At GoDaddy there is a Discount Domain Club I belong to for buying larger numbers of domains at a good price. At Dotster I have domains I purchased and maintain there for years. If the domain name you’re looking for is unavailable, go to that name as a website and see if it’s uploaded. If a site is there, determine if it’s a “real” site or if it’s a parked domain or landing page. Look around and see if someone is doing business there or if it’s a listing of unrelated or bizarre links. If you believe it’s not a real site, then you can see who owns the domain by checking WhoIs? on most domain provider sites. If the owner has elected to keep their name private (easily doable by paying a few dollars extra), then you won’t see who holds the domain and can pretty much assume they want it. You can use your domain registrar to typically bid or buy an existing domain. However, it certainly won’t be for $10.
I generally begin with a piece of paper, and a good understanding of my product and target audience. From there, I write several possible domains, I sometimes have better luck with a number incorporated if it makes sense and if it won’t be as difficult to communicate a number as it would be a dash. Be creative, keep it simple, tell your ideas to a few friends; their reaction and ability to remember and relate will help you to decide.
