Domain names and web hosting are two different services. In order to have a website that people can visit, you need to have both.
What is my Domain Name?
Your domain name is your website address.
You pay a fee to “register” the name for a fixed period of time, typically two years. This means that the domain is yours to use until the period of time is up. At the end of that time, you’ll have to pay a “registration renewal” fee to continue to use the domain name.
Once you have a domain name registered, it is most important to make sure that you renew it on time. Otherwise you will lose it and it would be nearly impossible to get back.
What is Web Hosting?
When you have a web site, you need to put your Web site files on a Web server — a computer that is specifically configured to store, process and deliver web pages to the users — so that everyone can look at your site.
A Web host is a company that rents space on their Web server for a fee, a landlord for Web sites.
Why you need both?
Think of a Web server as an apartment building for Web sites. You rent a space, like an apartment, to put all the files necessary for your website to work. Without a host, your site would be homeless. No one would be able to visit.
Like your apartment, your website needs a unique address, your Domain Name, so that others can find you to visit.
Do I have to buy Domain Name and Web Hosting together? Or can I buy them separately?
You can buy your domain name and web hosting from two different companies. For convenience, many hosts also offer domain registration services. So the choice is up to you.
What about cost?
Domain Name Registration
Generally, .com domain registrations costs less than $20 per year. You may pay more or less for domain names ending in .net or .org, depending on the registrar.
At A Street Web, we like NameSilo. They have great pricing and all registrations include free WHOIS Privacy.
Web Hosting
Web hosting prices are a bit more complicated. The cost depends on your business and what what you need your website to do, the type of site, the amount of traffic you expect, etc.
For many start-up sites and small businesses, a “shared hosting” account is an inexpensive and satisfactory choice.
Most hosting companies offer a variety of plans priced according to the features offered. The most important factors are storage capacity, server speed (page load time), bandwidth (traffic), reliability (uptime), and, for us, customer service.
Caution: While signing up, read carefully and watch out for add-ons that add to the cost of your hosting. Some hosts try to throw in a lot of extra features your don’t really need such as Sitelock security, “domain verification”, “marketing tools” or SEO tools.
While registering your domain name and choosing a web host can be stressful, it needn’t be paralyzing. Even if you later find that your hosting is not quite what you need, you can move your site to a new host fairly easily.
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About A Street Web Design
Web design is our full time job. Since 2002, we’ve been designing websites that work for business. That means getting found. Persuading people to call you. Making sales. If you are looking for someone who can help you get a website that works for your business within your budget, call A Street Web Design – 541-582-0597.