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What is the difference between a domain name and a hosting service? Print

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If you want to create a professional website for your business, you might need to register a domain name and find web hosting. Having both of these things allows your website to be viewed by people on the web. This article will discuss what a domain name and web hosting are and how you can choose the best one for your needs.

1. What is a domain name?

A domain name is your web address, and it’s what people will use to find you online. It’s also the first impression you make on a potential customer, and if it’s not clear, relevant, and memorable, you may lose that customer before you even get a chance to interact with them. We will also define web hosting as having a server component, such as a web host. Websites on servers are almost impossible to create without needing to purchase a domain name. This is because sites built on server components are almost impossible to change without affecting the service itself. There are many special TLDs you can register that only have a tiny niche audience and minimal search volume: because many TLDs are very niche, search engines like to filter out the good ones. For this reason, you’d only want to register one of each/them. Register your desired domain name with an online domain name registrar like Host Expert. First, you should know that every domain name registrar will usually charge you a fee to use their service. For example, Host Expert will charge you R89 rand per year for each .co.za domain name.

2. What is web hosting?

Web hosting is the service used to host a website. Without web hosting, you can’t have a website that people can access over the internet. Web hosting is a service typically provided by hosting providers. Many hosting providers will provide you with web hosting as part of a larger service plan. So what is web hosting, exactly? The term “web hosting” refers to the software used to create websites on your computer, including design, development, and repetitive tasks like website maintenance and hosting. Web hosting companies can also help you edit and optimize old websites and add material to them (images, CSS, etc.). The web hosting companies you choose will depend on several factors and largely on the level of effort you are willing to dole out to them. That said, here are some universal perspectives that every web hosting company will have: Cost: Web hosting has a monthly fee. They also offer other services that you can consider in addition to web hostings, such as domain name registrars. The companies you pay for web hosting with monthly payments will typically guarantee that your service will last longer than paid plans. Security: Most hosting companies will provide you with a security product. You will want to ensure that a company offers the most secure product for your level of risk (SSL Certificates and server protection). Technical Support: Usually, the companies that provide you with web hosting will offer you basic support. Their basic support team will be able to respond to your questions regarding your website, provide you with updates on problems, or assist you with anything that you may need to do on your website.

3. How do you choose a domain name and web hosting service?

Choosing a good domain name and web hosting service can be tough. You want your domain name to be short, memorable, and something you can brand around. For example, if you sell workout DVDs, you might want to brand your domain name around the word “workout” to make it memorable. Also, you want your host to guide you through all of the steps of setting up your own website so that you don’t have to go back to them, find more information, and repeat the process.


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