What is Web Hosting?

A website is just a collection of files – mostly text & images, sometimes more. Every time someone types in your web address, or finds you through Google, they need to view those files. So, that they can do that, any time of the day, you need a web host. A web host is a company with a whole lot of computer space, who host your files and deliver them to anyone who asks. Typically you pay a monthly fee, anything from £10 for simple hosting, up to hundreds for the top quality service.

What Type of Hosting?

Hosting comes in all sorts of flavours. Basic & cheap, powerful & expensive. You’ll be offered all sorts of options from email accounts to MySQL databases. For the average small business, you don’t want to plump for the cheapest option, but you certainly don’t need to most expensive. You want a package with a minimum of multiple emails, PHP/MySQL support and cPanel. You’ll also want to think about the space & bandwidth you require. Further down the page I have a few options for common setups.

Course Index

  1. Domain Names
  2. Web Hosting
  3. Website Setup
  4. Website Design
  5. Logos and Headers
  6. Creating Content
  7. Site Maintenance

Main Tutorial: Find and Buying a Domain Name

Video Summary and Resources

Where to Buy Your Domain

Shopping CartTo buy a domain name, you need to go through a Domain Registrar. This is a company who will register your domain on the internet, and make sure that, when someone types it into their address bar, it will direct them to your website. My usual registrar is GoDaddy. They offer decent prices, and a great Domain Management control panel. Go here to buy your domain name: GoDaddy Domain Registration

Domain Extensions

There are lots of domain extensions out there, such as .com, .net, .org, .me, .tv and more. The best domain to have is a .com, as it’s the longest standing one, and the one that people will tend to try first if they don’t know what your extension is. .net and .org are also well established, and carry weight in the search engines, so they’re a viable alternative to .com. Choosing another extension can be risky, as .com, .net or .org sites my often outrank you in the search results, but finding a short, memorable domain is also very valuable, so it can pay off in the long run.

How Do I Choose a Domain Name?

The best domain names are short and memorable. Sadly, the options are limited nowadays. Most of the good domains have been bought up. You need to be imaginative and think of some creative word combinations. Many people now base their new Business name on what domains are available. If you have an existing business, though, you might have to try quite a few different word combinations before hitting an available one that works.