web host

The 3 Essential Steps To Putting Your Website Online

How to register a domain name

What is a domain name?
A domain name is your website name. It is the address where Internet users can access your website and it is also used for finding and identifying computers connected to the Internet. Computers use something called an 'IP addresses', which are a series of numbers that look like this; 121.75.123.173. However, as it is difficult for humans to remember strings of numbers domain names were developed to identify entities on the Internet rather than solely using IP addresses.

A domain name can be any combination of letters and numbers, and it can be used in combination with various domain name extensions, such as .com, .net and more.

Domain names must be registered before you can use them and each one is unique, i.e. no two websites can have the same domain name. Hence, If someone types in www.yourdomain.com, it will go to your website only and no one else's.

Source: https://www.website.com/

How to choose a web host

Know your hosting needs
What kind of website are you going build e.g a WordPress blog?

How big or small can the website volume go? If you are creating a site to share with your family, free hosting may suffice, providing you are prepared to put up with the slow speed and the advertising.

If you are going to do anything more or are a small business, then you have to think about potential growth and flexibility. If this is the case, paid hosting will give you plenty of room to grow and all the flexibility that you will require, without the advertising or slow speeds.

Different types of web hosting

Shared - In a shared hosting environment, the host puts a large number of users (thousands) on a single server.
A reseller hosting package is basically a shared hosting account with extra tools to help you 'resell' hosting space.

Virtual Hosting - A VPS (virtual private server) package is still a shared environment, but the way it is shared is very different from that of standard 'shared' hosting. The hosting company divides a server into 'virtual servers', where each website is hosted in it's own section of a server, thus, as if it was on the customers own dedicated server, but they’re actually sharing a server with just a few (unlike the thousands in 'shared hosting') different other users and only getting a segment of the server.

Dedicated - With this service you rent an entire server to yourself or your business i.e there are no other users on that server at all, obviously, this comes at a cost and is usually the most expensive type of hosting

Uptime and Service - Read reviews on the companies reliability to keep your website on the internet (referred to as 'Uptime') and their levels of service/support if you have a problem and need help.

Compare features
This will include things like how many domains and sub-domains you are allowed to host on your account. The amount of storage space you get. Do you get a shared SSL certificate (telling your site visitors that your site is safe)? Basic scripts, WordPress installing script, web redirect scripts, email and email redirect scripts, ftp access (file transfer protocol allows you to upload and download items from your desktop plus allow software to access your website e.g social sharing software)

Price !
You have to strike a balance between price and the service you require, compare a few different hosting companies. Also check that the initial sign-up cost is the same as the annual renewal cost. Check the renewal terms, monthly, annually, every 2 years etc.

Here are four suggestions of good hosting companies for you to compare:
(click the links to go to the sites)
SiteGround
BlueHost
DreamHost
A2Hosting

How to change your Nameserver settings

DNS is short for Domain Name Server also called 'name server'. A server is a type of computer (also called hardware) that carries out tasks without somebody working behind it at a monitor.

A Domain Name Server tells the Internet where to send your website traffic. Why do you need to change your DNS or Name Server settings? You don't HAVE TO change the setting if your Domain Name Registrar - see video at the top of this page - is also your web host.

What is the difference between and Domain Registrar and a Web Host? The registrar sells you the NAME (yourdomainname.com) of what you want to call your space (website/blog) on the internet. A web host rents you a 'SPACE' (on a server) connected to the internet to locate your domain name.

Now, if like many people you purchase your domain name (mydomainname.com) from Namecheap or GoDaddy but your web-hosting company is e.g Siteground or BlueHost, all 4 have different domain name server (DNS) settings. So, if you purchased from GoDaddy and wished to host your website on Siteground you would then need to change the GoDaddy domain name server (DNS) settings to the (DNS) settings of Siteground. This would be the same for Namecheap to BlueHost or GoDaddy to Bluehost, i.e. you would need to change the name server settings accordingly to enable your website to be visible on the internet.

Share this article

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *