Creating a website is a pivotal initial step in any company’s digital marketing strategy. It serves as the focal point for all your online promotional endeavors, akin to an online storefront. However, establishing a website involves several stages, with the initial one being the acquisition of a domain name. This is a crucial process, as the domain itself can significantly impact the effectiveness of your marketing efforts.
Understanding what a website domain is essential. While you might be familiar with the term, you may not grasp its full implications. This page will delve into what domains are, how they operate, and how to secure a website domain.
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A common query is, “What exactly is a domain name?” Although frequently mentioned in relation to websites, the true nature of a domain may remain unclear. It’s easy to confuse a domain with other elements, like a URL or a website itself. To clarify, comparing domains to these two components can be beneficial.
We’ll discuss each of them below.
### What is a website domain?
Simplistically, a domain is the name of a website. Websites can be identified by IP addresses, which are difficult for humans to remember. Domains simplify this by providing an easier-to-remember name. For instance, walmart.com is a domain name, akin to a physical store’s name.
### What is a website URL?
While domains encompass the website’s name, URLs supply the address for each individual page. Domains are included in URLs but are not synonymous. URLs are the full line of text seen in the address bar when visiting a website. An example URL is https://www.walmart.com/account/trackorder. The domain “walmart.com” is part of it, but it also includes additional information to direct the browser to the order-tracking page specifically. If the physical store equivalent of a domain is the store name, the URL is the store’s street address.
### What is a website?
A domain is the name of a website, and a URL is the address that informs browsers how to access it. However, neither is a website. A website is composed of the actual pages, graphics, text, and all other elements users interact with on their screens. The physical equivalent in our example would be the physical Walmart building, complete with shelves and products.
### Domain name registrars
To purchase a domain, you must visit a domain name registrar, such as Domain.com or Bluehost. These registrars are authorized to sell domains that have not been taken. Begin by considering the domain name you desire.
Ideally, it should be simple. If your business is called Gareth Plumbing, consider garethplumbing.com or even gareth.com. Your choice of name will impact your marketing efforts, as an overly long or difficult-to-remember domain name will make it harder for people to find your site.
However, be prepared to adapt as the domain you choose may not be available. The registrar should inform you of the availability of the domain you want. If it is, you can register it for your company. If not, you’ll need to brainstorm alternatives or consider purchasing the domain. Use a domain valuation tool before making a purchase to get an accurate estimate. Also, remember that domain names can expire, so you’ll need to renew them periodically.
### Site-building
Once you have a domain, you can proceed to build your website. This is where the fun begins!
### Website hosting
Your site is now ready, but there’s one more step before you can start. This is because, unlike a physical store, a website needs to be accessible globally. To achieve this, your site must be physically stored on a server and in a way that the site data can be quickly transmitted to any computer accessing the site.
For this, you need to rent space from a web host. While you can register your domain with one registrar and rent from a web host separately, many registrars offer both domain registration and web hosting services, allowing you to handle both in one place.
For assistance navigating the complexities of the site-building process, WebFX can help. With over 28 years of experience in web design, we have the knowledge and dedication to make your company’s site the best it can be. We’ll work with you every step of the way, from registering your domain to designing your pages.
To get started with us, call 888-601-5359 or contact us online today!
