Domain & Hosting FAQ
What is a Domain Name and Hosting?
There are two vital components to getting your website operational. The Domain Name is the www.youwebsite.com.au part, if you do not have a domain name, then nobody will be able to visit your website. Domain Names are provided by domain registrars, some popular ones are listed below. Domain Names are generally leased for a period of 1 to 10 years off a registrar. Once that period is over you will need to renew your domain name, otherwise somebody else may register it (this happens a lot).
Hosting is the physical computer where all your website files reside. Basically the Domain Name and Hosting are linked together and hence allow people to view your website from anywhere in the world. BlueTeddy can organise the best hosting and domain name package for you.
Do I need to get hosting before you design my website?
No, if you are planning on using Webitor to edit your website we recommend hosting with us, as our servers are ideally setup for Webitor.
You can choose another hosting provider if you wish, the hosting plan you choose must have PHP enabled and Apache running on their servers for Webitor to function. Every website is different, if in doubt PLEASE contact us so we can recommend the best hosting provider for your situation.
Do I need to buy a domain name before you design my website?
No, price and service varies widely with domain registrars. You can register with any one you choose but some have better service than others.
We recommend in order of preference:
- Jumba for .com.au domain names ($29.95 for two years)
- GoDaddy for .com domain names ($10US for one year)
- NetRegistry provides excellent features for large organisations (.com.au $45 for two years)
We can register a domain name for you so you don't have to deal with any of the technical details. If in doubt PLEASE contact us so we can recommend the best domain registrar for your situation.
How to choose a domain name?
It pays to have a domain name that reflects your site or business.
The best strategy is to find a domain name that directly relates to your business, whether it is the business name itself or related to the category of business. For example, a car parts website should have a domain name like carparts.com or bobsautoparts.com, something that immediately associates the domain name with the theme of the site. It’s all about branding, and making a lasting impression on the target audience or customers. A full article on the topic can be found here.
