Starting a website can be confusing with all the technical terms, so let’s simplify the essentials: domains and hosting. Together, they form the foundation of any site, working hand in hand to bring your website to life.
Domain Hosting: What is a Domain?
Think of a domain as your website’s address – it’s what people type in to find you, like yourcompany.com. Just as your address and postcode guide people to your home, your domain directs visitors to your website.
Here are some tips for choosing the right domain:
- Make it Simple and Memorable: Avoid special characters or long phrases; shorter names are easier to remember.
- Choose the Right Extension: Extensions like .com, .co.uk, or .org each have their own strengths. The classic .com works for most, but for UK businesses – “commercial”, .co.uk is a clear signal for your market location. Domains ending in .org are generally used by non-profit organisations, charities, educational institutions and communities. Though any individual or entity can technically register a .org domain, it’s most commonly associated with organisations that aim to provide value to the public rather than generate profit.
- Think About Branding: Your domain name should reflect your brand – keep it catchy, distinctive, and aligned with your business.
- Consider SEO: Including a relevant keyword in your domain can boost your search engine visibility. Aim to naturally incorporate a primary keyword related to your industry or offering (e.g., “organiccoffee.com” for an organic coffee brand). Just make sure it reads well and isn’t overly complex, as a clear, concise name is often best for both users and search engines. However this isn’t always possible, the company name may take priority.
How Web Hosting Fits In
If your domain is your address and postcode, then web hosting is your home. It’s the space where your website’s files, images, and data live, all stored on a server. The hosting server “serves” up these files when someone visits your site, ensuring they can view it seamlessly.
Here’s a quick guide to different types of hosting:
- Shared Hosting: An affordable option (and most common) where your site shares server resources with others. Good for small sites as it’s cost-effective. Limited access to essential features.
- VPS (Virtual Private Server): Offers more resources than shared hosting, making it ideal for growing sites needing more control over server space, advanced hosting features and security.
- Dedicated Hosting: You get an entire server to yourself. Perfect for large sites with high traffic and high-security needs. It provides full control on all aspects of the server functioning.
- Cloud Hosting: Your site’s resources are distributed across multiple servers using load balancing, making it scalable and reliable even with fluctuating traffic. Suitable for mission critical high-end web applications that must be always online.
Understanding DNS and Emails
When setting up a website, it’s important to understand how DNS and email tie into domains and hosting.
- DNS (Domain Name System): DNS is like the phonebook for the internet. It translates your domain name (e.g., yourcompany.com) into an IP address that computers use to identify each other. This allows visitors to reach your website.
- Emails Linked to Your Domain: If you want professional, branded email addresses (e.g., [email protected]), they can be set up through your domain. Email hosting is often provided by your hosting provider or a third-party service and requires DNS configuration to connect properly.
Both DNS and email settings are crucial as they ensure your domain not only directs people to your website but also handles emails smoothly and without interruption.
DNS Basics
As we mentioned, DNS is like the internet’s phonebook. It translates your domain (like yourcompany.com) into an IP address, which directs users to the correct server hosting your website. DNS configurations are managed through DNS records – each record type has a unique function. These records are defined and configured on the Domain Name System admin console provided by the company hosting the domain name.
Common DNS Record Types
- A Record: This is the primary DNS record, linking your domain directly to the server’s IP address where your website is hosted.
- CNAME Record: This record is like a nickname for your domain, allowing one domain to act as an alias for another. For example, it can make “www.yourcompany.com” point to “yourcompany.com.”
- MX (Mail Exchange) Record: This record directs emails to your chosen email server. Setting up MX records is essential if you want to use branded emails, like [email protected], and it must be correctly configured for your emails to work properly.
TXT Records and Authentication
TXT records hold important text information about your domain. They’re essential for email verification and security.
- SPF (Sender Policy Framework): SPF is a type of TXT record that specifies which mail servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. This helps prevent phishing and spam by verifying email sources.
- DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): DKIM adds a digital signature to your emails, ensuring they haven’t been tampered with in transit. This helps establish trust with your recipients.
- DMARC (Domain – based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance): DMARC builds on SPF and DKIM by defining how unauthenticated emails should be handled. This protects your domain from being spoofed by attackers.
These TXT records improve email deliverability and prevent your emails from landing in spam folders.
Redirects, Pointers, and Subdomains
Redirects and pointers are additional settings that help manage traffic between different domains or :
Domain redirect: is a setup that automatically sends users from one domain or URL to another. This is done so that if someone types or clicks on a specific domain, they’re instantly directed to another domain or webpage. Redirects are often used for rebranding, consolidating websites, improving user experience, and preserving SEO.
Pointers: These allow multiple domains to point to the same content. For instance, both “yourcompany.co.uk” and “yourcompany.com” could direct users to the same site, improving accessibility and capturing various user preferences.
Subdomains and Their Uses
Subdomains are like additional branches under your main domain, often used to organise content (e.g., “blog.yourcompany.com” or “shop.yourcompany.com”). They are configured in your DNS settings and are useful for creating specific, distinct sections of your or for another application, website or platform.
Why DNS and Email Configuration Matter
Correctly setting up DNS and related email records helps ensure that:
- Your website is accessible through its domain.
- Emails deliver correctly and are authenticated, avoiding spam issues.
- Redirects and pointers guide users accurately, helping SEO and user experience.
Getting Started with Domains and Hosting
Here’s how to set up your domain and hosting with Zebedee:
- Register Your Domain: Choose and secure your domain through a trusted registrar such as 123 Reg or Go Daddy.
- Choose a Hosting Plan: We’ll advise on the best plan for your needs, with the flexibility to scale as you grow.
- Leave the Setup to Us: We’ll take care of all technical setup, updates, and maintenance, so you can focus on your business.
Wrapping Up
A well-chosen domain and solid hosting are the foundation of your website’s success. With Zebedee’s managed hosting, you’re in experienced hands, ensuring everything from DNS to performance is optimised for your business.
With Zebedee’s managed hosting services, you don’t have to worry about understanding domains and hosting, configuring A records, MX records, or handling TXT settings like SPF and DKIM. We’re partnered with reliable hosting and email providers, offering an all-in-one solution that’s seamless and secure. Our experienced team keeps everything under one roof, so you can focus on your business while we manage your site’s technical details.
Stay tuned for the next post in our Website Essentials series, where we’ll dive into more aspects of building, launching, and managing your website.