A website is the online equivalent of a physical business, like a restaurant. Instead of a building, a website is hosted on a server and instead of a street address, a website has a domain name – the web address you type into your internet browser.
To run a website, you need to both register a domain name and pay for hosting services. The average price for a domain is $14.99 per year and for hosting, you pay $7.99 per month. In this article, we will guide you on how to select the best domain name and hosting provider for your business.
Choosing a Domain Name
A domain name is an important part of your brand and can affect your search engine optimization. There are several factors to consider when choosing a domain name, including the extension, the name itself, and protection.
Extension
The most recognizable and popular extension is .com, which is used by 43% of websites. .net and .org are other popular options, Niche extensions like .club can add an extra layer of complexity for users who are entering your address into a browser, however they can be an affordable solution for small businesses.
The Name Itself
Some of the most famous websites have names that are made up or have nothing to do with the business’s products. A memorable brand makes it easier to get online traffic, but it’s not always possible to come up with a new, memorable word that fits your business. In that case, keep the domain name short (12 letters is optimal) and use a keyword that describes your business. Avoid hyphens and numbers as they can be difficult to remember, and make sure the domain name is easy to pronounce so people can easily share it.
Protection
Before registering your domain name, check to see if it has already been trademarked (you can do it here https://trademarks.justia.com/) . You can also protect your brand by purchasing different extensions and misspelled versions of your name, so customers reach your page even if they type it in incorrectly.
Tools to select and register domain name
There are different tools that help you to select and register a domain name, and many of them also offer hosting services. Bustaname.com helps to choose a name with keywords. Domain.com allows you to select the length of the term and the extension, Bluehost offers combined domain name and hosting services, GoDaddy.com offers protection from spam and phishing attacks, and Namecheap.com includes privacy protection for free. At Sheerweb we use Namecheap.com to search and register domain names.
Choosing a Hosting Provider
When choosing a hosting provider, there are several factors to consider, including the cost, server location, and the type of hosting.
Cost
The cost of hosting varies depending on the provider and the type of hosting you choose. Shared hosting is the most affordable option, while dedicated hosting is the most expensive. Consider your budget and the needs of your website when choosing a hosting provider.
Server Location
The location of the server can impact the loading speed of your website, so it’s important to choose a hosting provider with servers that are close to your target audience. For EU countries it is important to make sure the servers are located in EU due to GDPR law.
Type of Hosting
There are several types of hosting to choose from, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting. Shared hosting is the most affordable option, but it’s not as secure as VPS or dedicated hosting. VPS hosting offers more resources and control than shared hosting, but it’s more expensive. Dedicated hosting is the most expensive option, but it offers the most resources and control.
Our Hosting Package
We offer a hosting package at an affordable price with servers located in EU. Our shared cloud server provides hosting solutions for websites with moderate traffic, up to 20,000 monthly visits. We provide managed service, so you don’t have to deal with hosting provider yourself. For higher traffic websites, we offer custom hosting options. Contact us for more information.
Conclusion
Selecting the best domain name and hosting provider is essential for the success of your website. Consider the factors discussed in this article when making your decision, and choose a provider that meets your needs and budget.
Contact us for help with choosing and registering domain names and our Managed Hosting Package at an affordable price.
