Every business website needs two things before anyone can visit it: a domain name and hosting.
Your domain is the address customers type in or click on. Your hosting is where the website actually lives. You need both, they are often bought together, and the right choice usually comes down to four things: who controls them, how reliable they are, how your website is backed up, and who you contact when something goes wrong.
This guide explains each part in plain English, so you can make a sensible choice or understand what a web designer is offering you.
What is a domain name?
A domain name is your website’s address, such as yourbusiness.co.uk.
It is what customers see in search results, type into their browser and read on your menus, vans, flyers and business cards. It is also normally the second half of your business email address.
A domain is not bought outright. It is registered for a period, usually a year or more at a time, and needs to be renewed. If a renewal is missed, the website and the email addresses that use it can stop working.
What is website hosting?
Hosting is the service that stores your website and delivers it to visitors.
When someone opens your website, their browser requests the pages from a server. That server is provided by your hosting. Good hosting keeps the website online, loads it quickly and keeps it secure.
Hosting is also where much of the behind-the-scenes work happens, including security certificates, software updates and backups.
Domain vs hosting: what’s the difference?
A simple way to think about it:
- The domain is your address. It tells people where to find you.
- The hosting is your premises. It is where the website actually is.
You need both, but they can come from different places. Some businesses register a domain with one company and host the website with another. Others prefer one provider to look after everything, so there is a single point of contact if something needs changing.
Neither approach is wrong. What matters is that it is clear who manages each part.
Choosing a domain name for a UK business
.co.uk, .uk or .com?
For a business that mainly serves UK customers, a .co.uk address is familiar and immediately reads as a UK business. A .uk address is shorter and also clearly British. A .com is recognised everywhere and suits businesses that may work beyond the UK.
Many businesses register more than one, for example the .co.uk and the .com, and point the extra one to the main website. This protects the name and catches visitors who type the other version.
Keep it short, easy to say and easy to spell
Your domain will be read aloud on the phone, printed on a menu and typed on a mobile. Choose something that:
- Matches your business name as closely as possible
- Is easy to spell after hearing it once
- Avoids hyphens and numbers where you can
- Isn’t easily confused with another local business
Check it matches the rest of your online presence
Before deciding, check whether the same name is available, or close to it, on the social platforms you use. A consistent name across your website, Google Business Profile and social media makes your business easier to find and recognise.
Know who holds your domain
There are two common set-ups.
- You register and manage the domain yourself. You hold the account, pay the renewals and give your web designer the access they need.
- Your web provider registers and manages it for you. They handle the renewals, settings and technical changes, so you don’t have to.
Both are reasonable. The important thing is to know which one applies to you, who renews it, and how it would be transferred if you ever moved to a different provider.
Ask the question at the start rather than when you need an answer quickly.
Shared hosting vs managed hosting, in plain English
Shared hosting gives you space on a server alongside many other websites. It is usually the cheapest option. You, or whoever built your website, are responsible for keeping the site updated, secure and backed up.
Managed hosting includes the hosting plus someone looking after it. Updates, security, backups and technical problems are handled for you.
The right choice depends on who will do the work. If you are comfortable managing a website, basic hosting may be enough. If you would rather spend your time running the business, managed hosting removes a job from your list.
What to look for in a hosting provider
Reliability and speed
Your website should be available whenever customers look for you, and it should load quickly on a mobile phone. A slow or unavailable website can mean a lost enquiry, booking or order, especially when someone is comparing a few businesses at once.
Backups
Websites can break after an update, a mistake or a security problem. Regular backups mean the site can be put back the way it was. Ask how often backups are taken and who looks after them.
SSL certificate
An SSL certificate is what puts the padlock next to your address and makes it start with https. Without one, browsers can show visitors a “Not secure” warning, which is not the impression you want to give, particularly on a page with an enquiry form.
An SSL certificate should be included and renewed automatically.
Support
Find out who you contact when something goes wrong, how you contact them, and roughly how quickly they respond. Clear, accessible support matters far more than a long list of technical features you will never use.
Don’t forget business email
An email address that matches your domain, such as hello@yourbusiness.co.uk, looks more established than a free email address and keeps your business communication in one place.
Email is usually set up alongside your domain and hosting, so it is worth deciding at the same time. Check that it works on your phone and computer, and that there is enough storage for the way you use it.
Why the cheapest hosting isn’t always the best fit
Low introductory prices are common, but compare what you are actually getting:
- Renewal prices. The first year is sometimes discounted and later years cost more.
- What is included. SSL, backups, email and support are sometimes charged separately.
- Your time. If you are the one fixing problems, updating software and restoring backups, that time has a cost too.
The cheapest option can be the right one for some businesses. It is simply worth comparing the whole picture rather than the headline price.
When managed hosting makes sense for a small business
Managed hosting usually suits businesses that:
- Don’t want to deal with updates, security or backups
- Want one contact for the website, domain and email
- Need changes made without learning how the website works behind the scenes
- Rely on the website for enquiries, bookings or orders
If you enjoy the technical side and have the time for it, looking after your own hosting can work well. If not, it is often better handled by someone who does it every day.
The short version
Choose a domain that is short, clear and matches your business name. Know who holds it and how it would be transferred. Choose hosting that is reliable, secure and backed up, with support you can actually reach.
At SMBL Digital, our managed hosting includes an SSL certificate, regular backups and domain management, and we register and manage your domain for you. If you ever decide to move on, we transfer the domain to you for a small admin fee. Hosting and business email are optional, so if you would rather arrange your own, that is fine too. You can see our hosting and email options on our pricing page.
If you are not sure what you need, get in touch and we can talk it through.
