If you want to create a website, the first thing you will need to do is choose your domain name and later determine which hosting is best for you.
How do you choose a domain name?
First of all, you should know that you don’t have to use business as your domain name. You can get really creative and choose the one that suits you best. Do some research to find out what domains are available. As you probably already know, there are millions of websitesout there. So, it’s very possible that the domain name you want to buy isn’t available. But don’t worry! You still have plenty of options. Use a domain name finder to see if the name you want is available.
Make sure you choose your domain name with your target audience in mind. Take into account the search and keywords they use most often.
Additionally, you should choose a domain name that is easy to remember and simple to pronounce. Otherwise, people may forget it very quickly and not find it easily. Avoid names with more than three words. The shorter the better. Also, do not use words or phrases that have more than one meaning. It is also a good idea to avoid using quotation marks or special characters.
Domain extension
Most people think that the “.com” domain is all you need. However, if you are having trouble finding an available .com domain, you can consider purchasing other extensions like .shop, .biz, .us, .info, etc. But before that, make sure that the extension suits the type of your online business.
Avoid using domain names that are already trademarked, as choosing a name that contains a word or phrase that is already trademarked can get you into trouble. For example, if your web address includes the word “Microsoft” in the domain name, it infringes on Microsoft’s trademark and could result in penalties.
Privacy
While registering your domain name, you have to provide your name, address and phone number. This information is available to anyone on the Internet. A spammer/hacker can misuse this information for phishing, identity theft, spam emails, etc.
Therefore, it is important to protect the private information on the domain to hide your real contact information. Most of the web hosting providers offer WHOIS, which protects your contact information.
SSL Certificate
An SSL certificate keeps all of your sensitive data safe by encrypting all information exchanged on your website. Installing an SSL certificate on your website creates a shield of trust and confirms that your website is secure and that your visitor information is safe.
When your website has an SSL certificate, a green padlock appears in your web browser and your website URL begins with https. The 's' in https indicates that your website is secure.
Where to register your domain?
Once you have your domain completed, the next step is to purchase it from a domain registrar. It is recommended that you purchase both your domain and hosting from the same provider, as this will make it easier for you to manage your domain and website all in one place. Some providers will also allow you to transfer any existing domains.
Tips for choosing a hosting service
There are different types of hosting services. The majority of providers fall into the following categories:
◈ Shared Hosting – As the name suggests, in this type of hosting multiple websites can be hosted on a single server. Thus, they share the same resources. It is ideal for small to medium sized websites.
◈ Dedicated Server – A dedicated server gives you full access to the server. Also, the server resources are reserved only for your website. No other website will use the same resources as yours. This type of hosting provides complete security and flexibility and is ideal for websites with high traffic.
◈ VPS Hosting – In VPS hosting, a physical server is divided into multiple virtual servers. You are provided with a portion of the server that can be used to host your website. This gives you a dedicated environment and resources for your website.
◈ Cloud Hosting – It is a form of hosting where a website is hosted virtually on a cloud server. It automatically optimizes any web application in real time to meet the needs of your project.
Do some research on some of the best web hosting providers on the market. Note that the web hosting provider plays an important role for your website.
Hosting service prices
Most hosting providers offer huge discounts if you are a new customer. Make sure you ask them about any costs related to your website, which ones require a one-time payment and which features you will need to pay for in the future. This way, you won’t have any nasty surprises with any charges on your bill.
Plan how you will build your website
If you don't have the programming skills to build a site, nor do you want to hire a developer, you can always choose a hosting provider that also provides website building services, which will help you create your site.
