July 15, 2020 – Naming Generator

The first step in beginning a website is choosing a good business domain name. Step two is getting a web host. But what if your domain registrar and web hosts are different? Did you just waste money paying for these website building essentials? Or is there a workaround?

Can you buy a domain name from one company and use it at another web host? The short answer – Yes. You can purchase a domain name from one company and point it to another web hosting provider. Doing so is all possible since domain names and website hosting plans can be purchased separately, and also if you own both the domain and the hosting plan.

Paying for a domain name from one registrar and then using that domain at another web host may sound complicated. But don’t worry. In this article, we will guide you on the process and answer more relevant questions about domain names, hosting, and website building.

What Is the Difference Between a Domain and Hosting?

Let us clear up the confusion about domain names and web hosting.

First, a domain name is the series of letters, numbers, and hyphens typed in the search bar of a browser and then redirects you to a website or web page. A domain name is unique to each website. It is also called a URL (uniform resource locator).

In contrast, web hosting refers to the service provided by companies (web hosts) where server space is allocated to a specific website. Web hosts allow its users to store, record and manage files relevant to running a website.

Can You Buy a Domain Without Hosting?

Yes, you can purchase a domain without a web host and vice versa. However, with only a domain name, there is no way for you to save and manage the files needed to run a website.

You can still keep the domain name as yours by turning the domain into a parked domain.

Where Do I Buy a Domain? And How Much Does it Cost?

Domain names are sold through domain name registrars. These registrars are accredited by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), and they will list your personal information as the owner of the domain in the ICANN registry. A few examples are BlueHost, GoDaddy, NameCheap, DreamHost, FatCoz, and many more.

When buying a domain name, you are essentially paying for the domain registration fee. The yearly fee can be as low as $1 to $20 or more. The domain name registration fee will increase depending on the top-level domain (whether .com, .org, .co.uk, or other country-specific domains), keyword, and whether or not the site has an existing owner.

Where Do I Buy a Web Host? And How Much Does it Cost?

A quick Google search will tell you that there are multiple web hosting providers available today. In fact, most domain name registrars also offer web hosting services, and vice versa. Web hosts typically bill every month, but you can still pay yearly or biennially. Some web hosts even include free domain names.

To save you time searching for the best web hosting provider, feel free to check our web hosting options that can save you money and offer as much as $1,474 in bonuses!

Tips For Buying a Domain

Before you take the plunge of buying a domain, keep in mind these best practices when choosing a suitable domain name:

1. Choose a Short Domain

Shorter domain names are quicker to type and easier to remember. Go for two to three words in your domain name. If you are using your business name as your domain, omit words like Inc, corp, or company.

2. Go for a Brandable Domain

A brandable domain name is a memorable one. Pick a domain name that matches your business image or your personality. You may also choose a domain composed of made-up words that can be distinctly associated with your brand or site.

3. Select a Top-Level Domain

Next, always go for top-level domains like .com, .net, or .org. These are the most popular TLDs, and, often, website visitors trust websites with these top-level domains more.

Also, if you are opening a local online store or an area-specific blog whose target audience are people living in a specific location, you may choose a geographic domain or TLDs like .au, .co.uk, or .kr.

4. Match With Your Website and Business Names

Choose a domain name that matches your website and company names. Doing so is especially important if you want to establish or if you already have a good branding identity for your business.

Matching website URL and website names also make it more convenient for your page visitors to remember. Check out this article for more tips on choosing the best domain name for your business.

How to Point a Domain Name to Another Web Host

Now that you have picked a good domain name and subscribed to a web hosting plan, the next step is to make sure that your domain is pointed to the right web host.

Here are the steps to do that:

1. Find Out Your DNS Servers or Name Servers from Your Web Host

To accomplish this step, you can either ask your web host’s support team or tinker around your web hosting account’s Control Panel.

A name server will look like ns1.domainsample.com, ns2.domainsample.com. Web hosts may have two to three name servers, so make sure to note them down exactly as they were written.

2. Go to Your Domain Registrar Account to Update the Settings

Next, log in to your domain name registrar account. Then, go to the Settings page and look for the Domain Manager option. Click the option to modify or change it and enter the DNS Servers or Name Servers you’ve noted earlier.

Remember that different domain registrars will have different button names and process of changing the DNS servers. To ensure that you are updating the correct setting, you may directly consult your registrar’s Help Page or ask the support team.

And that’s it! When done right, typing your domain name or URL in a browser’s search bar will redirect you to your website.

Now that you’ve learned that purchasing domain names and web hosting plans from different companies is okay, you can finally start building your website (if you haven’t begun yet!). If you need help in choosing a domain name, use of online domain name generator. It’s free.

What Do Web Developers Do?

Web developers create and write code for websites or web applications. They are responsible both for a site’s technical structure and visual design. Some organizations or freelance web developers may choose to focus on back-end or front-end web development aspects when building sites. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, a web developer’s estimated yearly median wage is $73,760.

That’s why when you pick a web developer, you must narrow down what specific type of web developer you need for your site.

How to Choose a Web Developer for Your Site

A major advantage of hiring a web developer is you get to free up the time and effort for website building and put this energy into something more productive (like choosing the best business domain name, creating content, or coming up with a marketing plan). But how do you choose a good web developer?

1. Set Your Business Goals and Objectives

An essential first step when choosing a website developer is knowing what your business goals and objectives are. When you are clear of what specific business direction you want, select a web developer who deeply understands this too.

2. Be Clear on What Kind of Website You Need

Next, determine what kind of website you want. Do you want a unique blog site design, an eCommerce store, a membership website, or a combination of all of them?

By being clear of the type of site you need to host the type content (articles, photos, videos, etc.) you intend to publish, you will know what specific past projects and relevant experiences to look for when perusing your prospects’ resumes.

3. Set a Budget

As a website owner, you most likely only have a predetermined amount to spend on web development. Just remember to set a budget according to the pay range we’ve mentioned earlier. Note that the cost of hiring a web developer will increase the more complicated, more work-intensive, and more value-rich the end-product will be.

Also, be prepared to exceed your budget if you want a quick turnaround time or if you know you are paying for topnotch work.

4. Determine Your Payment Method

After setting a budget, it’s time to decide on how you want your selected web developer. You may opt for a monthly fee, a flat rate, or an hourly rate. If you prefer a single payment method, let any prospect know this beforehand.

When you set a payment method first, you can easily narrow down the web developers who can work with you. Nevertheless, be prepared to switch to a different payment method if your preferred web developer is more comfortable with another payment scheme.

5. Evaluate the Prospects Holistically

Whether you get your web developer prospects through a newspaper job ad or by going to an online job marketplace like Fiverr or Upwork, take the time to review each prospect’s resume and portfolio.

Look for past projects that match or closely resemble the website you need. Review past client feedback or ask around for referrals from your network, if possible. The time you put into this step will pay off later on in the website development process.

What Is Better When Hiring Web Developers: Paying an Hourly Rate, a Flat Rate, or a Monthly Rate?

There is no one best payment approach to follow when hiring web developers. It all depends on your project and specific business needs. Listed below are different scenarios that would help you choose a specific payment method. Just remember, you can combine a payment scheme with another payment method as you wish.

Pay an Hourly Rate If:

You want your website done within the hour you specify and pay only for the hour spent on it.
You want a clear calculation of the amount you need to pay your web developer.
You want to use a time tracker to track time spent working on your site.
You want to monitor everything that your web developer is doing and provide feedback accordingly.

Pay a Flat Rate If:

You and your developer are on the same page on what the result should be and how much value this gives you.
You want to leave your web developer alone to do his/her job properly.
You have worked with the web developer before and already have an idea of his/her work.
You want to work with a web developer who has a simple and efficient rate scheme.

Pay a Monthly Rate If:

You want to save money by spreading out your payments while making sure that someone monitors your website over some time.
You want your web developer to be contractually available for support even after the website is built.
You want your web developer to monitor or update your website regularly.

Where Do You Find a Website Developer?

Just like any other job, you can easily find website developers through newspaper job ads. But in the digital age, website developers are available through two main ways:

1. Through Online Job Marketplaces

Online job marketplaces are platforms where anyone who wants to hire talent can post job advertisements. Some platforms are free, while other platforms charge a small fee. Today, most freelancers and side hustlers look for jobs on sites like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com, Craigslist, Indeed, 99Designs, and many more.

If you want to hire a freelancer to build a personal or business website and pay a reasonable flat or hourly rate, these online marketplaces are the best sites to check.

2. Through Design Agencies

Another option when it comes to hiring a website developer is through a design agency. They tend to have a better reputation since they have a whole team and resources supporting them.

Choose this mode of finding a website developer if you want a dedicated group of people in charge of building your website. Web development agencies also often offer website builder packages that include web development, web design, and sometimes, content marketing services.

Yes, finding and hiring someone to create a website for you is that easy. Follow the steps and tips outlined above, and you will soon see our website online. And if you haven’t set up your domain yet, start by choosing a good domain name using our free online name generation tool.

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