Domain Name

Think of it like property. Your domain name is your street address — it’s how people find you. Your web hosting is the building at that address, where your website’s files actually live. Two different things, often sold by two different companies.

You don’t buy a domain outright. You register it through a registrar and pay a yearly fee to keep it — usually $15–$50 depending on the extension.

Why it matters: your domain is your brand’s home online. The most common problem I see is a business owner whose web designer registered the domain under the designer’s account. When that relationship ends, they have to negotiate to get their own web address back.

What to do: register your domain yourself, under your own account and login. Keep it separate from your hosting so you can switch providers without drama. And turn on auto-renewal — a lapsed domain can be registered by anyone.