This page provides some basic information about how the component parts of a website work.
Buying your own domain and hosting is quite easy and I’ll explain a little about what is entailed and what you get if you choose to buy your hosting from me. It’s important to get these things sorted out early as they are crucial parts of your website.
Your hosting is simply a web server (just like an extra powerful PC hard drive) connected to the internet that stores the files that make up your website and serves them on demand to people wanting to view your site and its content.
Buying your own hosting is straight forward. For an average sized site using shared facilities you could probably find a host for £30 per annum. If you wanted a dedicated server then the cost would be more.
Hosting for sites that I build costs £50 per annum when I am undertaking your maintenance. If you want to undertake your own maintenance or outsource it to someone else I charge £100 per annum for hosting.
If I am hosting your site I can also supply a free SSL certificate, something that you will often have to pay for elsewhere. I can provide you with your own control panel if needed and include additional important services which are detailed on my maintenance page.
If you have any questions about any of these issues you can get in touch with me via my contact page.
The Domain Name
Your domain name or URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of your website.
Most UK small businesses and community organisations will opt for a domain name ending with .co.uk., .org or .com. There are other options and you can choose from a range of suffixes when you register your domain.
Registration is straightforward and should be inexpensive. You will normally pay between around £10 for a UK domain name for one year. If you opt for a longer period the annual price is usually lower.
When you register a domain you will receive account details that allow you to point your domain to a specific server. This will be where your website files are stored or hosted. This means that when people type your URL into their browser address bar or click on a link, they will be taken to your website.
In the UK domain names are managed by Nominet. You will find lots more information at their website.
Whilst I encourage people to register their own domains I am also happy to do this for you. If you are buying a website from me I will do this at cost price as part of the overall service. I will then continue to manage the domain for you. I will also undertake to transfer the domain to you as and when requested.
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