Choosing a Domain and Hosting Provider: What Do You Actually Need?
Choosing a domain and hosting provider can feel more complicated than it needs to be. You’re often navigating companies trying to sell you storage, security features, email accounts, domain extensions and upgraded plans before you really know what your website needs. The good news is that most small business websites don’t need a huge hosting package or a long list of add-ons. I can recommend a few straightforward options for both your domain and your website hosting.
What’s the Difference Between a Domain and Hosting?
Your domain is your website’s address. Something like yourbusiness.com.
Your hosting represents purchased space on a web server and is where the actual website lives.
Hosting space stores your WordPress installation, images, pages, database and other files that allow your website to work.
You need both, but they don’t necessarily have to come from the same company.
Choosing Your Domain
For most businesses, I recommend using a .com domain whenever a good version of your business name is available. A short, recognizable domain is usually better than trying to squeeze extra keywords or complicated phrases into the address.
You want something customers can remember, type and recognize easily.
Where can I register my domain?
Cloudflare Registrar
Cloudflare is an excellent option, particularly if you’re comfortable keeping your domain and hosting separate. Cloudflare sells domains at the registry’s wholesale cost without adding a markup to registration or renewal pricing.Register the domain through your hosting provider
This might be the best option for small business, it keeps everything in the same place with the same company.Choosing Website Hosting
Hosting is where things tend to get confusing.
You’ll see plans advertising different amounts of storage, bandwidth, websites, email accounts, security tools and performance features. For the small business WordPress websites I develop for, you usually do not need an expensive hosting package.
A standard shared hosting account is often enough for a business website containing pages, blog posts, images, contact forms and other normal website functionality. As your website grows, your hosting can grow with it.
My Current Recommendation: HostGator
For many of the business websites I build, HostGator is a practical place to start. I’d start with their Baby Plan.
One of the main reasons I like this type of hosting is access to cPanel or a File Manager, though other hosting providers have a cPanel as well. These give your web developer a central place to manage important parts of your hosting account, including your website files, databases, domains, email accounts and backups.
HostGator’s shared hosting also supports WordPress and includes SSL certificates, which provide the secure https:// connection visitors expect to see on a modern website. Depending on the hosting term you choose, a domain may also be included for the first year.
Most importantly, it provides the tools a normal small business website needs without requiring the business owner to manage their own server.
BlueHost
BlueHost is another good hosting option, and I would choose their Business Hosting Plan for a company informational WordPress website.
What About GoDaddy?
GoDaddy is another well known option for both domains and website hosting.
For domain registration, it offers a familiar interface, domain privacy and the convenience of keeping several website-related services under one account. However, as with any registrar, I recommend looking at the regular renewal price rather than choosing based on an introductory promotion.
GoDaddy also offers traditional web hosting with cPanel, making it a viable option for WordPress websites and businesses that want access to familiar tools such as File Manager, databases and phpMyAdmin.
The biggest consideration with GoDaddy is simply knowing which services you actually need. There are numerous optional products and upgrades available during the website setup process, and most small business websites will not require all of them.
If you already have a domain or hosting account with GoDaddy, there is usually no reason to move it simply for the sake of moving it. If you’re starting from scratch, I recommend comparing its long-term pricing and features with a few other providers before making your choice.
How Much Hosting Space Do You Need?
Probably less than you think. A standard small business website generally consists of:
Unless your website contains a very large media library, substantial downloadable files, high traffic, or more advanced applications, you generally don’t need the largest hosting package available.
Videos are also usually better hosted through a video platform and embedded into the website rather than uploaded directly to your web server. The goal is to choose enough hosting for the website you actually have with room to grow, rather than paying for resources you may never use.
Do You Need to Buy Every Add-On?
No. Hosting checkout pages can present quite a few optional products: upgraded security packages, backup systems, SEO tools, premium SSL certificates and other services. Some can be useful, but most can be done without the add-on. Before adding something to your plan, ask what it actually does and whether your website already has another way of accomplishing the same thing.
Watch Renewal Pricing
This is important with nearly every hosting provider. The price you see advertised when you sign up may not be the price you pay when your plan renews. Hosting companies frequently offer great introductory discounts. Before purchasing a plan, look at both the initial cost and the regular renewal price. I would rather you know what the long-term cost will be before committing to a hosting company than discover it when the renewal notice arrives. You can usually be billed monthly, yearly or every 3 years. I choose monthly for ease, if anything changes.
My recommendation For most small businesses starting with a standard WordPress website: I recommend keeping things simple. Choose a clear .com domain, purchase a reliable shared hosting plan that supports WordPress and SSL, and make sure you understand the renewal cost.
I would not choose the option titled “WordPress hosting” on any platform. This usually has more restrictions, does not come with a File Manager and is generally more difficult, even though WordPress is in the name. Shared Web Hosting is the way to go.
If I’m building your website, I can help you determine how much hosting you actually need and walk you through setting up your domain and hosting account. You maintain ownership of both while I handle the technical setup needed to get your website online.