How to Select Hosts for Domain Names
- 1). Register your domain name using domain-registering companies such as Namecheap.com, Register.com, WebsitePalace.com and NetworkSolutions.com. Technically, it doesn't matter where you register your domain, as every registrar actually provides the same type of service. However, companies may differ in perks, extra services, pricing and payment options. You may also find it beneficial to package the domain registration with the company's hosting services, possibly at a cheaper rate.
- 2). Look for a suitable Web hosting service for the kind of website you want to build for your newly-registered domain name. The Web host works as the space in the World Wide Web where you create and publish all of your website's contents, particularly your Web pages and your site's control panel.
Web hosting packages typically come with domain manager control panels, DNS controls, management of the domain's security or WHOIS information settings and personal Web builder, which is useful to beginners who need to design their own Web pages. There are actually free Web hosting services available. However, most of them fill your website with advertisements.
It is important to choose a hosting service with the right package for the amount of Web space you need. Another primary concern to check when choosing a hosting service is the amount of bandwidth offered in your preferred hosting package. The higher the bandwidth, the more expensive the service gets. Higher bandwidth is needed when you are expecting many website visitors. If you go beyond your bandwidth, most services may charge you accordingly or temporarily stop access to your website until the following month, when your bandwidth gets refreshed. Certain hosting services may impose maximum file sizes for each uploaded file and there may be specific file types that are not allowed for upload. Reliability and speed of access are also crucial for the efficiency and accessibility of your website, whether during peak or non-peak hours. Overall, the better the service, the more expensive the hosting package gets. - 3). Choose the best hosting package offered by your preferred hosting service and pay the fees according to the requirements of the service. Most packages can be paid monthly or annually. Although there are a few that can accept other modes of payment, most companies require a credit card for hosting service payments.
- 4). Get the name servers (NS) records from your hosting service and type them on the allotted spaces provided in your registered domain account. During the process of placing these values, the Domain Name System (DNS) converts the letter-based domain name into the website's actual numerical address on the hosting service's server, which is also known as the IP address. Once the information gets read, the server sends a response back to the browser and your website shows up online.
