Domain Name vs. Website
A domain name is the online address for your website. For example, our domain name is www.registeredagentsinc.com, and our website is the collection of pages you see when you arrive there. Just like you need land before you can build a house, you need a domain name before you can build your website. Luckily, we can help you out with both.
What Is a Domain Name?
Think of your domain name as your address, and your website as your home online. The more memorable your address, the easier it is for clients to stop by for a visit. Your address directs people to the land on which your home is built.
When you buy physical land, you don’t have to build a house immediately. You can get started right away, or reserve your land for a special project later on down the road. In the same way, you can buy a domain first and when you’re ready, you can build a custom website.
How a Domain Name Works
The low-tech answer is simple. Your domain name is part of your web address that helps connect visitors to the server hosting your website. For an in-depth look at how domain names work, let’s look at each step of the domain registration process:
You choose your domain.
This should include the actual domain name, along with an extension. For example, yourcompanysite.com. Be sure to pick a name with strong ties to your company brand, so visitors can easily remember your website URL.
You share your domain.
All websites have a lengthy IP (Internet Protocol) address that directs visitors to the site. Since this IP address is hard to remember, your domain name acts as an abbreviated address to take visitors where they need to go.
Visitors type in your domain.
This connects them to your site via your web host server. When someone visits yourcompanysite.com, they are directed to your website or a placeholder page. This allows visitors to explore your products, services, or information.
What Is a Website?
While your domain name directs visitors to your online home, your website is the house itself. Imagine you’re visiting a business in real life, and break down the different parts to get a feel for how your website should function.
There’s a building where the business operates, which needs to be easily accessible to visitors. There’s a receptionist at the front desk, who helps manage the information delivered to and from the business. There may be a storefront to show off the products a business sells, or even a portfolio of service the business offers to clients.
Building a business website with the aim of offering everything a visitor might find if they physically visited the business is helpful in establishing a trusted space for your business online.
Website Components: Content and Hosting
A website needs content to attract visitors, and a reliable host to make that content available to whoever seeks it. There are a few ways to make both of these elements a part of your website’s overall success.
Create content that resonates.
Provide engaging content that keeps visitors on your site and encourages them to interact with your business.
Reach more visitors with optimized content.
Give your website a cutting edge with content that appeals to the search terms visitors are already looking for. By doing this, you can climb the search engine rankings and enable more visitors to view your site. More visitors means more opportunities to connect and build your customer base.
Provide a reliable browsing experience.
With many options for web hosts available, you may wonder what to look for when choosing a service to host your site. There’s a lot to be said for services that offer fast loading speeds and high volume traffic with finesse.
Web hosts who go a step further with open-source web development tools and amazing customer service offer even more. We’re happy to offer all of the above, and with access to all the tools you need right within your secure online account.
Domain vs URL: Key Differences
Though closely related, domains and URLs are not one and the same. The domain name serves as a main address for the website, while a URL identifies specific pages within the website.
Example: yourcompanysite.com/about or yourcompanysite.com/online-products
The examples listed above include a string of characters or some other indicator following the domain name that shows which page a visitor should be directed to so they can find out more about your company values or current products available online.
Still confused? Think of the domain as the address to your online home, and each separate URL as a room number where you’ll find everything there is to know about a specific topic. Each room is named so that you don’t have to open every door—just a specific one—to find exactly what you need.
How Domain Names and Websites Work Together
Your domain name will impact the success of your website, since it provides an easy-to-remember address for your online home instead of a lengthy and complicated IP address. By selecting a memorable and catchy domain name, your website is easier to find and navigate using different URLs.
You can also use your custom domain name for branding purposes, like using it in a professional email address to lend credibility to your online communications. Creating a dynamic and helpful website for your visitors can push your branding further and create a cohesive online presence for your business.
Understanding How Domains Direct to Websites
The process for accessing a website via a domain has three main steps:
- You provide your domain name to visitors, and a visitor types the domain name into their browser.
- The Domain Name System (DNS) server translates the domain to an IP address for the website in its database.
- The browser is connected to the correct IP address, which displays the website to the visitor.
Given how many extra steps your domain name handles on the back end when it comes to redirecting visitors to the right place, it makes sense that choosing a domain name is a helpful way to boost your online views. More online views can translate to better success for your company.
Benefits of Securing a Domain Name Early
Even if you’re not ready to build a website, you should secure your domain name right away. Doing so will provide your business several benefits down the road.
Eliminates domain scarcity. Registering a domain is fast and easy. By the time you’ve finished telling your friend about your great business idea over coffee, someone else could overhear and register your domain right under your nose. Registering as soon as you decide on a business name or idea keeps your domain available when you need it.
Optimizes search results. Whether or not you’ve taken the steps to launch your business, you can capture the interest of potential clients before you’re even done designing a website. Securing a domain name that explains your business purpose is one way to climb the search results before you’ve published any content on your site.
Protects your brand. If you’re the first person to register a domain name, your domain may qualify for trademark protection. Selecting a distinctive domain to be associated with your products and services may allow you to legally protect your brand without having to file separate trademark applications.
Lends a professional image. Most companies work to create a seamless online presence using their domain for email. This helps clients to easily identify trustworthy correspondence and reassures them. By registering your domain early, you can ensure that your professional email is as close to your legal business name as possible.
Next Steps to Take
Now that you know the basics of what a domain and website do, it’s time to take the first step to secure your preferred domain name and get started. Need help? Our team is one call or email away, and ready to help you build your website today. Click the button below to submit your order in a few easy steps.