New to Web Hosting / Web Hosting 101
The 3 basic elements realted to a business website are:
- A domain name (web address)
- A Web hosting account
- The actual website files, e-Commerce store, blog etc.
A Web hosting company provides space on a Web server (or Web servers in our case) that they own for use by their clients as well as providing Internet connectivity to those websites in a data center.
A Web host allows individuals and organizations to create their own websites and make them accessible via the World Wide Web.
The actual website files (what you see in your browser when you visit your web address) can be HTML pages, images, database information, etc. Who creates your website files is up to you but it's always best to work with a real Web developer, one who has some technical experience as well as design talent.
Once the files are created, they are uploaded via FTP (file transfer protocol) to the Web server and are then viewable at www.YourName.com.
You probably already know what Email is and have used free services like Gmail, Yahoo! or Hotmail. It's good to have a free alternative email account or 2 so keep them.
Domain Name Email (You@YourName.com) is included with your Web hosting account and should be used for all business correspondence. After all, you wouldn't send business correspondence on AOL letterhead, you'd send it on your company letterhead, right? Don't ever put Yahoo! Email address on your website, use your own domain; something like info@YourName.com ...
So here's the recap:
- A domain name, a Web hosting account, and the actual website (files) are 3 different entities.
- If you want a website that works with your own domain name, you'll need all 3.
- Use your doamin name Email for all business correspondence.
- Know what web-related services you have and who provides each of them.
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We understand that many business owners work full-time at running their companies and that web-related technical details can sometimes get a bit overwhelming. But all of these services are important to ensure your web presence stays active 24/7 with no interruptions or loss.
Web-related Checklist for Business Owners
We've prepared a Checklist for Business Owners so all your company web-related information can be listed in one place:
Download Web-related Checklist for Business Owners- Plug in all your website related information
- Keep on file and set up reminders for future reference
For online business information from choosing the right doman name to promoting your website on search engines, see our sister Web development site, Webwest.net:
Contact us for further consultation.

