The difference between domain registration and website hosting

There have been many questions directed to me regarding domain name registration and website hosting. It is important that those of you running a website recognize that there is a difference between registration and hosting and what that entails.

Domain Registration

The domain name is the most important part of your website. It is how people find it (www.charlotteproperty.com, for example). Think of it as the address numbers on your mailbox (but each year they fall off and you have to buy new ones).

This is the first step in operating a website. Before you can have a site up and running, you must buy a domain name. Typical domain registrars include DreamHost, Godaddy, Network Solutions, and Register. The cost to register a domain is around $10 a year (Network Solutions and Register are more expensive).

You are responsible for your domain name registration. You must maintain current contact and billing information to keep the domain registered in your name. This is to protect you from losing your domain name. If someone else owns your domain name, there is little you can do to get it back. The worst case example is a web master that holds your domain ransom. Other horror stories including one agent almost losing their domain because their former webmaster moved to another state and became unreachable.

The only exception to this rule is when you purchase a virtual tour from Charlotte Realty Services. In that case, CRS purchases, owns and hosts the domain for that property for one year.

Website Hosting

Website hosting provides a computer (called a server) that is well-connected to the internet’s backbone and powered by a clean source (meaning that it has battery and generator back-up). This computer stores and serves all your files. Typical monthly hosting fees can vary between $5/month for a discount host to $500/month for dedicated servers.

Monthly hosting fees in the case of RE/MAX Executive also include idx database services (that power either your featured listings or IDX search or both), consulting services, and one hour of updates per month.

Checking Your Domain (Whois) Information

NetworkSolutions has a decent whois tool. The whois information on a website tells you four critical pieces of information:

1. Who owns the domain.
2. The company that holds the registration account.
3. When the registration expires.
4. Where the domain points (dns information).

This entry was posted on March 10, 2009 at 11:13 am and is filed under Corporate News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.