BACK TO BASICS
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Your domain name
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Your email address
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Your website host
A non-technical explanation of how they work and why they matter
How Does this Help Me?
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Don't get blindsided discovering you don't own your website or domain
name.
•
Don't waste money paying for redundant services from multiple providers.
•
Don't miss out on the benefits of branded email because you think it's
costly or complicated (YourBusiness@gmail.com vs.
You@YourBusiness.com).
What Is a Domain Name?
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The internet is a system of interconnected computers.
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Every website needs a unique identifier (name) that acts as an address, allowing
online traffic to be successfully directed to it.
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The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) standardizes
a worldwide address system for websites.
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Your registered domain name is unique to you across the globe.
How Do I Register a Domain Name?
Average cost: $8 – $12 per year.
1
2
3
Contact one of the many
ICANN-authorized “registrars”.
The registrar confirms the
domain name's availability.
If available, the registrar offers to
register and host your domain name
on its DNS servers.
What Are DNS Servers?
DNS stands for domain name system.
It's a network of computers basically working as a giant phone book
telling other computers how to reach your domain.
Your domain name is not your website. It's an identifier used to find
your website files and email.
Domain Name
YourBusiness.com
HisBusiness.com
HerBusiness.com
MyBusiness.com
TheirBusiness.com
Location (I.P.)
98.200.44.230
98.200.44.231
98.200.44.232
98.200.44.233
98.200.44.234
Why Do I Care About My DNS?
Understanding your DNS helps prevent having
your domain name stolen …
… or inadvertently taken over by another party,
keeping you locked out for months or longer.
How do you prevent this?
Make Sure You OwnYour Domain Name
Go to www.fasterwhois.com and enter your domain name.
YOURBUSINESS
Confirm your name and contact info.
Domain Name: YOURBUSINESS.COM
Registrar Registration Expiration Date:
2016-08-31
Registrar: ACMEHOSTING.COM
Registrant Name: John Smith
Registrant Email: jsmith@gmail.com
Admin Name: John Smith
Admin Email: jsmith@gmail.com
Tech Name: John Smith
Tech Email: jsmith@gmail.com
Annual registration reminders and notifications of anyone
attempting to transfer ownership of your domain name are
emailed to you so make sure these are good emails.
How Does My Email Work?
You don't need a website to have a branded email address.
You often get free email accounts with your domain hosting.
DNS Server
www.YourBusiness.com
Email Server
You@YourBusiness.com
DNS info helps “link” to your Email.
Domain Name
Location
YourBusiness.com
98.200.44.230
- Email
98.200.44.231
More About Email
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If you pay a third party for email services, you should be getting more than just a
place to send, receive, and store emails.
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Make sure your email server doesn't exceed its size limit, or you'll stop receiving
emails and see a “Mailbox is Full” message.
If you’re using the email that comes with your domain hosting, the hosting company can help talk you
through getting your email working on mobile and desktop devices.
Email Server
You@YourBusiness.com
How Does My Website Hosting Work?
Your web hosting account is a separate account from your domain name.
Average cost range for shared hosting: $30 – $250 per year.
Average starting cost for dedicated hosting: $300 (and up).
DNS Server
www.YourBusiness.com
Domain Name
Location
YourBusiness.com
98.200.44.230
- Email
98.200.44.231
- Website
98.200.44.232
Web Hosting Server
www.YourBusiness.com/your-websitefiles
DNS “links” to your Website
More About Web Hosting
Desktop or Mobile Device
Type in your domain name
(YourBusinessName.com).
Internet Service Provider
(e.g., Comcast, Brighthouse,
etc.)
Uses the nearest DNS to get
directions to your website.
DNS
Finds and “resolves” your domain
name and provides the directions.
Website Host
Directs your request to the
website and opens the file that
displays your home page.
Email works
through a
similar system.
The Main Takeaways
Your three primary “iAssets” are your domain name, your email address, and your website.
Know where they are, who maintains them, and that you own them.
It is rarely cost effective to use different companies to provide these different services.
Who is Hosting
Your Domain Name?
(www.YourBusiness.com)
Who is Hosting
Your Website?
(All Your Website Files)
Who is Hosting
Your Email?
(You@YourBusiness.com)
Did We Address These Issues?
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1.
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Don't get blindsided discovering you don't own your website or domain name
Check the www.fasterwhois.com database.
Don't waste money paying for redundant services from multiple providers
1.
Your domain name, email, and website can all be hosted by one company.
2.
Email should be free. With few exceptions, don't pay a third party for email services.
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Don't miss out on the benefits of branded email because you think it's costly or complicated
1.
A domain name costs $12 or less per year and email comes with it.
2.
The company hosting your domain can help you set up email and connect it to your desktop and mobile devices.
3.
The company can also assist you with email forwarding.
4.
The company can also forward your domain name to your LinkedIn or other social media account if you're not ready for a
dedicated website.