What is a Domain Registrar? Why Do I Pay for That and Hosting?

What_is_a_domain_registrar_blog_cover_20230818_145632_0000

One of the most important benefits of hiring a professional web development company is that you don't have to worry about the nuts and bolts of your website. I constantly tell my clients, don't worry about the technology, just do your job and I'll handle the web!

This is great, but you should have at least a baseline knowledge of things like domain registrars and hosting.

Domain Registrar

You must either own your own name or have your web developer purchase it on your behalf. You never really "purchase" your domain it's more like renting it. Through "Domain Registrars" you can rent your domain for X number of years and set up auto renews on those rental agreements so you never lose it.

Examples: GoDaddy (recommended), Network Solutions, Name Cheap... this could go on forever.

Pricing: This is a low cost item ranging anywhere from $10-$50/year.

Hosting

Your hosting account (or server) is where the files for your website and database actually live. This is literally a computer somewhere that is optimized to "serve" your website up to the world.

Here are the logistics: you register your domain, point the domains DNS towards your server, then your server tells incoming traffic which files to show for that specific domain. All this happens when someone clicks a link to come to your website!

Hosting is extremely important to your website, it needs to be flexible, reliable, and fast! Many companies like the domain registrar companies above will offer low cost hosting plans that end up crushing your website and it's possibilities. These companies put thousands of websites on a "shared server" and then let those websites fight for resources. Also, all of these websites have the same IP (backend address), so if you have a bad neighbor on these servers they can get that IP blacklisted. More on blacklisting later, let's just say it's bad.

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   Dayne Jones 
 
 
 
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   Alyssa Mehltretter 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Working with Grover Web Design was a smooth and easy process to create a website for our college club hockey team. They took all of our information, photos, and suggestions and created a beautiful and functional website, adding and changing things as we needed to make the website perfect. I highly recommend working with them for your web designing needs!!!
  
 
 
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   Scott Gupton 
 
 
 
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   Maya Ward 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  We used GWD to help us re-design a client's website and Donny was incredibly helpful. He not only made the requested edits quickly and efficiently, but he was also proactive in identifying areas for improvement to help avoid future issues. He is always incredibly responsive, and easy to work with.
  
 
 
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   Andy N 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Brilliant, intuitive website designs. Owner also can build custom apps for phones.
  
 
 
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   bob warren 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Grover Wed Design has hosted and managed our website for years and we have been nothing short of completely satisfied with their service and attentiveness to our needs. There response times whenever we have questions or need changes have been excellent. We would recommend GWD and have to many!
  
 
 
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   Andy and Linda Donato 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  I recently enlisted Donny Grover of Grover Web Design to develop a website for a new business venture I was undertaking.  I have absolutely NO EXPERIENCE with this sort of endeavor, and Donny made the entire process seamless and stress-free..  He was professional and efficient in all of our interactions.  The final product exceeded my expectations and was completed way ahead of what I had anticipated.  Donny even provided me with referrals for a designer to produce a company logo and an advertising agency to handle business cards and other print material for marketing my company.  Both of these referrals were excellent and similarly exceeded my expectations.  I am thoroughly satisfied with every aspect of my business with Grover Web Design and give them my highest recommendation.
  
 
 
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   Karl Sterner 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Donny handles our website and is very responsive and handles anything we need with regard to our website and web presence. I recommend highly!
  
 
 
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   John Reedy 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Always get great service and fast responses
  
 
 
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   Glenn Taylor 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Outstanding Design, Deployment and Customer Service! GWD has taken our website to the next level. Whenever we want to make changes, they are always there to make it happen and make suggestions along the way. A valued part of our team for the past 15 years!
  
 
 
  
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