Question 1

Should I use .com or a different domain extension?

Accepted Answer

.com remains the most trusted and memorable extension for businesses. If your ideal .com is taken, consider .co, .io (popular for tech startups), or your country code (.co.uk, .de). Avoid obscure extensions that users may not trust.

Question 2

How much should I pay for a domain name?

Accepted Answer

Standard domains cost $10-15/year. Premium domains (short, common words) can cost hundreds or thousands. Avoid overpaying for a "perfect" domain—a good enough domain with great execution beats a perfect domain with no business.

Question 3

What is the difference between domain registration and web hosting?

Accepted Answer

Domain registration gives you ownership of a web address (yourcompany.com). Web hosting provides server space where your website files live. You need both—the domain points visitors to your hosted website.

Question 4

Should I buy multiple domain variations?

Accepted Answer

At minimum, secure the .com version of your brand. Consider buying common misspellings and the .net/.org if budget allows. Redirect all variations to your primary domain to capture wayward traffic.

Question 5

What happens if I forget to renew my domain?

Accepted Answer

Domains have a grace period (usually 30 days) after expiration. After that, they enter redemption (higher fees to recover) and eventually become available for anyone to register. Set up auto-renewal to avoid losing your domain.

Question 6

Can I transfer my domain to a different registrar later?

Accepted Answer

Yes, domains can be transferred after 60 days from registration. You will need to unlock the domain, get an authorization code, and pay the new registrar (which extends your registration by a year).

Question 7

What is WHOIS privacy and do I need it?

Accepted Answer

WHOIS privacy hides your personal contact information from public domain records. Without it, spammers and scammers can find your details. Most registrars include it free—always enable it.

Question 8

How do I connect my domain to my website?

Accepted Answer

You will update DNS records at your registrar to point to your hosting provider. This typically involves changing nameservers or adding A/CNAME records. Most hosting providers have step-by-step guides for this.

Question 9

What is SSL and why does my website need it?

Accepted Answer

SSL encrypts data between visitors and your website, showing the padlock icon and https://. It is essential for security, user trust, and SEO. Most hosts provide free SSL via Let's Encrypt.

Question 10

Should I use a website builder or custom hosting?

Accepted Answer

Website builders (Squarespace, Wix) are faster for non-technical founders. Custom hosting with WordPress or static sites offers more flexibility but requires technical skills. Match the choice to your team's capabilities.

Question 11

How do I set up a professional email with my domain?

Accepted Answer

Use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 to get email@yourdomain.com. They handle email hosting, spam filtering, and provide productivity tools. Costs $6-12/user/month but is essential for credibility.

Question 12

What uptime should I expect from web hosting?

Accepted Answer

Reputable hosts offer 99.9% uptime guarantees, meaning less than 9 hours of downtime per year. Check reviews for actual uptime performance—the guarantee is only as good as the provider's track record.

Question 13

How much hosting bandwidth and storage do I need?

Accepted Answer

Most startups need minimal resources initially. A basic plan (10-50GB storage, unmetered bandwidth) handles thousands of visitors. Upgrade when you actually hit limits, not in anticipation.

Question 14

What is the difference between shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting?

Accepted Answer

Shared hosting puts many sites on one server (cheapest, less control). VPS gives you a virtual private slice (more resources, more control). Dedicated means an entire server for you (most expensive, full control). Start shared, upgrade as needed.

Question 15

Should my startup use a CDN?

Accepted Answer

A CDN (Content Delivery Network) speeds up your site for global visitors by caching content on servers worldwide. Free options like Cloudflare are worth setting up even early on for performance and security benefits.

I need a domain and website hosting

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