Domain names and Website Hosting are one of the first steps you need to take with regard to setting up a website. The domain name identifies your website and looks something like www.yourwebsite.com.au

The steps for establishing domain names & hosting are:

1. Choosing your domain name:

The choice of a Domain Name has important implications on the effectiveness of your website. If you can would you discuss this with us first, mainly as your choice should consider:

• Your companies geographic coverage
• Client expectations
• Search Engine Optimisation
• Multiple Domain Names
• Cost (below we set out some very cost effective providers)

“Read more - What is a domain name?”

2. Checking if the domain name is available:

To check if a domain name is available - we recommend:

Click on this link to WEBCITY - Discount Australian Domain Name Registration Services

If you find it is not available, try a different name, or try it with hyphens (“-“) between the words in the name.

Work out your shortlist of available names.  Also note that once you have registered your Domain Name you have exclusive use of it providing you continue to pay your annual fee.

“Read more – Step-by-step Domain name availability check.”

3. Registering and hosting your domain name & website:

Once you have decided on your domain name, but before you rush out and register it - you must consider the fact that domain names are only one part of your website.  The other is website hosting.  The most cost effective solution is to buy them at the same time.  For those who want to go ahead with registering your domain name anyway - follow these instructions: “How do I Register a Domain Name (without hosting)?”

“Read more - What is website hosting?”

Next, you need to determine which website hosting package you are going to buy:

We believe the most cost-effective website hosting strategy for small-medium business is to host with a high quality Professional Specialist Hosting Service provider.

We have shortlisted 3 packages with our recommend hosting provider Webcity that will be suitable for the websites we provide.  The difference between them mainly relates to how many domain names &/or websites you want to put on your website hosting. We particularly recommend the Pro package for small business websites as this has unlimited space/email accounts/traffic. It is possible to upgrade at any time to a higher package.

Now you have decided which package suits your business - it's time to click on one of the links above & buy your hosting & register your domain name at the same time.  To make this easier, you may like to follow the instructions I have attached here:   “Read more - How to buy your web hosting & domain name?”

NOTE: You do not need to have a website to register a domain name.  While it is common to register your domain names & hosting at the same time, there may be reasons for registering your domain name separately or earlier.  You will however, incurr a small fee for DNS management for your domain name.

“Read more - How do I Register a Domain Name (without hosting)?”