Out with the old and in with the new

It’s time to say goodbye to 2017, and as the year comes to an end, your annual web hosting bill is due. This allows your website to remain online for another year.

“What do you mean my web hosting is due? I just renewed my domain name a few months ago and it only cost my $10. Why am I paying for that again and why is it so much more?”

We hear this quite often around this time of the year. To help remove some of the confusion – and please don’t think you’re being singled out as there are many people struggling with this – I’ve decided to explain the difference between web hosting and domain name renewal.

Post Office

The domain name is like the P.O. box number: you are the sole owner of that domain name (or web address) and there is no other person, or website, that can have that name. Having a domain name does not mean you can have your website online and ready for the world to see. You need a reliable web server with the proper configuration to host your site. In other words, you can’t have a P.O. box number without the physical P.O. box to receive your mail.

Your web hosting is often referred to as the web server. Web hosting providers will rent out network connections or web servers, much like the Post Office rents out the P.O. Boxes. Think of the web host as the “doctor” of your website. Web hosting providers, in most cases, will handle any maintenance work, including backup and disaster recoveries.

Stress free hosting provided in-house

At Smashing Pixels, we do our own hosting. When you hosting with us that means you can call us directly and if any issues come up, we deal with it and help you through it. We are just one of many hosts and hosting companies available to you. When choosing a hosting company, it is best to make sure it is one that can solve any issues you may encounter and is available when you need them. Also try to find a host that is in the same time zone as you, that way if your issue happens between regular business hours, they are more likely to be around to help you.

If you have any questions about hosting give us a call at 226-250-0112 and we’ll be happy to help!

Categories: Websites /

About the Author: Trevor Cherewka

For over 20 years, I’ve been immersed in the world of sales and marketing, but my real passion took off in 2008. That’s when I noticed a growing need for local businesses to be found online. People were searching for services in their area, yet many businesses didn’t have the tools to be visible. So, I began building websites for small businesses, ensuring they had an online presence that helped them get noticed. In 2010, I dove into social media, understanding how it could transform the way businesses engage with their audience. I wanted to help my clients connect with their customers in meaningful ways. By 2013, my attention shifted to SEO, where I invested in learning everything I could through conferences across the U.S. and Canada. SEO was the future, and wanted to make sure my clients were ready.

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