You can look at a website as a folder on your desktop. The domain or URL is the name of that folder and the hosting is the desktop where that folder is stored. A URL is the combination of the domain name, along with other information, that creates a web address and directs to a specific webpage online. It’s a set of directions and every web page has a unique one.

A domain name is an easy-to-remember name that’s associated with a physical IP address on the Internet. Without a domain name, you would have to enter long strings of numbers called an IP address to visit a website. An IP address is a set of numbers that identify a network device. A domain name is associated with a specific IP address on the internet. You can reach a site by typing in the IP address alone and that will take you directly to the site. But note, not every single website has an IP address specifically allocated to it.

In essence, a domain is needed to cover up the IP address for the end user and provide directions for the internet to find the IP address. So how do you get one? There are plenty of places to purchase domains. In fact, you can purchase a domain with almost every hosting provider as they are also domain name registrars and accredited by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), a non-profit organization responsible for managing domain names.

However, not all domain registrars have the license to sell all domain extensions. A couple of things you want keep in mind when deciding where to purchase your domain.

• Pricing
• Registration Period
• Add-ons (i.e. security, package deals with WordPress etc.) 

Please note: if this is a new URL, you want to ensure you will stay with the hosting it is associated with for the next 60 days. Domains cannot be transferred within 60 days of creation or transferred again. If you need a domain transfer completed. Click below to link to my next video. 

For domains, our top five picks are Domain.com, Bluehost, Godaddy, Namecheap and Google domains. 

First, you can look up a domain name on one of the providers. Although more expensive, when searching for domains, you want to make sure you purchase one with a domain extension that is credible and related to your country. If you have the budget. We highly recommend purchasing similar domain names associated with your domain. Say you are from Canada, running a bagel shop called Flamingobagels. We would purchase flamingobalgels.com and .ca just so you are protected. Once you have selected your domains, head to the check out and that’s it! You have purchased and learned about domains.