If you’re new to launching a website, terms like hosting and domain name can be confusing. At Solid Ground, we work with small businesses, trades, and nonprofits across the Black Hills region—including Spearfish, Sturgis, Belle Fourche, and Rapid City—to make websites simple, clear, and effective. In this post, we’ll break down exactly what hosting and domain names are, and why you need both to get your site online.
- What Is a Domain Name?
- Think of a domain name like your street address. It’s the name people type to visit your site (like
yourbusiness.com). You register it yearly through a domain registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy.- It’s your online identity
- Can be connected to emails (like
you@yourbusiness.com) - Needs to be renewed to keep it active
- Think of a domain name like your street address. It’s the name people type to visit your site (like
- What Is Hosting?
- Hosting is where your website lives—the physical server that stores your files, images, and content. Without hosting, your domain name has nowhere to point.
- Hosting providers include SiteGround, WP Engine, etc.
- You pay monthly or annually
- Includes resources like bandwidth, storage, backups
- Hosting is where your website lives—the physical server that stores your files, images, and content. Without hosting, your domain name has nowhere to point.
- Why You Need Both
- You need a domain name so people can find you, and hosting so your site can be displayed. They’re two parts of the same system—and both must be working for your site to be live.
- What About Email?
- Some domain registrars or hosting providers offer basic email hosting. For businesses, we often recommend pairing your domain with Google Workspace or a similar email service for reliability.
- How Solid Ground Can Help
- Don’t want to deal with managing renewals or chasing down DNS settings? Solid Ground offers domain assistance and hosting management—so your site stays secure, online, and up-to-date. We’ll handle the technical pieces, so you can stay focused on your business.
Need help registering a domain, setting up hosting, or managing renewals? Contact Solid Ground—we’ll walk you through it, or take it off your hands entirely.