Question 1

What is the difference between a domain name and a website?

Accepted Answer

Below is a video explaining the difference, as well as a transcript of the video.

While I appreciate the wonderful video created by GoDaddy to explain this, I do not recommend using GoDaddy for buying your domain name. My recommended company to buy a domain name and hosting is called SiteGround.

Transcript of the video (italicized):

*Hi there. In this video, you'll learn the difference between a domain and a website.

While domains and websites are closely connected, they are two very different things.

After registering a domain, you need to do something with it, put it to work for you. Your domain can be used for a website, for an email account, or for both.

You can, however, register a domain and choose NOT to use it for a website or an email account BUT you can't have a website or an email account without a domain.

When used for a website, your domain name is what people type into their browser to find your site — this is why they are sometimes referred to as web addresses.

So godaddy.com is the domain used for GoDaddy's website.

Registering a domain, however, doesn't automatically create a website — it only means that you've registered the domain.

So for example, if you decided to start your own business and you thought of great name for it, you might copyright the name to protect it.

However, simply giving your business a name is only one of many steps that go into building your business.

In the same manner, when you register a domain and want to use it for a website, you'll need to first build the website, and then find a host for it, so it can be visible on the Web.

What's a host? Website hosts are companies that house, serve, and maintain files for one or more websites.

Think of a website hosting company like a shopping center that contains several individual stores.

If you want to open a store at the shopping center, you can lease space and set up shop.

Just like a shopping center, website hosting companies enable you to lease space on their web servers where you can store your website files and make them available for visitors to view.

Because you have registered your domain, you can use it at any web hosting company you want.

Remember your store in the shopping center? Suppose you decided to move your store and lease space at a different shopping center.

If you packed up your products and moved to a new location, you would still be able to use the same name for your store.

The same is true for your domain — regardless of where you decided to host your website's files, your domain remains yours for the duration of your registration.

GoDaddy is both a domain registrar AND a website hosting company — and we have the tools to help you build your website.

This means you can register your domain name, build a website for it, and get it on the web - all in one place.

Question 2

How do you use a domain name?

Accepted Answer

There are 3 things you can use a domain name: (a) create a professional email; (b) create a website; (c) forward to another page, like a social media account. Watch this video to learn more (and transcription provided below too).

While I greatly appreciate the wonderful explainer video created by GoDaddy, I do not recommend them as a company to buy products from. The company I presently recommend to buy domain names and hosting from is called SiteGround.

Transcript from the video (italicized):

*We’re gonna show you three ways that you can use your new domain name.

Did you go with the classic .com, or claim a sly new extension like .guru, either way, your domain name is a powerful little piece of text.

You’ve purchased the perfect domain name ready to put it to work for you. The first way you can use your domain name is to create an email account. Already have an email account?

Most people do. Chances are sometime in past you signed up for a free email account - it was enough for keeping in touch with friends and creating your online dating profile.

But now you’re a grown-up; and you do grown-up stuff, like running your small business. Isn’t time to up your email game? You can use your domain name for a custom email address.

Think about it; if you want your business to stand out from the crowd, which email address is going to get it noticed: the free one you’ve had since college, or the customized one that uses the name of your business.

Using your domain name for your email address not only looks more professional, it’s a great way to promote your business!

Customized email is great, but like most people, you probably got your domain name to create a website for it, which is the second thing you can do with your domain name.

Using your domain name for a website gives you a dedicated, branded space to introduce your business to anyone, anywhere, who can connect to the Internet.

Even better, your website will give your business almost boundless marketing reach. People from Arizona to Zimbabwe will be able to can find you online with just a click of the mouse.

But what happens if you’re so busy running your business that you just can’t find the time to build your website, or even find someone to do it for you.

You might consider forwarding your domain name to somewhere else on the Web, until you get site up and running. This is the third thing you can do with your domain name. Confused? Let me explain.

It’s not uncommon for small businesses just starting out to create a Facebook business page.

If you have a Facebook business page or another social media account on the Internet, you can use your domain name to forward visitors to that page, until your website is up and running.

With forwarding in place, anyone who navigates to your domain name in their browser, will be automatically forwarded to a web page you currently have – like a Facebook business page.

Clever, right?

And there you have it.

With all the power and potential your domain name has, why would you ever let it just sit there and collect dust.

Use it for your email address, a new website, or to forward visitors to an existing website, but put it to work for you now!*

What is the difference between a domain name and a website?

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