Selecting a domain name for your website is just the first step to launching your Internet presence. After picking an identity, you'll need to register the name, and, in many cases, sift through web hosting providers to find the best home for your website. While there are countless configurations, depending upon your budget and skill level you'll either need to select an all-in-one package or piece together your hosting and registration package for yourself.
Registering Your Domain
Registering a domain name merely sets a claim on that URL and prevents others from using it. As owner of the domain name, you have the option to park it on your own server, on a shared machine or on a dedicated server in a co-location facility. Additionally, as domain name owner, you're entitled to transfer that domain name to any server you choose. Merely registering a domain name doesn't guarantee you the web hosting services needed to get a website up and running.
The All-Inclusive Option
If you're new to the online publishing world or don't have the time to configure your domain on your own, several companies offer developers the opportunity to secure a domain name and web hosting in a single transaction; for example, Network Solutions, Go Daddy, Yahoo and others offer this all-inclusive service. Although you'll spend a little more upfront, selecting this option means you'll save yourself the trouble of shopping for a hosting service and mapping your host with DNS servers later.
Independent Hosting and Registration
Do-it-yourself types can save a few bucks and configure their hosting options to their specific needs if they tackle domain-name registration and hosting separately. Literally dozens of companies offer domain registration for less than $10 with no further commitment. Simply nail down your domain name and start hunting for a host. You'll have more flexibility to meet your site's needs, as well as fewer contractual commitments to uphold if you tackle the project on your own.
DNS Mapping
If you opt to secure a domain name and host it on independent services, you'll need to map your domain name once you select your host. Mapping your domain name allows domain name servers to locate the IP address at which your website is hosted. Without it, your domain name won't be translated to machine interface language, and your domain will float unattached--and impossible to locate--in cyberspace. Your host should provide instructions on DNS mapping.
Read the Fine Print
Whether you use the all-inclusive option or find your own hosting, pay attention to the terms in your contract. As domain name owner you're always entitled to map your domain to a different server from a different host, but moving your website may not sever ties with your previous host. Many web hosting services provide fixed-length contracts to their customers: You can move your website elsewhere, but you're still on the hook for rent on your server until the end of your contract whether you're using it or not.