What Are Domain Names and Web Hosting?
If you have ever tried to get a website set up, you have probably heard both terms thrown around. They sound similar, they are often sold together, but they are two completely separate things. Here is what each one means and how they work together.
What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is your website's address. It is what people type into their browser to find you, for example nightly.com.au.
Behind the scenes, every website lives on a server with a numerical IP address. A domain name is simply a human-readable version of that address. Instead of asking your customers to type in a string of numbers, your domain name points their browser to the right place automatically.
In Australia, common domain extensions include:
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.com.au — the standard for Australian businesses
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.au — a shorter option introduced in 2022, available to any Australian entity
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.com — globally recognised, no Australian residency requirement
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.net / .org — less common for small business but still widely used
Domain names are registered through a domain registrar and are typically renewed annually. Expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $30 per year for a standard .com.au domain.
What is Web Hosting?
Web hosting is the service that stores all the files that make up your website, the pages, images, code, and databases. When someone visits your domain, their browser connects to your hosting server and loads those files.
A simple way to picture it: if your website is a house, web hosting is the land and building itself, and your domain name is the street address that tells people how to find it.
Without hosting, your domain goes nowhere. Without a domain, nobody can find your hosted files. You need both.
Do They Have to Come from the Same Provider?
No. You can register your domain with one company and host your website with another. Many businesses do exactly this.
If they are with separate providers, you connect them by updating your domain's DNS settings to point to your hosting provider's nameservers. For example, if you host with Nightly your nameservers would look something like this:
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ns1.nocturnify.com
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ns2.nocturnify.com
You enter those into your domain registrar's DNS settings and within 24 to 48 hours your domain points to your hosting. If you host with Nightly we provide you with the exact nameserver details to make that connection, so there is nothing to figure out on your end.
What Should Australian Small Businesses Look For in Hosting?
Not all hosting is created equal. For Australian businesses, the most important factor is server location. A hosting provider with servers in Australia or the Asia-Pacific region will load your site significantly faster for Australian visitors than one with servers only in the US or Europe.
Things to look for:
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Australian or Asia-Pacific servers for fast local load speeds
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SSL certificate included (the padlock in the browser bar, now essential for trust and SEO)
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Daily backups so your site can be restored if something goes wrong
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Email hosting if you want a professional address like [email protected]
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Local support in Australian business hours
Pricing for quality Australian web hosting typically starts around $10 to $20 per month for a small business website. Be cautious of very cheap offshore hosting where the only Australian thing is the domain name.
Do I Own My Domain and Hosting?
You should. Always register your domain in your own name or your business name, not your web designer's account. If you ever change providers or designers, you need full access to transfer your domain and hosting without having to chase anyone for login details.
At Nightly we always register domains and set up hosting accounts in our clients' names. It is your business and your asset.
Need Help Sorting It Out?
Setting up domains and hosting does not have to be complicated. If you are starting a new website or migrating an existing one, get in touch with us and we will handle everything from registration through to going live.