Registering your domain name and web hosting together can make it easier to get your website online, as both services can be managed through the same account.
Whether you are setting up a new business website, blog, online store, or professional website, this guide explains the basic process of registering a domain and ordering web hosting with WebGuru.
Step 1: Choose Your Domain Name
Start by deciding on the domain name you want to use for your website.
For example:
yourbusiness.comyourbusiness.ngyourbusiness.com.ng
Choose a domain name that is relevant to your business, easy to remember, and suitable for your long-term online presence.
Before completing your order, check whether the domain name you want is available.
A good domain should be simple, relevant, and easy for customers to type and remember.
Step 2: Choose Your Web Hosting Plan
After choosing your domain name, select a hosting plan that matches your website's requirements.
For a new or small business website, WebGuru Shared Web Hosting may be suitable. If your website requires more resources, greater control or a different hosting environment as it grows, you may later consider a WebGuru VPS Hosting plan.
When choosing a hosting plan, consider:
- The type of website you are building
- The number of websites you need to host
- Expected website traffic
- Storage requirements
- Resource requirements
- Your current budget
- Your future business needs
If you are unsure whether shared hosting or VPS hosting is more appropriate for your website, you can also read our guide on Shared Hosting vs VPS Hosting: Which Is Right for You?
Choosing the right hosting environment from the beginning can help you avoid unnecessary upgrades or migrations later.
Step 3: Register the Domain and Add Hosting to Your Order
Once you have chosen your domain and hosting requirements, you can proceed with your WebGuru order.
If you do not already have a domain, select the option to register a new domain.
You can then select the hosting service you want to purchase.
Before proceeding, carefully check that the domain and hosting services displayed in your order are the ones you actually need.
Keep in mind that domain registration and hosting are separate services. Your domain gives your website its online address, while hosting provides the server environment where your website is stored and made available to visitors.
Step 4: Review Your Domain and Hosting Details
Before completing your order, carefully review all the information provided.
Check:
- Your domain name
- Domain extension
- Hosting plan
- Registration period
- Order price
- Account information
- Contact information
Pay particular attention to the spelling of your domain name.
For example, if you intend to register yourbusiness.com but accidentally enter yourbussiness.com, the incorrect domain may be registered instead. Therefore, always double-check your domain name before completing payment.
Step 5: Complete Your Order
Once you have reviewed your domain and hosting details, proceed with the available checkout and payment process.
After your order has been successfully processed, you should be able to manage your hosting account and related services through your WebGuru Client Area.
Depending on your hosting setup, your hosting control panel may also provide tools for managing your website, domains, and other hosting-related settings.
For example, cPanel provides domain-management features and DNS tools for supported hosting accounts. However, domain registration itself is handled through the domain registrar or hosting provider rather than through the standard cPanel Domains interface.
Step 6: Access Your WebGuru Client Area
Your WebGuru Client Area is where you can manage your hosting services and account.
After completing your order, log in to your WebGuru Client Area using your account details.
If you need help accessing your account, see our guide:
How to Log In to Your WebGuru Client Area
From your Client Area, you can access the relevant information and services associated with your WebGuru account.
If you experience difficulties accessing your account or locating your hosting service, contact WebGuru Support for assistance.
Domain and Hosting: What's the Difference?
It is important to understand that your domain and hosting perform different functions.
Your domain name is the address people use to find your website online.
For example:
yourbusiness.com
Your web hosting, on the other hand, provides the server environment where your website's files and related data are stored and made accessible to visitors.
There is also another important part of the process: DNS (Domain Name System).
DNS helps translate a human-readable domain name into the IP address used to locate the server hosting the website. In simple terms, DNS helps connect the domain name someone enters into their browser with the appropriate online destination.
You can learn more about how DNS works through Cloudflare's DNS guide.
Therefore, registering a domain does not automatically mean that you have a complete website. You generally need web hosting or another suitable website platform to make your website available online.
What Happens After You Register Your Domain and Hosting?
Once your domain and hosting have been successfully ordered, there are still a few steps involved before your website is fully operational.
Typically, you will need to:
- Access your hosting account.
- Connect or confirm your domain with the hosting service.
- Set up your website files or website application.
- Configure any required DNS settings.
- Set up an SSL certificate where applicable.
- Test your website before sharing it with customers.
The exact process can vary depending on your website and hosting configuration.
If your domain and hosting are purchased through the same provider, some of the setup may be simpler because the services can be managed within the same account.
Need Help Registering Your Domain and Hosting?
Choosing the right domain and hosting plan can sometimes be confusing, especially if you are launching your first website.
If you are unsure which option is right for your business, log in to your WebGuru account or contact WebGuru Support for assistance.
WebGuru can help you understand your hosting options and get your website infrastructure ready for your online presence.
