If you're starting a website for your business, blog, or personal brand, you're going to run into two foundational terms: **domain** and **hosting**. And if you’ve ever wondered what the heck the difference is, you’re not alone.
Here’s an easy way to think about it:
**Your domain is your address.**
**Your hosting is your house.**
Let’s break it down in plain English — so you can stop Googling and start building.

What Is a Domain?

A domain is the unique web address where people can find your website. Think of it like the street address for your digital storefront. It’s what people type into their browser to find you online.

For example:

www.mizbizco.com is a domain.
So is yourawesomebrand.com.

You buy a domain from a domain registrar (like GoDaddy, Google Domains, or Namecheap), and you typically pay for it annually. Domains are customizable — you choose the name — but they need to be unique. Once someone owns a domain, it's theirs unless they give it up.

Important tip: Buying a domain does not mean you have a working website. It's just your address — not the house that lives at that address.

What Is Hosting?

Hosting is the service that stores all the files, images, videos, code, and content that make up your website. Think of it as the actual house that your website visitors walk into when they arrive.

When someone types in your domain, their browser connects to your hosting server — and loads your website from there.

You can get hosting from companies like:

SiteGround
Bluehost
Hostinger
WP Engine
Squarespace or Wix (if you use their site builders, they include hosting)

Different hosts offer different speeds, reliability, customer service, and features — and not all are created equal. (Yes, we have favorites — and we share them in our free guide below 👇.)

Why You Need Both

To launch a website, you need both a domain AND hosting. Without a domain, no one can find your site. Without hosting, there’s nothing to load.

Here’s how it works in real life:

You buy a domain name — like yourbiz.com.
You purchase hosting — from a provider that matches your needs and budget.
You “connect” the domain to the hosting — so when someone visits your URL, they see your site.

If it sounds a little techy, don’t worry. That’s exactly what we help with.

We’ll Help You Get Both — and Move In With Confidence

At MizBizCo, we know how overwhelming the tech side of setting up a website can be. There are so many options, confusing terms, and costly mistakes to avoid.

That’s why we created the Hosting & Domain Guide — totally free, packed with clear steps, and beginner-friendly.

Whether you’re DIY-ing your site or preparing to work with a designer, this guide will help you:

Understand the difference between domains and hosting
Pick the right domain name (plus tools to help)
Choose a reliable host that won’t let your site go down at 3 a.m.
Avoid common pitfalls (like getting overcharged or locked out of your own domain)

Contact us to get yours today!