I'm preparing to get my first internet business up and running starting out with 5 niche sites - the content for these is almost complete and 95% ready to go online. I also intend to buy some sites with the view to improving their content and marketing etc. Given that this a new business, I might has well make sure that I set it up in a logical and sensible way. I have noticed that many members keep their domain names/ registrar separate from their hosting company. Is this simply down to economics i.e. register domain names with the cheapest option but be very selective about who hosts your sites, or are there other advantages to doing this?
Obtaining cheaper domain names elsewhere is one good reason. The other is that if you come into problems with your hosts, you can quickly and easily setup hosting elsewhere and just change the nameservers. No awkward transferring of domain names required. So yes, seperating the two is good incase things don't go according to plan.
Separating the two is a very good idea and can solve a multitude of issues including but not limited to what Noddegamra has stated. If you buy your domain from a host you might also not have as much availability as to what you can do with that domain once the host registers it. Most likely they are registering it the same way or using a registrar which you could register for personally, without actually receiving a control panel to manage the domain but rather having to ask the host to make modifications to your domain (slowing down productivity). And if ever your hosting account is suspended/terminated due to non-payment, at least you'll still have your domain and hopefully a backup of your hosting account.
The answers were very helpful - thanks. Keep things separate then There is one other aspect (actually quite a few lol) my newbie brain is trying to get itself around......What's the situation then regarding many host sites that automatically include a 'free domain forever' when you sign up? Are they really free forever or is there a catch ? The reason I ask is that the important domain I was going to register would be the name used for my business/tax accounts and doesn't need to be a visible website as such. Under this will be the other 5+ sites/domains that will be 'live' and the face of the business and from where the revenue comes....hopefully. Given that it is good practice to keep domains/host separate what do if I were to sign up to one of these sites ....
So, can you always buy a domain at something like namecheap.com and then use ANY host without transferring ownership? I was just asking a question about this because I dislike my host, and their support team is junk.
I imagine that the "free domain forever" will apply only to their own hosting and terms. If you transfer out you will obviously lose that domain's "forever" status and have to pay annualy or whatever. You should be careful. Nothing is really free, especially "forever". What may be the case is that the terms are the domain is essentially leased to you, meaning if you go they keep your domain. I wouldn't go for it anyway. Just cough up the £5-10 for your domain name on a seperate provider. Always be in control.
Seperating them is a good idea. My suggestion is to get domain from a domain provider like namecheap,dynadot,enom