What is a Domain?

I'm finding that even seasoned small business owners consider the following terms a little nebulous. It makes me scratch my head - what is happening in the process of building a website where the user is not starting with basic terms and concepts of how things are connected? So.. you know what I did.

Sometimes you need to present a primer... or in my case, analogies.

What is the difference between domains, websites, hosting, and email?

Think of your online setup like building a house:

• Domain: Your domain name (e.g., yourbusiness.com) is your street address. It’s where people go to find you online.

• Hosting: Hosting is the lot (or foundation) your house sits on. You rent space from hosting companies like GoDaddy, Bluehost, or Siteground to make your website accessible online. In real life, that is the mortgage and the property tax. SMH.

• Website: Your website is the house. You design it using website builders like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress, making sure it reflects your brand and is easy for visitors to navigate.

• Email: Your email is the mailbox connected to your domain. Services like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 help manage your email communications.

I haven't even gotten started with Water & Power or interior designers (website designers) or drywallers or the handyman.

Let me know if this makes more sense now. I have a full carousel that describes each element here.