When you’re starting a business, you know you need to get the word out. What’s it going to be?

An advertising blimp at a football game? Flyering on Main Street? Unleashing your army of carrier pigeons?

Back before the internet, maybe. In 2024, you can spread the word with your domain and website. But what exactly do these words mean?

Domain vs website is a common query for those setting off on their business journey. You know you need an online presence, but how do you get one?

You’re about to find out. Let’s unravel domain vs website and find out how to build an online platform your customers will find, trust — and love.

What is a Domain?

A domain, also called a domain name, is a unique web address that hosts a website. Domains are made up of a memorable alphanumeric ‘name’ like ‘Atom’ and a top-level domain or extension such as .com, .org, or .net. Our domain is Atom.com. A domain name is an online location, where you’ll find…

What is a Website?

A website is a collection of interlinked web pages that you find at a domain. The individual web pages are files of information stored on a server. These files are interpreted by your computer browser and displayed, as you see them, on your computer screen.

What is the Difference between Domain and Website?

Domain vs website gets confusing because you can’t find one without the other. The domain is the location of the website, and if there’s no website at a certain domain, your browser will return an error message.

To understand the difference, let’s find out how the websites work in the domain name system.

Domains are how people navigate the internet but every domain is paired with a unique IP address that web browsers use to find the domain. Domains like atom.com, whitehouse.gov, and google.com are matched with IP addresses like 182.157.1.38 or 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334 — and we use domains because they are much easier to remember and type than IP addresses.

A domain name is like the street address ― 123 Main Street — and the IP address is like the GPS coordinates. If you’re writing a postcard, you’ll use the street address every time, but you might put GPS coordinates into Google Maps because they’re easier for a computer to interpret.

A website, on the other hand, is the brick-and-mortar house that’s built on 123 Main Street. Websites are built out of text files, stored on a special computer called a server. The domain, matched with the IP address, tells your browser where to find these files.

What is a URL?

So what’s a URL in all of this? URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator and URLs are specific addresses for a single web page. A domain name is always part of a URL, but because every web page has a URL they usually include more information, like:

• https://www.atom.com/blog/how-to-buy-a-domain-name/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_name
• https://seas.harvard.edu/computer-science

URLs include the domain name, as well as a transfer protocol (https://), a subdomain (www, en or seas), and the further folder and path to the specific page of the website, such as ‘blog/how-to-buy-a-domain-name/’.

Does My Business Need a Website?

Whether you’re selling a streamlined SAAS tool for workflow management or stream-shined pebbles and gems with special powers, a website allows customers to find you and build a connection to your brand.

Over 70% of businesses have a website as of 2024 and 43% of small businesses are prioritizing investment in website performance. Even if you’re not actively selling products online, a website is still the first port of call for many customers: 97% of internet users search online for local businesses, and 70% will choose to visit a store because of what they find online.

Here’s why your business needs a website:

• Build your brand: A strong domain name, emotive logo, and effective website are the tools for connecting with customers and building a brand that remains in their hearts and minds.

• For a professional shine: it’s easy to make a Facebook or Instagram page. A website reassures customers that you’re serious.

• Increased visibility: A strong domain name and optimized SEO ensures searchers will find your business.

• Demonstrate social proof: Your website can display customer testimonials, proving to future shoppers that you offer quality and reliability.

• Communicate with your customers: A website is a primary device for customer email capture and your domain name forms the backbone of your email marketing address.

• Find new customers: A website lets you reach customers all over the world. Think big.

Over a quarter of business is conducted online. To claim your share, you’ll need a domain and a website.

How to Get a Website

Both hi-tech and low-fi businesses need a website to connect with customers and build their brand. And the good news is, it doesn’t have to be complicated. There are a range of helpful tools that make buying a domain and building a website easy.

1. Buy a Domain

As we now know, you need a domain before you can get a website. That means you’ll need to register a new domain name or purchase a domain that matches your brand’s needs.

Think carefully. The domain you choose will likely be with you for the lifespan of your business. It should contribute to your brand, tell your audience about your values, and boost your credibility by following established trends. Here’s what to look out for when choosing a domain name:

• Stay short and memorable. Under 13 characters is best.
  
• No numbers or hyphens. Yourbusiness.com is more respectable than your-business.com or yourbusiness1.com.
  
• Avoid generic names: your name will be your brand, and should inspire a feeling in your customers. Generic domains like carwindowrepair.com, or numberonechicagoplumber.com won’t connect with your audience.
  
• Check for trademark conflicts. You have enough competitors, so don’t compete over your domain name. Atom’s free trademark checker helps you here.
  
• Use an elite extension. There are over 1600 extensions, but only a few are recognized and trusted by web users. .com is king, while .io, .co, and .org might present other options depending on the industry. 

If you’re ready to brainstorm name ideas, try our domain name finder to get the ball rolling.

And when it’s time to buy, check out our Premium Domain Marketplace. Every name is curated by domain experts to ensure only the best are offered. This gives you the confidence to invest in a great domain, and a strong platform for your brand online.

Once you own your domain you have to choose a domain registrar to manage it. Look out for a registrar that offers web hosting, which we’ll get to next.

2. Find a Web Host

Next up you need a hosting provider or web host. Web hosts provide the necessary server space for your website files, and the cost will vary based on your storage needs, and the traffic you expect your website to generate.

Many domain registrars also offer web hosting packages, meaning you can tick two birds off with one stone by choosing an all-in-one provider.

3. Build Your Website

With your domain name and web host, it’s time to get creative. Build a website that wows your customers and strengthens your brand.

Don’t worry, you’re not going to have to learn to code. There are many web builder tools out there that make website design easy, and offer a platform for managing your pages.

The number one most popular of these web builder tools is WordPress. WordPress has become the ubiquitous tool for building a website, and it’s used by 45.8% of all websites.

Whichever web builder you choose, find one with reliable security infrastructure and intuitive functionality. You’ve got enough on your plate as a business owner without complicating things on the back end of your website. 

Wrapping Up

So it was never really domain vs website after all. Domain name and website overlap and work together: one is your unique online address, and the other is the castle of content and marketing material you build there. Both play a significant role in your online brand building.

This isn’t chicken and egg, however. Domain always comes first. So head over to our Premium Domain Marketplace today to find a domain name that fits your brand and inspires your customers.

FAQ:

Your domain vs website questions are answered here.

Do I need a website or a domain?

You need both. The domain name is how web users access your website, and tells your web browser the location of the website files. Your website is the collection of files and interlinked web pages hosted at that location.

Does a domain name give you a website?

No, a domain name only provides you with a unique web address, at which your website can be located. For a website, you need web hosting to store your website files and a web builder tool to help construct those files

Who actually owns a domain name?

Domain names are owned and managed by domain registries and ICANN — the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. When you buy a domain name you have to register it with a domain registrar. This gives you the exclusive right to use that domain name for as long as you renew your registration.