SEO, domains, hosting,
cPanel… confused?
You don’t need to learn a new trade to put your business online. Here’s what the words mean, and a simpler way to get started.
Your domain.
The address customers type or click to reach you.
Your hosting.
The service that keeps your website available online.
Your website.
The pages that explain your business and help people get in touch.
Different jobs, but they can come together in one managed website package.
Common terms.
Everyday explanations.
Open any term below. You don’t have to memorise these or manage everything yourself.
Domain / domain name
Your website’s address, such as yourbusiness.co.uk. Registering a domain reserves the name; it does not create a website by itself. The registration needs renewing when it is due.
Web hosting
The service that stores your website’s files and makes them available when someone visits. A managed website package can include hosting, so you don’t have to arrange it separately.
Website
The pages, words, photographs and features your customers see and use. Your domain is its address, and hosting keeps it available online.
SEO — search engine optimisation
Improving a website so search engines can understand it and relevant people can find it through unpaid search results. It is ongoing work, not a button that guarantees first place on Google.
cPanel / hosting control panel
A dashboard for managing a hosting account, including features such as website files, email accounts and settings. cPanel is one brand; some providers use a different panel. With a managed service, your provider can handle the technical setup.
DNS
The settings that connect your domain to the services it uses, including your website and email. Think of them as directions telling the internet where to find things. Your provider can set these up for you.
WordPress
Software used to build and edit websites. It is not the same thing as a domain or a hosting service. A provider can build and manage a WordPress website for you, or use another platform that suits the job.
SSL / HTTPS
The certificate and secure connection used to encrypt information travelling between a visitor’s browser and your website. HTTPS is the secure form of a website address. Your provider can arrange the certificate and setup.
Business email
An email address using your domain, such as hello@yourbusiness.co.uk. Email and the website are separate services, even when a package includes both. Check how many mailboxes are included.
Theme / template
A starting design for a website. It can be personalised with your logo, colours, services, photographs and business information. A ready-built package can save you from designing every page yourself.
Plugin
An add-on that gives website software an extra feature, such as a contact form. Some are free and some are paid. Your provider should explain any extra costs and who looks after updates.
Mobile-friendly / responsive
A website whose layout adjusts to phones, tablets and larger screens. Customers should be able to read it and get in touch without struggling with a desktop-sized page on their phone.
Start with a package.
Make it your business’s website.
Powell Hosts brings the website build, hosting and support together. Choose a suitable package, tell us about your business and review your personalised website before it goes live.
Powell SEO and Powell Hosts are both run by Jeremy Powell.
- Personalised around your business
Your branding, services, opening hours and contact information, rather than a blank page for you to build.
- See what’s included before you choose
The package comparison explains the pages, hosting, email and support included, along with any additional costs.
- Someone to help with the setup
Discuss your domain and existing email before changing anything. You don’t need to learn a control panel first.
Which route fits you?
“I haven’t got a website yet.”
Start by looking at Powell Hosts’ website packages. You can compare the options and choose the right starting point for a website that is built for you.
Powell Hosts specialises in garages and motor-trade businesses. If you run a different type of business, ask about a suitable package before choosing a plan.
“I already have a website, but people aren’t finding it.”
You may need improvements to the site you already have. Explore Powell SEO’s services or tell Jeremy about the problem. We’ll assess the existing website before recommending the work.
“I already own a domain or use business email.”
Tell us what you have before ordering or changing settings. We can discuss connecting an existing domain and quote for any migration work that is needed.