Once your new website is designed and built, it needs somewhere to live. That's hosting. It's one of those things most small business owners never think about until something goes wrong, and then it suddenly matters a lot.
Here's a plain-English guide to what hosting is, how domains, SSL and backups fit in, and the two ways I look after sites for clients, so you can pick the one that suits how you work.
What hosting actually is
Your website is a set of files: pages, images, code and sometimes a database. For people to see it, those files need to sit on a computer that's switched on, connected to the internet and ready to send your pages to anyone who asks for them, day and night. That computer is called a server, and renting space on one is hosting.
Good hosting is fast, secure and reliable. Poor hosting shows up as slow pages, sites that drop offline, or a site that gets hacked and nobody notices for weeks.
Domains, SSL and backups
Hosting gets talked about alongside a few other things. They're related, but they're not the same.
Your domain is your address, like yourbusiness.com.au. You register it through a domain registrar and renew it, usually every year or two. The domain points to wherever your site is hosted. It should always be registered in your name (for a .com.au, that's usually against your ABN), even if someone else manages it for you.
SSL is what gives you the padlock in the browser bar and the "https" at the start of your address. It encrypts information sent between your visitors and your site, like enquiry form details. Without it, browsers show a "Not secure" warning, which is the last thing you want a new customer to see.
Backups are copies of your site saved regularly, ideally stored somewhere other than the server itself. If an update breaks something or the site is compromised, a recent backup means it can be restored quickly instead of rebuilt.
Updates keep the software your site runs on current. Skipping them is one of the most common ways small business sites end up with security problems.
The two ways I look after your site
I can organise your domain and hosting for you. Once your site is live, there are two ways to run it, depending on how hands-on you want to be. Either way, you'll know the cost up front, because it's quoted with your website.
Option 1: Managed by me
This is the simpler, lower-cost option. I host your site and look after everything: the hosting, domain, SSL, backups and updates. When you need a change, like new photos, updated prices or different opening hours, you send it to me and I make it.
One monthly fee covers your hosting and your edits. There's nothing technical for you to log into or keep on top of.
It suits you if you'd rather spend your time running your business, your site doesn't change every week, and you like knowing someone is keeping an eye on it.
Option 2: Self-managed with WordPress
This is best if you want to edit the site yourself. I set your site up with an external hosting provider, in your name, with a WordPress content management system (CMS). You can log in whenever you like to write blog posts, update pages and manage your own content.
With this option, you pay the hosting provider directly, usually monthly. You're in charge of your content, and you have the freedom to make changes on your own schedule.
It suits you if you plan to blog regularly, update content often, or have someone on your team who's comfortable in a CMS.
WordPress isn't something every site needs. It's there for people who want to manage their own content, so it's a choice we make together rather than something built in by default.
Side by side
| Managed by me | Self-managed with WordPress | |
|---|---|---|
| Who hosts it | I do | An external hosting provider, in your name |
| Making changes | Send them to me and I make them | Log in and do it yourself |
| Blog posts | I add them for you | You write and publish them yourself |
| How you pay | One monthly fee covering hosting and edits | Hosting paid to the host, usually monthly |
| Technical upkeep | Handled for you | Up to you and your hosting provider |
| Best for | Busy owners who want it handled | Owners who want hands-on control |
Questions to ask any hosting provider
Whoever you end up with, these questions will tell you a lot:
- Is the domain registered in my name, and can I see the login?
- Is SSL included, and does it renew automatically?
- How often are backups taken, where are they stored, and how quickly can you restore one?
- Who handles software and security updates?
- What happens if the site goes down? Will I be told, or will I find out from a customer?
- What counts as a small edit, and what gets quoted separately?
- If I want to move my site somewhere else, how does that work?
That last one matters. You should never feel locked in. Your domain, your content and your site should be yours to take with you.
How to choose
A simple way to decide:
- Choose managed if you want the lowest-effort option, you'd rather send an email than learn a new system, and your content only changes now and then.
- Choose self-managed with WordPress if you want to publish your own blog posts, update pages often, or you simply like being in control.
Neither is the "right" answer. It comes down to how much time you want to spend on your website, and whether you enjoy that kind of thing. If you're not sure, tell me how you work and I'll give you an honest recommendation. You can also start with one and change later.
What I don't do
To be clear about scope: I set up the on-page SEO basics on every site, like meta titles and descriptions, alt text, headings, an XML sitemap, schema markup and Google Search Console. I don't run ads, manage social media or do link building. If you need marketing on top, I'm happy to point you to a specialist.
You can see everything included on the hosting and maintenance page. If you're still working out your overall budget, How much does a website cost? covers the ongoing costs to plan for.
Not sure which option suits you? Tell me a little about your business and I'll include hosting in your quote.
Start a conversation →Personal reply within 24 hours, always from me.
Chloe, Coco Creatives. Sydney web designer with 8 years in web design and branding. I design and build every site myself, from our first chat through to handover.
