After you register
I bought a domain, now what?
Congratulations, you own a domain name. That is step one. Next you need hosting for your website, DNS settings to connect the two, and optionally business email. Here is the order that actually works.
- 5/5 from owners I've worked with
- 10+
- Years working on websites
- ~24h
- Typical first response
What working together looks like
- Tell me what's going on. A short reply, no forms or sales calls.
- Honest scope and a clear quote, usually within 24 hours.
- Work done by Charlie. One person from start to finish.
How it works
What to do after you register a domain
If you are thinking "I own a domain, now what?" start here. These steps apply whether you bought the name yesterday or have had it sitting unused for months.
- 01
1. Get hosting for your website
Your domain is just the address. You still need a server to store your site files. That is hosting. You can use managed hosting from a provider, or a service like SiteSubs ($20/month after a custom build). The domain and hosting are separate accounts and separate bills.
- 02
2. Point your domain at your hosting (DNS)
Log into your domain registrar and update DNS. Usually that means changing nameservers to your host, or adding an A record that points to your host IP address. Your hosting provider will tell you exactly which values to use. Changes can take a few minutes to 48 hours to propagate.
- 03
3. Build or upload your website
Once DNS is connected, visitors who type your domain will reach your site. You can use a builder, WordPress, or have a site built for you. A custom SiteSubs build is a flat $800 for five core pages; the domain itself stays a separate cost you manage with your registrar.
- 04
4. Set up www (optional but common)
Many people want both yourbusiness.com.au and www.yourbusiness.com.au to work. That usually means adding a CNAME or redirect so one version forwards to the other. Pick one as your main URL and stick with it for SEO consistency.
- 05
5. Set up business email (optional)
If you want hello@yourbusiness.com.au, you need an email provider (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, etc.) and MX records in your DNS. Email is also a separate cost from your website. See our email setup guide for the details.
Domain and hosting: how they connect
Think of it this way: the domain tells the internet where to go. Hosting is what lives at that address.
When someone visits your domain, DNS looks up where your site is hosted and loads the files from that server. If DNS is wrong or still propagating, visitors see an error, a parking page, or the old site.
Your registrar (where you bought the domain) and your host (where your site files live) are often two different companies. That is normal. You just need DNS to bridge them.
How to buy a domain and build a website
These are two separate jobs that people often bundle mentally but pay for separately.
First, register the domain with a registrar and keep auto-renewal on. Second, get hosting and a website on that hosting. Third, connect the domain via DNS so the address reaches the site.
If you would rather not stitch all of that together yourself, that is a common reason to hire someone. SiteSubs covers the site build and ongoing hosting; you keep the domain in your own registrar account and I help point it at the live site when you launch.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Ready when you are
Want the site done without the DNS headache?
SiteSubs builds your website and handles hosting. You register the domain yourself; I help connect it when you go live. Email setup is separate, but I can point you in the right direction.
Reply within ~24 hours · No obligation · You own the site