Web Design
How to Register a .com.au Domain
How to get a .com.au domain: eligibility, choosing a name, registering it, WHOIS privacy and the .au direct option if you have no ABN.
How to choose a web hosting provider: match the type of hosting to your website (shared for a small brochure site, VPS or managed hosting for busier sites and online stores), pick a provider with Australian servers and local support, and check backups, security, SSL and how easy it is to leave. Price matters, but downtime and a hacked site cost far more than a few dollars a month.
What is web hosting?
Web hosting is the service that stores your website’s files and database on a server and delivers them to visitors when they type in your address. So what is a web hosting service? It rents you space and resources on that server, plus the security, backups and support around it.
Hosting is separate from your domain name. The domain is your address (yourbusiness.com.au); hosting is the building the address points to. You usually pay for each separately, though some providers sell both.
Do you need web hosting for your website?
Yes, every website needs hosting somewhere. If you build on Wix, Squarespace or Shopify, hosting is included in the monthly plan. If you have a WordPress site from wordpress.org or a custom-built site, you’ll need your own hosting provider.
What types of web hosting are there?
| Type | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Shared hosting | Your site shares one server and its resources with many other sites | Small brochure sites with modest traffic |
| VPS hosting | A virtual private server: a slice of a server with its own guaranteed resources | Growing sites, online stores, sites that need more control |
| Managed WordPress hosting | Hosting set up for WordPress, often with updates, backups and caching handled for you | Businesses on WordPress who don’t want to manage the server |
| Dedicated hosting | A whole physical server for your site or sites | Large, high-traffic or high-security sites |
What is VPS web hosting?
VPS (virtual private server) hosting splits one physical server into separate virtual servers. You still share the hardware, but your site gets its own allocation of memory and processing power, so a busy neighbour is less likely to slow you down. It costs more than shared hosting and usually needs someone technical to manage it, unless you choose a managed VPS.
How to choose a web host: what to check
Working out how to choose web hosting is easier with a checklist. Before you sign up, ask each provider:
- Where are the servers? Australian data centres usually mean faster loading for Australian visitors, and you know where your data is stored.
- When can I get support? Look for support during Australian business hours at a minimum, by phone and online, with a written record of what was agreed.
- What backups are included? Daily automatic backups, stored offsite, that you can restore yourself.
- What security is included? Free SSL certificates, malware scanning, a firewall and isolation between accounts on shared servers.
- What uptime do they commit to, and what happens if they miss it?
- Can I see server logs? Access to error and access logs helps your developer find problems and security issues.
- Can the plan grow with me? An easy upgrade path from shared to VPS saves a messy move later.
- How do I leave? You should be able to download your files and database at any time, with no lock-in.
Those questions are the core of how to choose a web hosting service that fits a small business, whichever provider you end up with.
What is the best web hosting in Australia?
There isn’t one best Australian web hosting provider for every business; the right one depends on your site, your traffic and how much help you want. When people compare the best web hosting in Australia, the providers that suit small businesses tend to share the same things: Australian servers, local support, daily backups, free SSL and clear pricing without long lock-ins. Use the checklist above to compare them rather than relying on “top 10” lists, which may include paid placements.
How do you find out who hosts a website?
A domain lookup tells you who the domain is registered with and which nameservers it uses, which often points to the host. For .au domains use the auDA WHOIS lookup; for .com and other domains use ICANN Lookup. If the nameservers belong to a service like Cloudflare, the host is hidden behind it, so check your invoices or ask your web developer.
Can you switch web hosting companies?
Yes. Moving hosts is common, and done carefully your visitors won’t notice. The usual steps:
- Set up the new hosting account (don’t cancel the old one yet).
- Copy the website files and database across, and check the site works on the new server.
- Move your email settings too, if your email is hosted with the old provider.
- Point your domain to the new host (update the nameservers or DNS records).
- Install the SSL certificate on the new host and test every page, form and checkout.
- Cancel the old account once everything has worked for a week or two.
If you’d rather not risk it, our website migration service moves the site for you, with every page, form and old address carried across.
Do you have to pay for web hosting?
For a business website, yes. Free hosting usually comes with ads on your site, a subdomain instead of your own address, tight limits and no support, which isn’t a good look for a business. Paid hosting for a small business site is an ongoing cost; at Rock Solid Marketing, web hosting starts from $400 + GST a year, and our website packages include 12 months of hosting.
How we look after hosting for clients
When we take on a client’s website, or help someone with choosing a web host, we check the same things first: where the server is, whether backups run and can actually be restored, whether the SSL certificate renews automatically, and who holds the logins. For clients on our website care plans (from $275 + GST a month, minimum 6 months), the Essentials and Premium plans include hosting along with updates and backups, so there’s one team to call when something goes wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Is cheap web hosting good enough for a small business?
Sometimes. A small brochure site with modest traffic can run well on good shared hosting. Cheap becomes expensive when there are no backups, slow support or weak security, because one outage or hack can cost more than years of better hosting.
Does web hosting affect SEO?
It can. Slow servers and frequent downtime make for a poor experience, and Google takes page experience into account. Hosting close to your visitors, with caching and a reliable uptime record, helps your site load quickly and stay available.
Should my web designer host my website?
It can be convenient, because one team looks after the site and the server. Just make sure the domain is registered in your business’s name and you can get a copy of your website files and database whenever you ask.
Does hosting include email?
Some hosting plans include email accounts, but many businesses keep email separate (Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, for example) so it keeps working if the website has a problem. Check before you move hosts, because email settings often move with the domain.
The short version
How to choose a web hosting provider comes down to the right type of hosting for your site, Australian servers, real support, daily backups, good security and an easy exit. Use the checklist, ask the questions, and don’t choose on price alone.
If you’d like us to check your current hosting or look after it for you, contact our Mildura team. If your current host is doing a good job, we’ll tell you to stay.
