At Westhill Studios we understand that this can be one of the most confusing part of creating a website: what does it all mean? and what does it all do? And most importantly how much will it all cost?

A domain name is the unique name which will point to your web site. For example to find us you would type in http://www.westhillstudios.com, this is known as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). The URL includes our domain name which is unique to us westhillstudios.com. Just buying a domain name does not mean that you can host a web page it only tells your browser where to look for it. It is also important to make sure you buy the right domain name as it will help or hinder you when it comes to search engine optimisation (SEO). Lilly in Lemon is a company that organizes jewellery making parties; lillyinlemon.co.uk does not indicate this at all, so a search engine or anyone looking for a party service is less likely to find this. We registered the domain name jewellery-making-parties.co.uk as it is a key search phrase and strengthens the chances of being found.

Web Hosting is the use of a computer or server which is constantly connected to the internet where your web pages can be stored. When someone types in your domain name the browser can access and retrieve the required information at any time from the host. So when you type in www.westhillstudios.com your browser knows where to look for the web pages and then send a request to the host to retrieve the required information.

So how much does it cost?

Well this depends on what exactly you require! There is a huge range of domain sellers and web hosts available on the web, all offering different packages at different prices. If you do choose to go ahead and buy your own domain name and hosting (which we wouldn't recommend) be careful as you may not get exactly what you want.
We always recommend that you speak to us first before purchasing any packages because our packages are properly explained to you so that you only buy exactly what you need! We spend a great deal of time every week moving people away from inappropriate hosting providers, our options are designed to offer a solution to suit every individual, small or large business and to fit within your budget. We will help guide you through the maze explaining what you do and what you don’t need as well as offering you advice on what would be a good domain name.

Our most basic package which includes a co.uk domain name and basic hosting for 2 years with one email address costs just £20.00 (+VAT) for 2 years and can be renewed after the 2 years (currently) at the same cost. This package is only suitable for the simplest websites.

We also offer a range of other packages supplied by our associated provider AJM Networking which will allow for everything from extra e-mail addresses, more web space to e-commerce hosting packages with SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), prices start from £5.99-49.99 PCM. Additionally we have also set up a joint venture with AJM in HostwebUK.com to provide a very simple and inexpensive solution to small business hosting in the Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch areas.

For further information on which package would suit you best please visit the Hostweb Site: