Domain, Hosting, DNS, and Email – Finally Explained Without the Tech Headache
Let’s be honest: setting up your domain, hosting, DNS, and email shouldn’t feel like decoding the Matrix. But for many business owners, this stuff gets confusing real fast. So let’s break it down in plain English, no geek-speak, and no fluff.
🧠 Step 1: What’s a Domain Name?
Your domain name is your online address. Think of it like buying a piece of land.
Examples:
yourbusiness.com.aucoolbrand.shop
You can register one through sites like GoDaddy or Crazy Domains. That’s called a registrar – the company that lets you buy and manage your domain.
🧭 Step 2: What the heck is DNS?
DNS = Domain Name System.
Think of it like your domain’s GPS. It tells traffic where to go:
Your website (hosting)
Your email system (Google Workspace, Office 365, etc.)
Other services (CRM, landing pages, booking tools)
You can manage DNS in your registrar (e.g. GoDaddy), or you can delegate it to a pro tool like Cloudflare, which gives you more control, speed, and security.
🏠 Step 3: Hosting – Where Your Website Lives
Your domain name is your land. Now you need a house = your website.
That house needs to sit on solid ground = website hosting.
Options:
Cheap shared cPanel hosting – Slower, less secure, higher risk
Premium WordPress/CDN hosting – Faster, safer, and optimised for performance
Shopify? Just point your domain’s DNS to Shopify (usually an A Record or CNAME)
✉️ Step 4: Email Hosting – Don’t Do It the Old Way
Still using cPanel email? That’s like storing your business data in a garage.
Clunky, risky, and easy to hack.
Better solution?
✅ Google Workspace (Gmail for Business)
✅ Microsoft 365 (Outlook on steroids)
Both are secure, fast, and cloud-based. You’ll need to point your DNS (MX Records) to Google or Microsoft to make it work. Once set up, your email is no longer tied to your website hosting – a very good thing.
🔒 Step 5: Own Your Digital Real Estate
This is crucial – own your domain name.
Make sure it’s:
Registered in your name or business name
Linked to your correct email (not a past web designer’s)
Locked down with two-factor authentication
Same goes for your DNS. If someone else controls it, they control everything – your site, your emails, your whole brand online.
Our rule at Digital Junkies: You own it. We manage it.
✅ Final Wrap-Up
Here’s the simple flow:
Register your domain (GoDaddy, Crazy Domains etc.)
Set up DNS (either with your registrar or move it to Cloudflare for better control)
Point your DNS to your website hosting (cPanel, Shopify, WP hosting, etc.)
Use cloud email hosting (Google or Microsoft – never cPanel)
Keep control of your logins and access
🔎 Top Tools for Domain & DNS Lookups:
1. Whois Lookup – ICANN
Use for: Checking who owns a domain (registrar, expiry date, contact details)
Why it's great: Official source; super clean and trustworthy
2. MXToolbox
Use for: DNS record lookup, MX records (email), A records, SPF, DMARC, etc.
Why it's great: All-in-one toolbox – great for diagnosing issues or checking if DNS is configured correctly
⭐ Pro tip: Bookmark their "SuperTool" page
3. IntoDNS
Use for: Checking DNS health, delegation, and mail server setup
Why it's great: Gives a quick health report – perfect for spotting red flags
4. ViewDNS.info
Use for: Whois, DNS, propagation checks, reverse IP lookup, etc.
Why it's great: Good variety of domain tools in one place
5. SecurityTrails
Use for: Historical DNS records, subdomains, IP history
Why it's great: Super detailed for deeper analysis (great for techs or agency use)
6. DNS Checker
Use for: DNS propagation check – see if a domain is resolving across global servers
Why it's great: Visual map of DNS status around the world – great when switching hosts
Need help untangling this digital spaghetti? We untangle, simplify, and set it up the right way – so you can get back to running your business.
👉 Book a free clarity call with Digital Junkies
No tech jargon. Just solutions.
