Computers on the internet find each other using strings of numbers called IP addresses. Nobody can remember those. That's why there are domains, readable names like stackd.ch. The Domain Name System (DNS) works like a phone book. When you type a domain into your browser, DNS looks up which server the website is on and sends you there.
A domain has two parts. At the front is the name you choose. At the end is the extension, for example .ch, .com or .li. The .ch domains are managed by the Switch foundation on behalf of the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM). You can't register one with them directly, though. You do that through a provider known as a registrar. You don't buy a domain for good. You rent it year by year. A .ch domain costs around CHF 11 to 15 a year.
A domain and hosting are two different things. The domain is the address, the hosting is the plot of land the website sits on. Both can be with the same provider, but they don't have to be. For a business, a domain is more than just an address. It's on your business cards, company vehicles and invoices, and your email addresses depend on it. If you change your domain later, your printed materials, profiles and links all have to be updated. We connect existing domains to your new website or move them over to our hosting. The domain is billed separately.
Here's what to look out for:
- Short and clear: easy to type and easy to spell out over the phone. Umlauts and lots of hyphens often lead to typos.
- In your name: Your business should be registered as the holder, not the agency or a former employee.
- Secure your access: Your provider login and transfer code (auth code) belong in your records. Without them, moving the domain becomes a hassle.
- Keep an eye on renewal: If a domain expires, your website and email are gone. In the worst case, someone else registers it afterwards.
A joinery in Kriens starts out with the domain schreinerei-beispiel.ch. The owner registers it with a Swiss provider in the company's name. The website is with a hosting provider, and email runs over the same domain, for example offerte@schreinerei-beispiel.ch. Three years later, the website moves to a different host. The domain stays the same. The only change is an entry in the DNS saying it now points to the new server. Nothing changes for customers, and the business cards and lettering on the company van stay up to date.