SISO LABSWhat a domain is#
A domain is the name people type to reach a website, such as the address of a page on the internet. It is separate from the website itself. The website is the files and pages that appear when someone visits. The domain is the label that points people to those files.
Think of it like a street sign that points to your door. The door can be rebuilt or moved, but the sign tells people where to find you. A domain is registered for a fixed period and has to be renewed to stay yours. If it lapses, the name can become available to someone else, so it helps to know when your renewal date falls.
Why the owner should hold it#
In our view, the shop owner should usually be the one who holds the domain, rather than a third party acting on their behalf. When the account for the domain is in your name, you control renewals, you decide who has access, and you can move the name to a different provider if you need to. If someone else holds it for you, you depend on them for every change and for keeping the address active.
The same reasoning applies to the code and files behind the site. Owning the source means that if you change how you work, the site does not disappear with the relationship. Keep your login details in a safe place, and make sure you know where they are kept.
How a preview moves onto it#
A DISPO preview is free and stays free at its preview address. DISPO hosts static sites on Cloudflare Pages, so there are no hosting fees for the preview. When you are ready, the site can be moved onto a domain you own, so the address you give customers is one you hold.
The site can also be exported to your own GitHub and Cloudflare accounts. The export includes the site's assets, its credits, and a README that explains how it is built, so you hold the code in accounts you control. Before making any change, it is sensible to check the details with whoever manages your accounts. Thai rules limit how cannabis may be advertised, so check your plans with a lawyer.
A careful first step#
Owning your domain is a small administrative task that keeps your shop's address in your hands, whoever builds or looks after the site. Start by deciding who will hold the domain account and who will hold the code. Write those answers down in one place.
Then look at the preview at its free address and judge it on what it says about your shop. When you are satisfied, move it onto your domain at a pace that suits you. There is no need to hurry, and it helps to confirm each step before you go on to the next.