Ok so I am completely able to build websites, but unfortunately never chose to learn about registering domain names and finding a web host and such as i was strictly a designer-unfortunately I have now been thrust into a new job that is requiring me to be the webmaster for a business website...all designing aside I have purchased a domain name(registered) and am now lost at what to do next i figured i would be able to learn on my own however this is not the case, I would assume i need to find a host of some sort, but have no idea how to use this new domain name and apply it to the website I have created. In fact it's probably safe to say that i took the wrong steps altogether and probably started in the wrong place. My real question is, can i use this registered domain name and buy a hosting plan that will allow me to use it? If so how would I do this?

I hope I haven't posted this in the completely wrong place, but I'm quite overwhelmed at the moment, any insight is much appreciated.

Thanks

Buy your domain from a reputable registrar (done).

Buy a hosting plan from a web hosting company. They will ask you the domain name and provide you with the necessary name server information. Do not transfer your domain to the hosting company.

Go back to the registrars and change the nameservers to whatever your were told they should be. Wait 24-48 hours for the information to get circulated around the web.

Build and upload your site content via FTP.

Questions?

You will find a lot of host on search engines.
Search for reviews. That can tell you something about their reliability, their helpdesk and if clients are satisfied.

Hey Jey

I learnt this one the hard way so i hope my experience can save you making the same mistake. Domain name registrars always seem to offer hosting with a domain name. I didnt realise at first that you could put multiple sites on one hosting package.

Often the hosting packages included with those domain names are limited and pricey.

What you want to do is find a hosting package, (i always go for Unlimited stuff as much as possible IE databases, addons etc) and then go find your domain name regsitrar seperately. Then forward the domain name to the hosting package.

My site below actually explains all of this in detail, each and every step so feel free to check it out. Let me know if I can be of any further help

1. Decide which domain name you would like to register.
2. Decide which domain name registrar would you like to use.
3. Register domain name.
4. Create web site and save that on your desktop.
5. Save that on your PC
6. Do the search for web hosting.
7. Sign up for web hosting account.
8. Make changes for DNS
9. Upload files to the web hosting account

Enjoy your first web site

I would take my time and research before buying too many domain names.
Use GoDaddy as a registrar and be sure to stay update on reg fees.
Get web hosting somewhere that is not the same as your registrar.

Build Sites.