Can I Create Multiple Websites with One Domain Name? (thesitewizard.com) (2024)

The Relationship Between Domain Names and Websites

by Christopher Heng, thesitewizard.com

One of my visitors recently asked me whether he could create multiple websites with a single domain name.My experience with new webmasters is that such questions usually indicate a certain amount of confusion about thevarious terms used by webmasters and about the entireprocess of creating awebsite. I shall attempt to answer the question in this article, and hopefully clear up any misunderstanding.

Domain Names, Websites and Web Hosts

A domain name is simply a name like "thesitewizard.com". You pay adomain name registrar an annual feefor the right to use that name. A website is, on the other hand,a set of documents placed on a computer that is permanently connected to the Internet. When you associate a domain name,like thesitewizard.com, with that set of documents, others can view them by simply using a web browser to go to that domain. For example,when you connect to thesitewizard.com using your browser, you end up on this website, and you can read articles that Imake available here for others to read, like the one you're currently looking at.

You can do a lot of things when you buy adomain name of your own. For example, if you own a domain like "google.com" (which you can't, since someone has alreadybought it), you can make "gmail.google.com" point to a different website from (say) "www.google.com". These names,"gmail.google.com" and "www.google.com", are just subdomains of the main "google.com". That is,once you own the main domain, like google.com, you can add any number of subdomains you want, and have them pointto different websites. Alternatively, you can also have them point to the same website if that'swhat you prefer. For example, both thesitewizard.com and www.thesitewizard.com point to the same website.

To make subdomains on your website, you will need the cooperation of your web host. A web host is simply the company thatowns the computer where you place your website. You need a web host because your own computer isn't permanently connected tothe Internet. Even if it is (eg, because you never turn off your computer), your broadband provider will usually not allow you to hosta website using that connection. There are also a number of other complications involved, so it's simplest to think of a web host asa necessity if you want to create your ownwebsite.

Many (if not all) commercial web hosts will let youcreate subdomains and associate them with a new website (or the same website). This may or may not involve the payment of aadditional fee per subdomain; it varies from web host to web host. You do not however have to "buy" a subdomain; once you ownthe main domain, all its subdomains belong to you.

It's also possible to avoid using sub-domains entirely and still create multiple websites on a single domain. For example,if you own a domain like "example.com", and you want each member of your family to have their own website on that domain,you can have each person create his/her website and place it in its own folder. So, for example, Tom may have his websitein "www.example.com/tom/" while Dick has his in "www.example.com/dick/", and Harry in "www.example.com/harry/". You cancreate any number of folders this way, each associated with a different website.

Caveat

Having said all that, before you rush out to create multiple websites using a single domain name, you should probably also know thatthere are pros and cons to it. For details about the advantages and disadvantages of this practice, please read the articleShould I Start My Site Under aNew Domain Name or as a Subdirectory (Or Subdomain) Of My Existing Site?.

Demystifying the Process of Setting Up a Website

In addition, since such a question usually means that you are not entirely clear about what is involved insetting up a website, I strongly recommend that you take a look atHow to CreateYour Own Website: The Beginner's A-Z Guide. The article was written for the newcomer and explainsstep-by-step what is involved in making a website from start to finish. With such an overview, you willhave a better understanding of the whole process, and hopefully find things less confusing.