Domains and DNS
Domain and DNS management for your website and email
Your domain name and its DNS records decide where your website and email go. We register, transfer and configure them, write down what has been set up, and make sure your business keeps control. Based in Wakefield, working with businesses across the UK.
What DNS management covers
Four separate things are often confused: the registrar (where you rent the domain name), the DNS host (where the records are kept), the web host (where the website files live) and the email provider (where your mailboxes are). DNS records join them up.
A small number of record types do most of the work. A and AAAA records point the domain at a web server. CNAME records point one name at another, for example a booking tool on a subdomain. MX records send email to the right provider. TXT records prove ownership to services such as Google and Microsoft, and carry the SPF, DKIM and DMARC settings that help your email reach inboxes instead of spam folders.
When one of these is wrong, the symptoms are a website that will not load, email that bounces or lands in spam, or a security warning in the browser.
When you might need help
Launching or moving a website
Pointing the domain at a new site or host, with the www and non-www versions both working over HTTPS and redirecting to one address.Changing email provider
Moving to or between platforms such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace without losing mail, and adding the authentication records the new provider requires.Regaining control of a domain
Domains registered by a former supplier or employee, renewal emails going to an old address, or nobody knowing the login.Connecting new tools
Subdomains for an app, booking system or shop, and verification records for marketing, analytics and email tools.
What's included and what isn't
Included
- An inventory of your current records, and who holds the registrar and DNS logins
- Domain registration, or transfer to an account your business controls
- DNS changes for your website, email and third-party services
- Email authentication records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) using the values your email platform provides
- Checks that every version of your domain loads over HTTPS and redirects correctly
- A written record of what is set up, where, and why
Not included
- Registrar renewal fees and email mailbox licences, which are paid to those providers
- Legal disputes over who owns a domain
- Changes inside third-party platforms we have not been given access to
- Out-of-hours emergency cover, unless a support arrangement has been agreed in advance
Your business should be the registrant of its own domain and hold the account login. If it is not at the moment, fixing that is usually the first job.
How we make changes safely
1. Inventory
We record where the domain is registered, where DNS is hosted, every existing record and what depends on it, including tools that are easy to forget, such as email marketing platforms.2. Plan the change
We list the records to create or move, lower TTLs in advance where it helps, and agree a time for the change that suits your business.3. Change and verify
We make the change, then test the website, email sending and receiving, contact forms and any connected tools.4. Document and hand over
You get a plain-English record of the set-up and confirmation of who holds each login, so the next change is easier.
What affects the cost
Our time depends on how many domains and records are involved, whether a website or email migration is part of the job, and how easy it is to get access to the existing accounts. Domain and mailbox fees are separate and paid to the provider.
If we are building your website, ask whether domain and DNS set-up should be part of the launch scope. Our website cost guide explains how launch tasks fit into a website budget.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a domain registrar and DNS hosting?
The registrar is where the domain name is registered and renewed. DNS hosting is where the records live that say where your website, email and other services are. They are often with the same company but do not have to be, which is why it is worth knowing exactly where each one sits.
How long do DNS changes take to work?
It depends on the time-to-live (TTL) set on each record and on caching by internet providers. Some changes are visible within minutes; others can take a day or two to reach everyone. Lowering the TTL ahead of a planned move shortens that window.
Our previous web designer registered our domain. Can we get it back?
Usually. First check who is listed as the registrant. If it is your business, the registrar can normally help you take control of the account. If it is in someone else's name, you will need their cooperation to transfer it, or the registry's dispute process if that fails. We can help you work out which situation you are in.
Why are our emails going to spam?
Missing or incorrect authentication records (SPF, DKIM and DMARC) are a common cause, especially after changing email provider or adding a new tool that sends email on your behalf. Content and sending reputation matter too, but the DNS records are the first thing to check.
Will moving our domain take our website or email offline?
A planned move should not. The risk comes from records being missed or recreated incorrectly, which is why we list every existing record and what depends on it before anything changes, then test the website and email straight afterwards.
Related services and guides
Services that often go with this one
- Responsive Web Design
Websites planned around what your customers need to find and do, built to work on phones, tablets and desktops.
- Fix Vibe-Coded Apps
Audit, secure and stabilise apps built with Lovable, Bolt, Cursor, Replit and other AI coding tools.
- SaaS Development
Subscription software built to run as a business: user accounts, roles, billing, admin tools and integrations.
Costs, comparisons and examples
- How much does a website cost in the UK?
Typical price ranges for brochure, business and e-commerce websites, and what moves the price.
- Freelancer vs agency
Cost, reliability, range of skills and risk compared.
The Lilybank Agency is based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and works with businesses across the UK. See all our services, browse the portfolio, read our case studies or see the areas we serve.
Talk to us about your project
Tell us what you need and what you already have. We will get back to you within one working day to talk through scope, timings and budget.