DNS, A records, nameservers…if those words make your eyes glaze over, fear not. You’re not alone.
Most business owners don’t need to understand this stuff day to day, but when something changes (a new website, email issues, moving provider), these terms suddenly appear and everything feels more complicated than it should be.
So, let’s slow it down and explain the Make Me Local way.
First Things First...
What Is DNS?
DNS stands for Domain Name System. That sounds technical, but its job is actually very simple.
DNS is the system that tells the internet where things live.
When someone types your website address into a browser, DNS is what figures out:
Where your website should load from
Where emails for your domain should be delivered
You don’t see DNS working, but everything relies on it being correct.
Nameservers: Who’s in Charge of the Directions?
Nameservers answer one key question: “Who controls the directions for this domain?”
They don’t store your website or emails. They simply tell the internet where to look for the instructions.
Your domain will usually use nameservers from:
Your domain registrar
Your hosting provider
A third-party service
Think of nameservers as the authority. They say, “If you want directions for this domain, ask me.”
Only one set of nameservers is active at a time, which is why changing them needs to be done carefully.
DNS Records: The Actual Instructions
Once the nameservers are set, they hold a list of DNS records. These are the individual instructions that tell systems what to do.
There are lots of record types, but you’ll mostly hear about a few key ones.
A Records: How Your Website Knows Where to Load From
An A record links your domain name to the server where your website lives. In simple terms:
Your domain = the name people type
The A record = the server address behind it
If your A record points to the wrong place:
Your website won’t load
Visitors may see the old site
Or they might see nothing at all
When a new website goes live, this is usually what’s being updated (not the domain itself), just the direction it points to.
Why This Stuff Often Breaks During Changes
Most DNS problems don’t happen randomly. They happen during change. Common examples:
A new website launch
Moving hosting provider
Changing email systems
Switching agencies
The website files might be perfect. The emails might still exist. But if the DNS instructions aren’t updated correctly, things stop working.
That’s why it can feel like “everything’s broken” - when in reality, the directions are just wrong.
Why Business Owners Get Caught Out
DNS, A records and nameservers are usually hidden, rarely explained, and often controlled by someone else. They’re also often bundled under phrases like “technical setup” - which isn’t helpful for anyone.
The problem isn’t that business owners don’t understand DNS. It’s that they’re rarely told what actually matters.
Do You Need to Manage This Yourself?
No - and you probably shouldn’t.
But you should know:
Who controls your domain
Where DNS is managed
Who is allowed to make changes
That clarity prevents panic when something needs updating.
How We Handle This at Make Me Local
At Make Me Local, we don’t expect clients to understand DNS inside out.
Our role is to understand how everything connects, make careful, deliberate changes, explain what’s happening in plain English, and avoid knock-on problems.
We’re not “tweaking things and hoping for the best”. We’re updating directions so the right systems talk to each other properly.
To recap...
DNS is the internet’s direction system.
Nameservers decide who gives the directions.
A records tell your domain where your website lives.
When those directions are right, everything works quietly in the background. When they’re wrong, it can feel like your whole online presence has fallen apart.
You don’t need to manage this yourself, but you do need someone who understands it properly and explains it clearly. We’re always here to help.
For more information about how and why your website, domain, and emails are three different things read our blog.