Question about domain name

I need some advice regarding my domain name.

When I went to my first writer’s conference in 2020, one thing that was stressed so much was the importance of having your domain name. So I got my domain name as soon as I got home from the conference, and, honestly, I don’t know that it has helped me out at all.

When I’ve tried to verify that it’s working, it doesn’t seem to be. If people try to go to the website using the domain name, they often don’t get into the website.

I’ve spoken directly to the domain provider, and they have assured me it’s working and sending people to the website. However, I really don’t trust it and rarely give people the domain name verbally when suggesting they go to my website. And why should I? It’s so easy to give them the link in an email or text, and for bookmarks and things lke that, I can use a QR code.

I’ve been told that even if I don’t use it for sending people to the website, it’s important to have your own domain name because it lends validity and professionalism to the website and makes it more likely to be found in general Google searches when people are looking for a certain type of book, not just searching the specific domain name. I’m not even sure this is valid.

I’m due to be charged for another year some time next month, and I’m thinking about letting it go. However, this makes me nervous. I don’t want to sink my ship, but I actually don’t think there is a ship to sink because I don’t think I’ve gotten any help from this the whole time I’ve had it.

Do any of you have any advice on this?