Questions about Websites for those in the know...

[Zanzibar]

I am looking into starting a web-site. I have checked and the name I want to use is available.

I know there are sites like 'go daddy' etc where you can get space and start a web page. And with my ebay experience I even know a little html.

However here are some of my questions:

1. I keep reading hype similar to this: "You don't want to buy web space from just anyone. WE (whichever company whose site I'm looking at) will make your website crawler friendly! Don't go with the competition! You will get NO traffic. Go with US! We are the BEST! This of course is blatant marketing, but it set me to wondering... is there any truth to what they are saying? And how do I decide which companies are telling the truth and which ones are just selling me up the river?

2. There are some sites that offer a blog with their hosting package. Other sites it is just webspace with no blog. I suppose I could start a blog somewhere else, but I would like the names to be linked (ie. Zanzibar.com and Zanzibar.blog.com or however they would need to be named). So the question is: Do I go with separate web host/blog host? Or do I go with a combined one?

3. If I go with separate companies for the site & blog which should I start first? Or does it matter?

Please help me!

Signed,

Lost in a Sea of information that I barely understand!

[Rebecca]

Since this doesn't involve writing, it should be posted on 4Believers.com. I'll move it over there.

Rebecca

[Tarin]

1. I use StartLogic (http://www.startlogic.com/startlogic/index.bml). They're relatively cheap, and I have no complaints about their service.

2. I don't think they offer a "separate" blogging platform, but I'm not sure since I blog directly off my domain name.

3. I really don't know that it matters. :)

[Rebecca]

Tarin - Interesting! What has your experience been with StartLogic? Have you experienced any server slowness or downtime? I'm thinking of moving CW to a new host (after the last nameserver outage - ouch!) and am interested in recommendations. The one I've been leaning towards is liquidweb.com, although I'd probably go with the VPS account.

Zanzibar - It sounds like you're talking about two different things - a blog script, vs. the space it's hosted on (server space). I like to use the analogy of renting an apartment. The apartment itself is the server space, but the furniture inside (which you own and can move) is the script.

1. I keep reading hype similar to this: "You don't want to buy web space from just anyone. WE (whichever company whose site I'm looking at) will make your website crawler friendly! Don't go with the competition! You will get NO traffic. Go with US! We are the BEST! This of course is blatant marketing, but it set me to wondering... is there any truth to what they are saying? And how do I decide which companies are telling the truth and which ones are just selling me up the river?

They've given you completely inaccurate information. With the exception of blacklisted servers, there's no difference. It all depends upon your domain name/search engine rank and marketing of your site.

I'd look into Tarin's recommendation. You can also check out http://sonet7.com (small account is $7.77/month) or http://asmallorange.com/services/hosting/ (smaller accounts from $25/year to $5/month which should easily host a blog).

Both the ones I mentioned have blog scripts you can easily install by fantastico. I'll give you more info with that if you need it, or do a basic install for you if you're uncomfortable doing it yourself.

For the domain name, I always recommend http://namecheap.com. They're less expensive than the other registrars, and I've always been happy with their service. You'll need to point your nameservers to the correct location once you sign up for server space. Again, I'll be happy to help you with this.

Hope this helps -- and good luck! :)

Rebecca

[Sheri]

Hi, I just opened/started a website through Homestead two days ago. It was so much easier than I thought. I still have some tweaking to do but I'm utterly amazed that it was so easy. I don't know how helpful it will be, but it's kind of exciting!

Sheri

[Zanzibar]

Okay... I'm trying to understand all this.

So

#1. I need an 'apartment' on a computer somewhere that will give my information to people when they type in www.zanzibar.com. (a server)

#2. I need a nameserver that will translate www.zanzibar.com into my servers IP address and then direct them to my server so they can find the information I'm offering. ???

#3. The sizes of the 'apartments' (thank-you btw - that analogy is beginning to help me understand this a little more.) vary. And I need to decide how big of an 'apartment' I need - ie. how much server space I need.

#4. Some companies will register your name on a 'nameserver' at the same time that you sign up for server space. And some companies only offer server space and you then have to also register your name with a nameserver - like namecheap?

Am I getting this? I just hate having to do something when I don't understand how it works.

So, I went to Namecheap - and I see that they are offering hosting services too. Would you recommend them as a server?

And, if so, which of these packages would you think I would need to do the following: Have a site that gives basic information about me, highlights my book, has some pictures on it, maybe a video clip or two (but these would maybe just be links?) a blog, a contact me section and an email newsletter sign-up. (Pretty basic stuff.)

http://www.namecheap.com/learn/webhosting/plan-comparison.asp

[Zanzibar]

Ooops! LOL www.zanzibar.com is not my site - I was just using that as an example.

[Rebecca]

#1. I need an 'apartment' on a computer somewhere that will give my information to people when they type in www.zanzibar.com. (a server)

Basically, yes. The server space stores and serves your files, like an apartment would store your furniture/belongings.


#2. I need a nameserver that will translate www.zanzibar.com into my servers IP address and then direct them to my server so they can find the information I'm offering. ???

For shared hosting packages, you'll use your host's nameservers. There should be no extra cost or effort required on your part for this service, it's standard practice. You'll simply need to "point" your domain name at their nameservers (which you'll do through your domain name registrar).


#3. The sizes of the 'apartments' (thank-you btw - that analogy is beginning to help me understand this a little more.) vary. And I need to decide how big of an 'apartment' I need - ie. how much server space I need.

Exactly! !thumbsup!


#4. Some companies will register your name on a 'nameserver' at the same time that you sign up for server space. And some companies only offer server space and you then have to also register your name with a nameserver - like namecheap?

Yes, they will--but I highly recommend AGAINST allowing them to do this. If something goes south with your hosting account, they'll have the rights to your domain name and you'll be at their mercy. Best to register it under your own name from the start.


So, I went to Namecheap - and I see that they are offering hosting services too. Would you recommend them as a server?

http://www.namecheap.com/learn/webhosting/plan-comparison.asp

Honestly, I don't know enough about their hosting services to say either way. I believe that's a relatively new service they've started.

If I had to make a recommendation, it would be the ones I listed in the previous post.

Rebecca

[lynnmosher]

I have tried so many sites that offer a trial period that I had to keep a record of my usernames and passwords. Nothing seemed to work the way I wanted it to.

Sheri, the most recent one I started was with Homestead also. Have you used their SiteBuilder program? I truly hope this one will work. I'm tired of looking!

I'm getting ready to look into two newsletter sites because my main concern at the moment is sending out daily email devotions. The reason I'm having difficulty is that I want the email to have a picture across the heading. Many companies won't send out the emails this way. I had to stop for a few days because I was getting so frustrated. However, I think one of these two may be my answer to this problem.

I don't know if this is true for others but, for me, trying to get a site to look the way I want it and to add the widgets, like sign-ups, etc., really gets frustrating.

[Tarin]

Tarin - Interesting! What has your experience been with StartLogic? Have you experienced any server slowness or downtime? I'm thinking of moving CW to a new host (after the last nameserver outage - ouch!) and am interested in recommendations. The one I've been leaning towards is liquidweb.com, although I'd probably go with the VPS account.

I really haven't any complaints. (My site, of course, isn't anywhere near as large as CW, and it doesn't require near as much upkeep.) I've never noticed any downtime or slowness worth mentioning.