Web Hosting and Domain Names

If you are a regular reader of this site, you may recall that I have mentioned from time to time, that I would like to leave Blogger and get my own hosting. Although it is a good platform, I really want to have more control over my own site. As a prime example of this, earlier this year I was going through some old articles on my site and updating some of the affiliate links. Well, while I was updating the third article, I noticed that I had to use word verification to save the changes. I thought that was kind of odd, but I went ahead and completed my work. Later, when I went to check my Email, I saw a message from Blogger stating that I have been locked out of my site, because they considered it a spam site. Yup, I was locked out of my OWN site for at least twelve hours. Obviously they let me back in, but I never received any apology or explanation as to why I was locked out.

This little adventure taught me a few things and one of them was to back-up my site. Just about once a month I export my entire site and back it up on my computer…just in case. It was also after this that I began my first foray into the wonderful and confusing world of website hosting. Although it may seem like the easiest thing in the world to do, to those like me who have never ventured into these waters, it can be somewhat intimidating. With Blogger, all I have to worry about is updating my site with fascinating and intellectually stimulating articles (something I have yet to achieve) and they take care of the rest. However, from my experience earlier this year, I discovered that along with this freedom I lost something very important…control.

So, as I began my search for a host I discovered something that I would need to address before signing on the dotted line: I needed a domain name. For those who may be very new to this game, a domain name is the name you give your website; in other words, it is what you add the “.com” to. Once again, it may seem like the easiest thing to do, but when you choose a domain name, you need to be sure that it is easy to remember and easy to type. After all, the main goal is to get people to come to your site and having a memorable domain name makes that easier. Another thing you will need to keep in mind is the fact that the name you want may already be taken. Unfortunately, this is the case with me, because everyday living.com is already being used. With this in mind I need to come up with another name; one that is somewhat descriptive of my site, yet be easy to remember like drivel.com. Well, I just checked and that name is taken as well. Anyway, I hope you get the general idea.

Once you have your name and you have made sure that it is available, you need to find which company you want to use. The best way to do this is to ask your friends and blogging buddies, because they can give you first-hand knowledge on the companies. Depending on the company you choose, you may be able to register your domain name with them for free. Free is good, right? I think so, but when it comes to domain registration you will need to check the fine print on the contract and be sure that, if for some reason you decide to go with another hosting company, you can take your domain name with you. After all, the domain name is your identity on the Internet and you don’t want to risk any chance of losing it.

Although there are many other factors to consider when choosing your host, picking your domain name will be one of the first things you will need to do. If you can, try and make the name descriptive of your site. You may also want to make the name easy to remember and easy to type. I know there may be some out there saying that most people do not type in URL’s, but rather they stumble upon sites through the search engines. In my case, that is correct, but why make it more difficult? Finally, don’t rush into it, but give it some thought, because more than likely you will be staying with that name for years to come. For a comprehensive guide through this process, please click on any of the above links and be prepared to have your questions answered.


disclosure...Oh, in case you didn't know, this is a paid post

Finding the Right Web Host

As you may remember, I am in the process of moving-on from my time at Blogger. When I first began my blogging experience, I knew nothing about what it takes to write and produce a blog. The actual writing of the blog was not really a stumbling block for me; it was having to do everything else that caused me the problems. I had to discover how to attract people to my site and actually read what I had published. I also needed to teach myself HTML and CSS, so I could modify the templates that I was using. Throughout this time, I did not have to worry about having to pay a monthly fee to have my site hosted, so I was able to learn at my own pace. However, now that I know just enough to get myself into trouble, I feel that I have outgrown Blogger and I am now ready to strike-out on my own.

One of the first things that you will notice when you begin hunting for a host, is the vast number of web hosting companies there are out there. When I first began searching, I let my wallet do the walking and searched through a number of free hosting sites. Yes, they are out there, but if you want to be in total control of your site, you may not want to go with those companies. What you want to look for is a hosting company that is both reliable and inexpensive. Although this may seem like an impossible combination to find, with the right tools, it is possible.

Although you can run around and go from one hosting site to another and take your own notes, you may want to go to one place and have all the footwork done for you. The site that I found had their reviews nicely arranged on an awards page. On this page you will find the results of independent consumer reviews on separate hosting companies. The companies that have received the highest number of votes in their category are listed and available for your inspection. For example, if you were looking for the best blog host, you would click on the name of the company and be taken to a very detailed description page. They have categories for best budget hosting, e-commerce hosting, PHP web hosting, and forum hosting, to name just a few. I have to admit that there are several companies that I have never heard of, but I now have their information in my arsenal and can use it to make an informed decision.

Once you have a short-list of the companies that you are interested in, you can now go and conduct your in-depth research on those hosting sites. You will want to try and find independent reviews and opinions with regards to those companies. Talk to your friends and fellow bloggers and find out who they use and why. Once you are comfortable and are willing to take the final plunge, be sure you know how to change web hosts, so you limit the downtime of your site. From copying your files to making sure all your internal links work properly, there will be a lot of work for you to do to ensure a smooth transition.

Although the choice can be daunting, I hope that the resources included in this article will help you along the way to making an informed decision. Just be sure to do your research and listen to those that are already out there and using these services. While I can only provide you the necessary information, your fellow friends and bloggers can give you their opinions based on first-hand experience. Try and use both when making your final decision and good luck with your choice.

Researching Web Hosting Sites

When I began blogging last March, I discovered that I could do it free through Blogger. Since I am a big fan of free, I decided to give it a try. Because I did not know the first thing about blogging, web sites, servers, or domain names, I figured that this would be the best way for me to go. This way, I can learn what I need to know and not have to pay for it. However, now that I know a little more about what I am doing and what I hope to accomplish, I will soon be in the market for my own domain name and hosting.

Because there are many companies out there that are trying to get your business, trying to find quality hosting can be a very intimidating process. Since you have such a wide range of companies to choose from, you will need to do your research. I would suggest dropping by forums and finding out where other members have their hosting. I would also suggest reading a variety of web hosting articles, because by getting several different opinions you will begin to notice the companies that seem to stand out. Yes, you want to find the best hosting for the least price, but you do not want to trade price for service. When you drill-down the various services to your top three or four, you should take out your trusty Notepad, and compare and contrast your top choices.

You may think that I may be going overboard with the research stuff, but as I have found out, sometimes the most popular choice may not be the best. When I end up spending money for something, I want to be sure that I’m getting what I pay for, that's why it is important for me to try and find affordable web hosting and the service that goes along with it. So, I read the articles and I go to the forums to discover what other people have experienced. You will find that most people are very happy to help you and will gladly give you the information you need to make an informed decision.

I realize, that depending on your needs, you will have to greatly expand this list. This is a list of the bare minimum to compare. Some of the things you will want to compare are the up-times, amount of disk space you get, shared vs. dedicated hosting, bandwidth (very important if you get a great deal of traffic), number of domains allowed, the number of email addresses included, and template builders. You will also need to think about finding a domain name so, I would check and see whether the company you are interested in offers free or discounted domain names. As I always say, “free is good.” These are just a few of the things you will want to look at. I realize that as your site grows or if you decide to monetize your site, there will be additional items you will want to take into account.

In short, I am suggesting that you not to pick the first hosting company that you come across. Take your time and find the company that best fits your needs. Do your homework, listen to the experiences of others, and make an informed decision.