Domain names and web hosting?

[lizziegrace]

Best sites to purchase name (been to network solutions), host site and provide email without having to pay for pop forwarding into Yahoo or some other service?

A friend has an antiques, gifts and garden center. I took photographs yesterday of the shops and we'd like to at least get an information page up. Email will come later but I'd like to find a host that also has a mail server.

Any suggestions? Good or bad experiences?

Thanks!!

:hi:

[sendero]

1. I have built a bunch of web sites..

... and the kind you are talking about is pretty easy.

For the domain, I would suggest godaddy.com or, what I use, powerpipe.com. I've been using powerpipe.com for several years with no problems whatsoever. Domains $7.99.

As for hosting that is a little trickier. I've used several hosts, and the quality varies a lot and it is hard to tell what you are getting until you've been there a month or two.

In general, if you go the cheapest route ($40 - $50 a year), don't expect stellar service. But for a site like you are talking about, that might well be good enough.

Hope this helps, would be happy to elaborate :)

[lizziegrace]

2. Please elaborate

I'm most concerned about email service. PM me if you'd rather.

Thanks!

:)

[sendero]

4. Ok..

... well I don't know how much you already know, so excuse me if I'm being redundant :)

The cool thing about having your own domain/host is the email. If you get a domain like lizziegrace.com, you can create as many mailboxes for that domain as you want on most hosts.

Not only that, but if anybody sends email to ANYTHING at lizziegrace.com - you will get the mail through your "catch-all" (default) account.

Most hosts, even the cheap ones, are offering unlimited email accounts. The ones that restrict them usually allow at least 50.

There are numerous web sites out there that allow you to compare hosting packages, which can be pretty helpful in finding a deal that suits you. However, be aware that some folks don't think all these sites are on the level, i.e. some of them skew the ratings to steer business to their affiliates.

I recently entered a negative appraisal of a host to findmyhosting.com and it appeared that same day and their rating was affected. So that site has at least some value :)

[lizziegrace]

5. I owned a domain several years ago

and foolishly let it go. It was a good one and now I regret it. I can have it back for a few thousand. :(

I'll check out findmyhosting.com Our first pick is gone so now she needs to decide on another name.

Thanks!

[lizziegrace]

3. We will not be doing any online sales

at least in the foreseeable future. (I'm her accountant and we've been friends for years.)

[lizziegrace]

6. I need to ask another question

we can buy the domain through anyone but will host it with another company, correct?

[sendero]

7. Yes...

.... anyone can host your domain. You make some settings on the domain (administration, done through the site that sold you the domain) to set the "nameservers" to your host.

[WCGreen]

11. So you are a "Domaintrix....."

[lizziegrace]

12. Not exactly...

Just helping a client. You understand. :evilgrin:

[WCGreen]

13. That's what the kids call it these days......

[outofbounds]

8. I have

A domian, and a myspace site. The myspace site gets more hits than the tru website.

[lizziegrace]

9. The business is antiques, gifts and garden center

Do you think that translates well into myspace if we were to do both?

[outofbounds]

10. My site

is a band. However getting from one place to another on myspace is so simple. You click on the picture and there you go. Ingenious idea. Another benefit is there are so many people already there of all ages and all interests. And its free, if it doesn't work it didn't cost you anything but time. Also you can link them both together. In your case a personal type of myspace showing some of what you do with a link to you website will allow people to get to know you and most of all know you offer services and or merch. The thing is you offer people a look into you as a person, not every detail of your life, but that you are a person with emotion and interests. The people dint feel like they are dealing with an unknown. Plus you will enjoy it.

[outofbounds]

14. hey don't get too

carried away, we don't want you to loose interest here!:donut:

[lizziegrace]

15. I don't think that'll be a problem

I'm addicted...

:hi:

[CabalPowered]

16. I've had decent luck with Sagonet.com

which is considered a bargain server. I've also used ThePlanet.com which is more expensive but a better server. They have a discount brand called thematrix which also works well. I'm currently developing an ASP application at discountasp and it's been satisfactory but it's only a shared server, which may be appropriate for the traffic of your site.

[lizziegrace]

17. This won't be a high volume site at all

Just directions, photos, current stuff on-sale and class information. Email eventually.

I need to get her to decide on a domain name and get this going.

:hi:

Thanks for the info. :)

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

18. leftweb.com - run by a DUer

And it's pretty cheap.