Domain name and website

[Amati]

Re: Domain name and website

Wow, so many conflicting opinions. It is almost as hard for me to choose what to do as it is to choose .... about politics!

[Mattias]

Re: Domain name and website

My problem with GoDaddy is clutter and confusing control panel. Such a simple thing as changing email address has to be done in several places and even so I still get emails to my old address for some reason.

The best registrar I've used is www.Loopia.se in Sweden. They have good prices and tax free for anyone living outside of Europe. They offer DNSSEC for their domains, which ads some security. They have an English control panel but I don't know how to enable it.

[anapuni808]

Re: Domain name and website

I guess my sites must have been too small to generate many problems. or else I'm just really easy to please . I will certainly keep all this info in mind should I ever again need web hosting.

I will say about GoDaddy that I found a lot of their advertising to be very offensive. The "Hooter's Girls" type ads were especially offensive - and I did complain about it rather loudly. Of course, it didn't do any good but I felt better for having made the complaint!

[pzarquon]

Re: Domain name and website

I'm sure Mattias can answer for himself, but I noted briefly some reasons above, and linked to NoDaddy.com for more information. Of course, GoDaddy would have to be successful and popular to be able to run ads during the Superbowl, so surely there are millions of happy customers. IMHO, though, most people go with GoDaddy because that's what they know... the same reason millions of people continue to be fleeced by Network Solutions on the registrar front.

Whenever I take on a new website client, the first thing I do is extract them from GoDaddy if they're using them.

Of course, once you start with a company, momentum tends to keep you there. So I'm just advising that if you've got to choice to start off on the right foot, go somewhere else.

As for Mattias' recommendation, I have used 1and1.com, and didn't have many complaints, except for a couple of billing snafus that came from my accidentally ending up on the UK-based side of things. I'm now using two webhosts for my own stuff and handling stuff for other people on a couple more, but left 1and1 rather than trying to sort everything out.

[anapuni808]

Re: Domain name and website

what is the problem with GoDaddy?

[Mattias]

Re: Domain name and website

I'd stay away from GoDaddy.

For hosting I'd recommend Hostgator.

If you want to register your domain and host with the same company then take a look at 1and1.com - uber cheap!

Personally, I have a virtual private server at Knownhost.

[anapuni808]

Re: Domain name and website

As to alternatives, I will say that while GoDaddy is a major player, they're the last company I'd recommend. I've blogged about problems friends have had with them since 2006. Beyond the sketchy advertising, the relentless upselling, the iffy customer service, and mediocre prices... the basic service they provide can be provided by dozens of other companies for less, and with more competence.

PZ, you are definitely worlds beyond my meager tech skills! But, I used GoDaddy for 5 different websites that I built/hosted over the last 6 years. I've never had a problem with them & their customer service has been EXCELLENT! I've always been able to get immediate help & answers from their phone reps. Yes, they don't have a toll free number, but its a small sacrifice to get one on one personal service. besides, most of us have free long distance now anyway. Their pricing has been more than fair (at least as far as my cheap clients have felt ). I would highly recommend them to anyone who is just starting out.

[craigwatanabe]

Re: Domain name and website

An Ebay store is simply a place for you to put all of what you're selling under one roof under Ebay. Mostly for retailers or wholesalers who want a bigger exposure than simply listing an item for sale. It's almost as good as a physical brick and morter storefront.

[Amati]

Re: Domain name and website

I know this will probably grate against PZ but have you considered creating an Ebay store?

I'm having trouble with posting lately, I do a "preview post", but then when I submit it for posting it disappears.

Anyway, I'll retype my question. I "look" at ebay occasionally, but have never bought anything from it. So, I guess I'll add to my original question: are there are additional comments about having an ebay store? {So what the heck is an Ebay Store?}. Please ... I'm sinking ......

[craigwatanabe]

Re: Domain name and website

I know this will probably grate against PZ but have you considered creating an Ebay store? I know they take a percentage, but it's easy and relatively painless. Plus you get a ton of exposure. Just because you have a website, that doesn't mean everybody's looking at it. And Ebay offers payment solutions built in.

It's not the best but it is easy and all the tools are right there for you to use.

[Peshkwe]

Re: Domain name and website

Badgers?

I don't know what sort of photos you want, but it gives me an opportunity to plug a friend's pictures. He's deliberately put them all into public domain for anyone to use. They can be seen at PDPhoto.

Cool! Went looking and saw all the Bodie pics. My hub and I addressed that place back when we worked for an E-911 mapping company based in Virginia. We did all of Mono County.

[Linkmeister]

Re: Domain name and website

Badgers?

I don't know what sort of photos you want, but it gives me an opportunity to plug a friend's pictures. He's deliberately put them all into public domain for anyone to use. They can be seen at PDPhoto.

[pzarquon]

Re: Domain name and website

You need a domain name, and a website (webhost). Most places will try to sell you both, and if it's simpler, buy both from the same place. I'm just saying, I feel safer separating those two assets.

The website part is tricky, because a website doesn't just explode into existence. Someone has to write stuff, find photos, and put it all together. Unless you pay someone to do the design, you need a content management system. This is software that lets you log in, see your site, and edit various parts of it. WordPress is, to me, the simplest way to go. There are also tools like Joomla. Most website hosts allow you to install these systems with one click.

Now, if you're intimidated by all of this, still want to do it yourself, and really want ease of use and all-in-one everything, damn the torpedoes, check out Squarespace, which I mentioned above. You can even create a free test site right now, and decide to pay only if it looks like you'll be happy with how everything works.

Here's my needs: I have a product that I want to sell online. I want to post photos of the product line. And do a simple explanation about the product(s). Plus, I'm thinking of getting a domain name (with a name that ties into the product) instead of just using my home email address for responses.

On e-mail: When you buy a domain name, you'll be able to make any e-mail address you like. If you buy amatiwine.com, you can have sales@amatiwine.com or badgers@amatiwine.com and have all email sent to any address sent anywhere else you want. You won't have to expose your "home email address."

On photos: Make sure you take your own photos, and don't steal photos willy-nilly from other sites on the web, just because they've already taken good photos of the same product. You probably know this, but it's a common beginner's mistake.

On a domain name that "ties into the product": If the product is a trademarked brand, even if you're an authorized reseller, make sure you have permission to incorporate that product name in your domain name.

[Amati]

Re: Domain name and website

OK, 1,000 thanks for the info that you all have posted. But, it did not take me any time at all to "get lost". conversion? file transfer? content management system? EEEEEAAAhhhh. Oh No - I'm starting to feel like I won't be able to do my own site!
Here's my needs: I have a product that I want to sell online. I want to post photos of the product line. And do a simple explanation about the product(s).
Plus, I'm thinking of getting a domain name (with a name that ties into the product) instead of just using my home email address for responses.
So, what is it I need, in simple "idiot's guide to websites/domain name" language? THANKS!

[Linkmeister]

Re: Domain name and website

I've used Dotster for my domain name needs; they have an automatic renewal feature which is useful, since I tend to forget or lose email notifications, especially for annual bills.

I switched to Hosting Matters a year or so ago (old host got out of the business) and was really impressed. They handled the conversion and file transfers in a pain-free manner, and they bill my credit card monthly ($8) for a 500gb plan.