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mountainmom5
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 1211
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# Posted: 30 Jan 2009 01:00
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I have mostly been using blogs and places like Squidoo etc, but am ready to tackle building my own sites with hostgator or something similar....
What are you all using? Newbiesheild - do you use Squidoo mostly? or do you use hosting for your other sites? If so, what do you use? and do you know if you can use wordpress with hostgator?
Also, If I sign up with the $5 or $9 or whatever the monthly plans are - does that get me everything or do I need to buy a bunch of additional things before I will be able to 'please' the search engines...
Hopefully this all makes sense - my head is spinning with trying to learn too much tonight on various topics so I am going to go rest it before I lose it....
Sorry for all the questions but hey - at least I have a comfortable place to ask in....
Thanks in advance - for your help - 
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getagrip
Joined: 20 Feb 2006
Posts: 1517
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# Posted: 30 Jan 2009 02:56
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If you get a Hostgator account, go for the "Baby" plan, because you can host unlimited domains. Its only $10 a month, and if you went with the $5 plan, you would only be able to host 1 domain. Hostgator comes with Fantastico Deluxe, which makes installing Wordpress very easy.
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multihb
Member
Joined: 22 Jan 2009
Posts: 9
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# Posted: 30 Jan 2009 04:50 · Edited by: multihb
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I use Bluehost,
and have been very satisfied,price is very affordable too
go to see here:
http://www.bluehost.com/tell_me_more.html (this is not affiliate link)
Bluehost use fast domain registration so your domain and website is useable withing 15 minutes.
Another good one is HostMonster
I hope this helps
All the best
Aatos
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Vishal P. Rao
Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 957
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# Posted: 30 Jan 2009 05:43
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On choosing a web host, you may also want to read:
Your favorite web hosting company?
Which Web Hosting/Domain Companies Do You Recommend?
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Newbie Shield
Joined: 22 Sep 2007
Posts: 1539
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# Posted: 30 Jan 2009 07:28 · Edited by: Newbie Shield
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Hi Mountain,
It's normal to get overwhelmed when making this sort of decision. I feel for you :)
I use Squidoo for a number of reasons and I've used a few hosting companies over the years. Lately, I have been the most impressed with HostGator (HG).
Yes, you can use WordPress on HostGator. They have a lot of video tutorials and help files for much of what you will have to do there. They also have good customer service - including tech support - in the form of phones, chat, and email.
They have tons of frills with each package and their prices are very low. I have the middle package called the Baby. It allows "unlimited everything" including space, bandwidth, and domains. I highly recommend that package if you decide to go with HostGator.
If you decide to go with HostGator, view all of the videos. That will answer a lot of your questions.
Going with a WordPress blog would probably be a good fit for you since you already know how to blog. Otherwise, if you choose to go with a traditional static site, you can use their free templates, the site builder, or the site wizard. It goes without saying that you can also build your own site from scratch and upload it ;)
You don't need to buy anything "additional to please the search engines".
As Aatos pointed out, BlueHost and HostMonster (same ownership) is a comparable choice.
If you go with HG, first step is to watch the vids. Next, poke around in the back end. Next, though it's normal to be very nervous, just take baby steps and don't roll out the blog too soon. Soak everything up a small piece at a time. You can handle it :)
Good luck!
~Newbie Shield~
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mountainmom5
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 1211
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# Posted: 30 Jan 2009 09:36
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Ahhh - thanks guys. I knew I could get some insight here and that helps so much.. That was exactly what I was looking for.
You know, I thought the time would never come that I wouldn't get that brainswimming, gut knotting , just go take a nap feeling whenever I looked at a page full of html... but it actually is starting to make sense now...
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Sonni
Member
Joined: 10 Jun 2008
Posts: 348
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# Posted: 30 Jan 2009 10:57
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I too use hostgator and have never had a problem and have the baby package. To' please search engines' you need to study search engine optimization aka SEO then you will learn how to optimize your site and how to write content with SEO in mind.
Your first concern, however, is to write good content that pleases people. You can do both, but it takes time to figure out how to do it properly. I'm still working on it.
Sonni
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A8ch
Joined: 24 Jun 2005
Posts: 380
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# Posted: 30 Jan 2009 14:29 · Edited by: A8ch
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mountainmom5: You know, I thought the time would never come that I wouldn't get that brainswimming, gut knotting , just go take a nap feeling whenever I looked at a page full of html... but it actually is starting to make sense now...
Good for you, MountainMom5!
And isn't that the truth about most things you start learning for the first time. The higher up you climb along the learning curve, the more fun it is to look back to where you came from and realize that it wasn't really as difficult as you imagined it would be. It never is. That's progress!
When I built my first website (in the days before CSS became the preferred tool among designers) I was very proud of what I had created. I designed it from scratch applying the HTML techniques I had learned up to that point.
A few years later, when I had become proficient in CSS, I went back and looked at the HTML markup for that site... and I laughed out loud at how amateurish much of it was. HTML markup techniques had gone through a few revisions since then and were moving closer to a uniform system, and I could see immediately how I could rewrite the markup to remove much of the bloat and make the site tighter.
But, as the saying goes, nothing happens before its/it's time. (Same difference!?)
NewbieShield: It goes without saying that you can also build your own site from scratch and upload it
I think that approach is the most exciting and I would encourage you to develop that ability because it offers you flexibility, independence and confidence. You wouldn't ever regret it! Plus it's a lot of fun.
As a matter of fact, when you get better at hand coding, you can use site builders to quickly "sketch" various website layouts, which you can later customize using CSS.
Mountain, you are headed down the road to a great creative adventure. Have fun!
Hermas
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mountainmom5
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 1211
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2009 01:41
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Thanks for all your encouragement guys - I am really looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and digging in... I have to wait till next week as I am punishing myself this week - lol
I had some other stuff that I had been pushing off for far too long so I am forcing myself to take care of it all before I start on my 'new toys'.
I will also try to read directions before I come barreling in here for advice... I am one of those that would much rather do first and then read later and it gets me in trouble from time to time.
You know, like when you assemble something and then wonder why you have extra parts after you are all done. Been there, done that!
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A8ch
Joined: 24 Jun 2005
Posts: 380
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2009 02:21 · Edited by: A8ch
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mountainmom5: am one of those that would much rather do first and then read later and it gets me in trouble from time to time.
So you're one of those, huh!
Years ago I had a piano tutor who always stessed the importance of
taking your time to learn a new piece of music. "Learn it the correct
way the first time," he used to tell me, "so you wouldn't have to spend
more time unlearning things later."
Wise advice!
Hermas
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mountainmom5
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 1211
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2009 11:55
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Sigh... I know, I am trying to learn that...
Keith, I am reading thru the Affiliate Inventor and I am so excited with what they offer there.
Wow - it is a great tool for all of us but especially for newbies to the affiliate marketing world... so easy to understand and walk thru instructions...
When I get my hands on a new tool like that I feel like I am in a candy store.
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MyOwnBoss
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Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 109
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2009 15:32
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As far as hosts, I've used several and never really had a problem with any of them. Then again, I'm lucky in that I speak "technical manual" language since I've had to write several myself, so the instructions generally make sense to me.
The only 2 cautions I'd throw out are:
1) If the host offers a free domain, make sure it's a domain of your choice. I once signed up to a new host to take advantage of a special that was something like $6 for six months of hosting + a free domain. I'm thinking this is a great deal and a good package to experiment for six months. Turns out the domain was something like: w3.6asf56a4a6asf.somegenericname.com.
2) I wouldn't register my domain and host it at the same place. This has led a lot of people to being blackmailed by the hosting provider because they had total control of the person's site. If your domains are registered elsewhere, you can switch hosting providers in a couple of hours if the current one makes changes in their TOS or something like that. Also, they can't screw you around when it comes to renewing your domains and such...
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Vishal P. Rao
Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 957
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# Posted: 1 Feb 2009 22:49
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MyOwnBoss: I wouldn't register my domain and host it at the same place. This has led a lot of people to being blackmailed by the hosting provider because they had total control of the person's site. If your domains are registered elsewhere, you can switch hosting providers in a couple of hours if the current one makes changes in their TOS or something like that. Also, they can't screw you around when it comes to renewing your domains and such...
Very true! This is something that everyone should be well aware of. I had written a post sometime back regarding the same issue.
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mountainmom5
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 1211
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# Posted: 4 Feb 2009 11:21
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Oay... I have signed up for hostgator and messed up with the billing part so now I am waiting to get that fixed...I signed up with paypal as payment and now it isn't letting me do anything with it and I used the wrong email address...(I am used to this stuff as I tend to fail to read before I hit enter..)
But in the meantime, I had a quick question... when I install wordpress there, will it upload all my wordpress blogs automatically?
I sure hope so!
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mountainmom5
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 1211
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# Posted: 5 Feb 2009 00:52
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Okay, I think I understand that part now - OMG, there is a bunch of information and once again, I declare that I will either get more smart... or more gray hair out of the deal... that is if I have any hair left to get gray... I am going to bed now before I pull them all out...
I wanna know how to do it all yesterday already.
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