Hi, all! I've taken the first step in creating my own website by getting my domain name. I'm currently on the second step - trying to decide on a web hosting site. Online reviews for web hosts are really unreliable because most of them give you a recommendation then urge you to click the link they conveniently have right there to take you to the web host (meaning they are getting a little payola for the recommendation!) I want some honest opinions. What web host are you using and have you had any troubles with them? Godaddy, Hostgator, and Just Host have gotten my attention but I'm open to hearing about all.
Web Hosting Sites
- Thread starter MeeMee2000
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I'd avoid Hostgator.
GoDaddy, while I dislike their politics etc. and they way they roll over at even the implication of legal authority, doesn't totally suck as an ISP.
But this is important:
Do Not Use The Same Company for Domain Registration and ISP/Hosting/Server
And be aware that GoDaddy is the single largest domain registrant in the U.S. using many different names.
GoDaddy, while I dislike their politics etc. and they way they roll over at even the implication of legal authority, doesn't totally suck as an ISP.
But this is important:
Do Not Use The Same Company for Domain Registration and ISP/Hosting/Server
And be aware that GoDaddy is the single largest domain registrant in the U.S. using many different names.
I've used Hostgator for years and highly recommend them. Their customer service has always been top-notch during the few times I've had problems and I've always come away satisfied with resolutions.
I use Fatcow, and I'm happy so far. Decent price, although they do try to push extra's on you, and you get a few nice freebies like over $100 worth of credit for ads on google, yahoo and facebook.
Also pretty easy to use.
Also pretty easy to use.
I use asmallorange.com to host my site, third-beat.com
I've been quite happy with them -- dirt cheap packages, and really great support if I ever have questions.
Stay away from GoDaddy, both for ethical and technical reasons. Also, if you plan on using Wordpress, I know Hostgator users have a bunch of extra steps they need to take in order to make it work, so I'd stay away only for that reason.
I've been quite happy with them -- dirt cheap packages, and really great support if I ever have questions.
Stay away from GoDaddy, both for ethical and technical reasons. Also, if you plan on using Wordpress, I know Hostgator users have a bunch of extra steps they need to take in order to make it work, so I'd stay away only for that reason.
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Okay, stupid question time. Apologies in advance. 
So my blog has been running for almost two years, I have a book coming out in October and I want to be more professional about the business. I have bought the domain associated with my blog, and now need to convert or redesign or... how do I fix it so that I can monkey with the design and have traffic go to daconfidential.com instead of the blogger address?! I looked at a couple of web builders sites bu they seem to have just websites, not blog builders.
Help!
So my blog has been running for almost two years, I have a book coming out in October and I want to be more professional about the business. I have bought the domain associated with my blog, and now need to convert or redesign or... how do I fix it so that I can monkey with the design and have traffic go to daconfidential.com instead of the blogger address?! I looked at a couple of web builders sites bu they seem to have just websites, not blog builders.
Help!
One of the best-kept secrets in this business is bluehost, which is where I host my website. Their rates are very reasonable, but what really puts them over the top is you get a very nice control panel where you can do a number of things at the push of a button, such as installing wordpress instantly.
They also include a ton of free analytics tools.
What I like about the panel is it's as technical as you want it to be. If you want to dive into mySql, have at it. If you just want to check out what search terms people are finding your blog with, that is there, too.
It's a real solid service.
They also include a ton of free analytics tools.
What I like about the panel is it's as technical as you want it to be. If you want to dive into mySql, have at it. If you just want to check out what search terms people are finding your blog with, that is there, too.
It's a real solid service.
One of the best hosting websites is bluehost
Here's an article of the top 10 hosts and explaining the differences between them.
Here's an article of the top 10 hosts and explaining the differences between them.
Sorry, I forgot to put the link. Here it is
http://www.techyv.com/article/top-10-web-hosting-companies
http://www.techyv.com/article/top-10-web-hosting-companies
Thanks for the link to the article. I'm glad to see that it provided an honest opinion without obvious conflicts of interest like the articles where they make recommendations and then have links to the very sites they just recommended. It's interesting that they say that Bluehost is in the top ten but then they say that most users of Bluehost wouldn't recommend the company to anyone. Wow! Not exactly a ringing endorsement!
Why is that?
I've had terrible customer service from 1&1, I found goDaddy to be too confusing and impersonal, but their customer service isn't bad. They refunded me some money after I made a mistake and bought two hosting accounts when I only wanted to renew one.
I use Bluehost now, which is a bit more expensive, but oh my god, their customer service is amazing and I haven't had any trouble with their hosting at all.
I think I know the answer. Some sites give you a deal if you buy your domain name and web hosting from them. The downside -- when you decide to leave them, they hold your domain name hostage. I think that is only for some sites.
Because the registrar can, and frequently does, hold your domain hostage if you quit hosting your site with them. Several registrars are notorious for this.
Never put all your eggs in one basket.
Contemplating getting to versions of your domain name, registered at two different sites.
medievalist.com
medievalist.net
etc.
That way, if you have a registrar problem, you aren't totally screwed.
Never put all your eggs in one basket.
Contemplating getting to versions of your domain name, registered at two different sites.
medievalist.com
medievalist.net
etc.
That way, if you have a registrar problem, you aren't totally screwed.
I was actually worried that GoDaddy would hold my domain hostage, but they were excellent when I went to transfer from them. I suppose you could transfer the domain prior to canceling the hosting.
Food for thought anyways.
Food for thought anyways.
Transfer the name before you cancel the hosting -- That is a brilliant idea, Anjasa! And it's good to know that Go Daddy didn't make an issue of you transferring.
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I'd avoid 1&1 like the plague. They do hold your domain name hostage and their service is terrible.
I'm with hostgator because I use drupal. They are very good for drupal servers, not sure how they'd be for anything else. Their customer service has always been excellent by chat, phone and email. I have the lowest package and have had a dozen domain names tagged onto it with no problems. They have the same control panel as many of these companies and it offers Wordpress 1-click install if you're looking at that, but I've never used it.
I'm with hostgator because I use drupal. They are very good for drupal servers, not sure how they'd be for anything else. Their customer service has always been excellent by chat, phone and email. I have the lowest package and have had a dozen domain names tagged onto it with no problems. They have the same control panel as many of these companies and it offers Wordpress 1-click install if you're looking at that, but I've never used it.
I originally tried to transfer my domain from GoDaddy to 1&1, but it couldn't go through because I had privacy registration and had to turn it off before transferring.
1&1 wouldn't cancel the transfer, even though they were supposed to. I absolutely believe that they would hold domains hostage, and it took me a week and a dozen emails to get them to cancel the transfer when I only wanted them to cancel it so I could re-initiate it and successfully transfer it to them. Was very confusing and needlessly complicated, complete with plenty of emails from people who never read what I said and phone conversations with people who flat out lied to me.
Needless to say, after all that, I won't be using 1&1 in the future for such things.
After hours and hours of internet research, pestering people on message boards, and reading books, I finally got my website up and running! Check it out if you have time: www.cheapskate-a-holic.com/
Now I just need to figure out how to add the link to my signature block...
Now I just need to figure out how to add the link to my signature block...
PragmaticPimp
Registered
I just started my site and used DreamHost because Wordpress said so. I'm such an advertising tool. They seem alright so far.
I refused to go with GoDaddy because of their support of SOPA. I also read too many bad reviews of 1&1.
They seem alright so far.I refused to go with GoDaddy because of their support of SOPA. I also read too many bad reviews of 1&1.
PragmaticPimp
Registered
I just started my site and used DreamHost because Wordpress said so. I'm such an advertising tool.
I refused to go with GoDaddy because of their support of SOPA. I also read too many bad reviews of 1&1.
Well, a few weeks in and my site is down because of DDoS attacks on the hosting site. Great. It's been down for hours and all I want to do is work on it. Figures. It was down a few days ago for other reasons. I just paid for an entire year but am already think of changing to other hosting. Maybe I'll give it a few more weeks before I decide.
I really like GoDaddy so far. Their customer service has been outstanding. But then again, I'm not doing anything complicated on my site.
I get upset hearing this, because I used them for a time when they first started trying to break into the USA market (I believe they originated in the UK). Once up and running, they were rock-solid for me. Of course, at that time, they were trying to impress people. So maybe my experience wasn't typical.