Setting up a website questions

[Cricketman]

Well, i've been thinking about setting up a website lately.

It would most likely only be a blog or something, but I would like to add a forum feature and maybe some other things .

I know very little about the entire process though, and the costs!
I've not done much research, I apologize.

I think other members can use this thread to get their questions answered as well.

Thanks.

 

[sohum]

If you want just a blogspot you're probably better off going with a free hosted one (such as blogspot or wordpress). $0 investment for you and you can stop at any time without having wasted your money.

If you want to get your own domain and such it typically costs $6-$9 a year for a .COM, provided you find the deals (GoDaddy deals are as easy as googling GoDaddy coupons). Hosting is probably the biggest issue after that---I personally feel if you're buying a domain you might as well expend in hosting.

Next choice is getting the appropriate software for blogging/forums. Most popular open-source software have installers that make everything easy, but you might consider dabbling about in a bit of MySQL/PHP since that is the most popular combination being used.

Personally, I would suggest you find some free hosting/no domain to play around in before investing any cash. But if you do decide to invest cash, you can probably get a domain+decent hosting for about $20 a year.

 

[Kshitiz_Indian]

If you want to invest cash, do it in the domain, for its worth it. In regards to hosting, I've this free host (www.profusehost.net) which offers ad-free cPanel hosting for small websites, and larger limits post for host, also ad free. All beauty features, plus cPanel, which would allow you to install free scripts with clicks of a button. I can help you in the process if you want, I'm mostly free these days.

Hosting on our own rather than free forum / blog hosting services has an advantage. You have much more freedom with your board / forum to make modifications plus you can backup, restore your Database anytimes, something most free forum / blog hosting services don't offer.

 

[Hitterman]

Profuse host has the worst server. Its better to pay some money for hosting and buddy its not complete ad-free hosting:

 

[Kshitiz_Indian]

Profuse host has the worst server. Its better to pay some money for hosting and buddy its not complete ad-free hosting:

If you take a look at this page you'll find 2 plans with ad-free hosting. http://profusehost.net/services/index.htm

And you call them worst server just because they didn't entertain your site with a nulled script? Rubbish.

They only take genuine sites.

 

[Hitterman]

No i don't have the nulled one. I rejected that because they told me to place ads on all the pages and one more reason is their mysql version wasn't updated.

 

[Kshitiz_Indian]

No i don't have the nulled one. I rejected that because they told me to place ads on all the pages and one more reason is their mysql version wasn't updated.

Can't you read? There are two plans which require absolutely no ADS!

 

[Hitterman]

Is there any way to change the plan. Currently my plan it ad supported.

 

[Kshitiz_Indian]

You're the king of contradiction Hitterman. I'm sorry I can't help you, since 2 posts before you say you don't use them and you rejected them, and now you're using you have a ad supported plan with them. Brilliant. :

 

[Hitterman]

I still have my account active but i am not using it. I am using a paid host till i'll get a good free host.

 

[Kshitiz_Indian]

Since when did novahost become a paid host? :

 

[AbBh]

^^You mean paid host, right?
Novahost is a free host.

 

[Kshitiz_Indian]

Oops, sorry, edited.

 

[Hitterman]

Just check this and see the gold plan
http://novahost.org/

 

[MattW]

Hitterman/Kshitiz, squabbling isn't helping Cricketman with his question, move on.

Sohum is quite right about being able to get in at $20 a year for domain+hosting. I pay about that for my personal site, and though I used free hosting for all my personal web stuff prior to this, I just find it easier to deal with a paid host, and have some piece of mind.

If you feel confident in your idea for a site, take the plunge and pay a small amount. Having an easy to remember domain with a .com/org/net ending is worth the cost, and it helps with visitor retention. Most people find sites via Google, your task is keeping them coming back after they found what they wanted.

Don't start off with a forum, if you are making a blog turn the comments feature on. If you start getting a lot of frequent repliers then consider one, but an empty forum is never a way to get a popular site.

Generally, make sure you are interested and be sure you can keep to frequent updates. If you can't be bothered with a site, your visitors won't be either.