HaNNaH West
Getting Started
Organizing your thoughts and ideas when beginning your first website can be a bit overwhelming. I'll do everything possible to make it as easy and painless for you as I can. Let's take it step by step, beginning with...
{Domain Registration and Hosting:}
What would you like your domain name to be? It's a good idea to think of two or three alternates in case the name you want is already being used by someone else. Once you know this, you're ready to register your domain name and set up the hosting service where your website will reside on the web.
We have used iPower web hosting since 2003 and have always been happy with their service, but there are many good hosting services with different features and pricing. The internet services industry is very competetive and newcomers do rise to the top, so I've done some fresh research and posted links below. Click any of the links to visit the websites and investigate their features yourself. Some will allow you to reserve your domain name without requiring you to commit to hosting services before you're ready. This is very inexpensive and worth doing without delay so someone else doesn't get the name you want! You'll need to set up your hosting before we get started on your site, however, and many companies offer the registration of your domain free with a year of hosting. I understand not everyone is confident doing these things online. If you need help, with your contact information and I'll give you a hand.
Soon I'll add a quick reference comparison chart of their features and pricing, as well as links for my Australian clients who need domain registration and hosting services.
A newer host that has risen straight to the top, JumpLaunch has won numerous awards recently for their service and support. All packages include unlimited email accounts, free domain registration, unlimited server space, unlimited data transfer, unlimited subdomains, a 30-day MB guarantee, $50 Yahoo ad credit, $25 Google ad credit and much more. Click the link to the left to investigate further. Don't miss their summer special - for a limited time you can still get a year of hosting for 4.95/month!
Still winning awards year after year...we've used Ipower since they came on the scene in 2003 and have always been satisfied with their service. Our experience tells us that their claim of 99.9% uptime is true. They include free domain registration with their packages, along with 1500Gb of server space and 15000Gb of data transfer, unlimited subdomains, 2500 email accounts, 24/7 customer service and lots of extras, including $75 in Google and Yahoo search credits. Right now they are having a half price sale, so click the link to sign up for only $3.98/month!
ix webhosting.com offers free domain registration, unlimited server space, unlimited data transfer, unlimited subdomains, $325+ in marketing credits including Google AdWords and Yahoo, toll-free phone, email and live chat support, 30-day MB guarantee. Their entry-level plan is regularly priced at only 4.95/month! Click their link to learn more...
Another popular host, BlueHost offers 2500 email accounts, free domain for life, unlimited server space, unlimited data transfer, unlimited subdomains, a 30-day MB guarantee, $50 Yahoo ad credit, $25 Google ad credit and 24/7 toll-free support with their 6.95/month service. Click the link to the left to investigate further.
JustHost has recently upgraded their hosting plans to offer unlimited email accounts, free domain for life, unlimited server space, unlimited data transfer, unlimited subdomains, a 30-day MB guarantee, and 24/7 toll-free support with their 4.95/month service. Though they do not offer .com.au domain name registration, they do have a dedicated Australian freecall support line. Click the link to the left to learn more.
After exhaustive research I have found that the best Australian hosting service is Sydney-based Oceania. With competitive pricing and service, and a pleasant human voice answering their 24/7 toll-free customer support line, we recommend them for all our friends Down Under. Hosting starts at 5.95/month and they have the VERY best prices on .com.au domain registration in Australia! You can even renew your service with a payment by cheque (you'll need a credit card for your initial setup, however). Look no further - click the link to the left to select a plan and get started with Oceania.com.au.
Well, someone's got to round out the choices, and not to be left behind is PowWeb. With great prices, a great reputation and award-winning service, I couldn't deny you the opportunity to compare them with the rest of the field. They include $100 in Google and Yahoo ad credits, unlimited domains, server space and data transfer along with free domain registration and lots of server-side applications, making their services competitive with the others for the incredible price of 3.88/month! This is a limited-time offer - buy 6 months of service, get 6 months free - so click the link to learn more and take advantage of this terrific pricing while it's available!
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