Where to register a domain?

[luxe]

Thanks for the tips.

The site is for a little start up company, so not expecting huge traffic, just the usual Who we are, what we do, order something online and pay through pay-pal. Mail off the domain name would be nice, a contact page, and maybe an interactive calendar, but i guess I could do that with widgets etc.

I'll probably just go with the R19 from Mweb, but will definately look at Serv, and have a decent look around before i decide. Priority No 1 is now to design a landing page, and to figure out how to host and point it

 

[House]

Thanks for the tips.

The site is for a little start up company, so not expecting huge traffic, just the usual Who we are, what we do, order something online and pay through pay-pal. Mail off the domain name would be nice, a contact page, and maybe an interactive calendar, but i guess I could do that with widgets etc.

I'll probably just go with the R19 from Mweb, but will definately look at Serv, and have a decent look around before i decide. Priority No 1 is now to design a landing page, and to figure out how to host and point it

This is quite easy.

1. Design your landing page. This is the hardest part, actually!

2. Go to Mweb and sign up for a hosting package. They will provide you with your NS settings. (Hosting application forms usually ask you if you already have a domain or if you would like them to register one. Simply click the 'You have your own domain' option and provide them with the domain name on the application form)

3. Go back to Cozareg, log into your account and go to Manage Domains. Click on Update Domain next to your domain name and you will find a field pre-populated with all your domain info. Scroll down to NS settings and change the two NS settings with that provided by Mweb, and click on Update.

4. You will receive an email from Uniforum. Simply accept the changes and reply to them.

In a few hours your domain will be pointed to your hosting account.

 

[luxe]

This is quite easy.

1. Design your landing page. This is the hardest part, actually!

2. Go to Mweb and sign up for a hosting package. They will provide you with your NS settings.

3. Go back to Cozareg, log into your account and go to Manage Domains. Click on Update Domain next to your domain name and you will find a field pre-populated with all your domain info. Scroll down to NS settings and change the two NS settings with that provided by Mweb.

I <3 you House.

Thank you, I appreciate the " Made for Noobs" advice, exactly what I needed

 

[AniV]

Me too! This is all very interesting, learning how to do it all from scratch. The "n00b-by-n00b" instructions are great! Thanks House.

What do you recommend we use to design the pages in? I've been looking at WordPress, which seems to be able to do some amazing things. Also, they have templates which means less designing on your own if you don't want. You just pick a template that does what you want and use that, edit the colours and pictures and such and you're good to go.

Since I don't know how to code (well, a tiny bit, but not a whole page from scratch that will look pretty) any n00b-friendly recommendations would be great!

 

[luxe]

I am gonna try one of these visual editors like Xara Web Designer Pro

It has templates and tutorial videos...yay! I used to have a wordpress blog, but to my mind there were about 9348948594 other sites on the same template, so I am going to try Xara, and edit as much as I can to give it an original feel.

 

[zamrg]

I am gonna try one of these visual editors like Xara Web Designer Pro

It has templates and tutorial videos...yay! I used to have a wordpress blog, but to my mind there were about 9348948594 other sites on the same template, so I am going to try Xara, and edit as much as I can to give it an original feel.

If you choose to use WordPress as your 'content management system', google 'premium wordpress themes', you'll find some pretty amazing ones for reasonable prices. If I don't feel like starting a design from fresh, I'll purchase one from thereforest.net and just edit the PSD files with Photoshop.

 

[luxe]

heh, $50 a theme. I can see the attraction, those are pretty awesome. Thing is I am so far from using that functionality at the moment, it would be a complete waste to use something like the drag and drop themes available. Nice bit of info tho.

 

[House]

Me too! This is all very interesting, learning how to do it all from scratch. The "n00b-by-n00b" instructions are great! Thanks House.

What do you recommend we use to design the pages in? I've been looking at WordPress, which seems to be able to do some amazing things. Also, they have templates which means less designing on your own if you don't want. You just pick a template that does what you want and use that, edit the colours and pictures and such and you're good to go.

Since I don't know how to code (well, a tiny bit, but not a whole page from scratch that will look pretty) any n00b-friendly recommendations would be great!

Hi Aniv

Its a big pleasure!

Wordpress is actually a blogging platform.

In the past few years, wordpress grew so much with templates and plug-ins that you can virtually run any type of website, from a Questions and Answers site to a Classifieds site without visitors even knowing it is built on wordpress.

What makes wordpress nice is the fact that you can chose from hundreds of thousands of templates. You simply upload the files into a directory and then activate it in wordpress. Your site will then have a new template it runs on.

You almost need to programming skills when using wordpress.

If you want to design actual web pages, I would strongly recommend software like Microsoft Frontpage, Expressionweb, coffecup, etc. etc. Especially to someone who has no or very little programming skills. Even these programs will require some time getting use to in designing web pages.

But, if you only need a couple of introductory pages and a platform where you can add news, updates, etc. - Go the wordpress route. Like I said, there are many templates you can build your site on.

 

[House]

heh, $50 a theme. I can see the attraction, those are pretty awesome. Thing is I am so far from using that functionality at the moment, it would be a complete waste to use something like the drag and drop themes available. Nice bit of info tho.

Luxe, if you do decide to go the wordpress route, go to www.wordpress.org. You will find thousands and thousands of free templates.

You can use this as a starting point to get to know the whole system and play around with it.

Also, see my post made to Aniv.

 

[stevovo]

Is it possible to create a personalized email address by following the steps above?

for eg. [email protected] or something like that?

I know I have to register a domain. So can I register a domain on the cozareg.com site for R50 and then go to afrihost for that R9 email hosting thing?

Sorry if I hijacked thread.

 

[luxe]

Luxe, if you do decide to go the wordpress route, go to www.wordpress.org. You will find thousands and thousands of free templates.

You can use this as a starting point to get to know the whole system and play around with it.

Also, see my post made to Aniv.

House - I am happy to use worpress thanks. i just checked it out, seems perfect for my needs.

When picking a host, would it be best to host locally (only local people would look for the brand to be honest), or is there a bonus to picking a wordpress hosting associate in the US for example?

 

[House]

Is it possible to create a personalized email address by following the steps above?

for eg. [email protected] or something like that?

I know I have to register a domain. So can I register a domain on the cozareg.com site for R50 and then go to afrihost for that R9 email hosting thing?

Sorry if I hijacked thread.

Hi Stevovo

Yes you can.

Just register the domain you want.

Then go to the site where you want the email hosting and sign up for the hosting there.

Then go back to Cozareg, and update the nameservers to point to the new hosting site (which they will provide you with).

 

[House]

House - I am happy to use worpress, it will probably suit me better in the short term. What editor do i use, or is it all done online the same as when i setup a wordpress blog?

Luxe, it is all online.

Just like what you are used to.

Download the template, upload it to your templates folder and activate it in your wp-admin panel.

Many templates even have sections where you can manage things like logos, etc.

 

[luxe]

Ok, Is there anything better at the moment than the MWEB R19pm hosting? I really dont care who hosts it, I just want wordpress to be a no hassle install really

 

[stevovo]

Hi Stevovo

Yes you can.

Just register the domain you want.

Then go to the site where you want the email hosting and sign up for the hosting there.

Then go back to Cozareg, and update the nameservers to point to the new hosting site (which they will provide you with).

Thanks will try

 

[AniV]

There are various free options available for hosting, but what you need to be most concerned about is reliability and service. You can get free hosting but then don't be surprised if your site is offline every so often.
I'd pick a provider who has some form of redundancy, so if Seacom is down then you don't have problems. I wouldn't pick an international host - I think local is the way to go.
I'm very impressed by the MWeb R19 package -it offers a LOT for very little and they have redundancy. However there are a couple of other guys coming out with packages to match MWeb's deal.
I think in the end I'd like a host that is EASY to work with. One that is simple and fast to sign into my site's backend, to make updates etc. I'd rather pay for a well-designed console that is clear and simple and easy to use. I'd also like a host that is easy to pay the monthly fee without needing to provide all my personal details. I'd prefer an ISP/Host that doesn't ask for my ID number and blood type, or that don't make you sign all manner of contracts.

I reckon I'm going to use Wordpress and grab one of their free templates. I just need a few basic pages with information and a picture or two, and a place for me to post new bits of information now and then. I don't require a lot of customisation or personalisation for my site. I do have some basic HTML skills, and if all else fails, I have a horde of computer engineers, programmers and CS grads to ask questions of.

And then there's always MyBB forumites!

 

[luxe]

Good post AniV, so which hosts are you looking at, as you and I seem to be wanting the same things. I haven't seen any of the hosts consoles, as this is a first for me, so I am really looking for a recommendation on a reliable easy to use host. I am already on MWEB uncapped, so I can probably just add this sub to that account, but I am VERY open to supporting someone else if they are worth it.

 

[AniV]

I'm also on MWeb Uncapped which is a bonus because you get the first year of hosting free
Sjoe, I can't really say yet. Obviously MWeb. Also considering GridHost, AfriHost, and WebHostZA. There's the free options at Cyberhost.me too.
Plenty of options available. I haven't had time to go through them all yet.

 

[luxe]

I had a look

Gridhost: R39.95 for a wordpress install including 750 free templates (wordpress pre-installed)
Afrhost : R39 pm for the Cpanel + Fantastico + Frontpage extensions + MySQL
WebhostZA R39 pm all the good stuff, but only 1GB space, 10gb bandwidth, unlimited email addresses
MWEB R19 uncapped (T&C as always with MWEB), R20 p/m per extra email over the 5 aliases Free for the first year if you are a subscriber.

Silly question perhaps, but how many domains can i point to one host? Say i own Bigcars.com as my main URL, and I also own Bigcarssuck.com and Bigcarsrule.com, would most web hosts let me direct all 3 to my main site, or does this involve extra charges?

 

[luxe]

Domain Registered - Check.
Hosting Sorted - Check
Wordpress Working - errr no?

I am disappointed in wordpress, but i guess I should have seen it coming. They all look way too much like blogs (the templates), even the " business" templates suck and its an incredible pain in the ass to remove the "blog" type headers and sections without totally screwing up the template.

Basically I am pissed that I can't get what i want out of wordpress, and might have to go back to working in Xara or something else from the ground up, unless someone can recommend a business template for wordpress that doesnt contain a stupid blog roll, and moves comments down the front page.

You live you learn they say...