|
tripp23
Kratom Freak



Registered: 05/21/08
Posts: 4,030
Loc: Florida, US
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
|
Website host
#22033118 - 08/02/15 11:51 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Hey guys. I'm aware I haven't posted here in a few years really.. I hate to just bust back in for help but I have no choice. I turn to you fellow shroomers.
For the past few years, I've been building my own business and I think its really going to explode honestly.. currently, I'm trying to build a website.. but the problem is.. I'm illiterate when it comes to choosing a host and domain. I just hesitant because of all the scams on the intrawebs so I turn to you guys.
What's the best website host/domain that I can possibly own? I'm sure some of you have more experience than me. And don't worry, I'm not completely illerate when it comes to computers at all; the host thing it's just seems sketchy to me.
Also, I will happily post a link to my website so you guys can see what I've been doing all this time, as I'm sure you'll all love it; as soon as I get it up and running. Thanks ladies and gents!
-------------------- Experience my nightmarish first time of smoking Ganja!

|
daytripper05
Psychonaut




Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 6,962
Loc: In my garden
|
Re: Website host [Re: tripp23] 1
#22033247 - 08/02/15 12:20 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
I'm a professional software engineer. I build web apps and pretty much 100% use the web to do all my work. So here is my professional recommendation. Btw, I have no bias in this whatsoever, just more than 10 years of professional experience (I'm only 29). Literally been doing this professionally since I was 17.
1. Don't use the same domain registrar as your host and you'll avoid a lot of scam type sites. I would also avoid GoDaddy because they will try to upsell and nickle and dime you at every turn. And if you are a not web professional know exactly what you need, you might be swindled. I use Namecheap, but there are lots of good domain registrars. Network Solutions is also good, but they are usually the most expensive (or historically they have been). I don't use them so I don't know what they current rates are and how they compare. But you won't get scammed with them. You won't get scammed with GoDaddy either. It's just a shit company with shit sales tactics.
https://www.namecheap.com/
2. You need to decide how you are going to code your site and if you need FTP access to upload files. For example, when clients pay to build them whatever, I push all the code using automated deployment services that use FTP. If you don't know any HTML/CSS/JS, then you probably don't want a host that is a "DIY". I would go to something like Wordpress.com or Rackspace.com for templates. In these two cases, they provide the website building tools AND host it for you.
So here you really have 2 options.
1. Build the HTML/CSS/JS yourself and then upload it to the remote server. This is the much more advanced approach. This is complete control and freedom. You then have to choose a host and then you have to decide if you want a self-managed host or a managed host that will manage the server for you. Unless you have a background in IT, I recommend using a managed host.
If you want a real human that speaks english with good reasonable rates, I recommend Arcustech. Literally if you have a problem, you just email them and they fix it for you. No control panel, no server knowledge or anything. I have an extensive background in building servers and maintaining them, but I choose to use a managed served (Arcustech) because I don't have time for that shit anymore. I just want to write code, not maintain and run diagnostics on the server when something goes wrong.
https://www.arcustech.com/
I'll add, there are literally 100's of quality hosts out there. This is just one that I have personal experience with. I personally know the owner of this company, met him at tech conferences. He's a great super smart dude.
2. Use something like Wordpress.com or Rackspace.com. You choose a template, customize using their widgets. You have much less control, and usually for a decent price. You can be up and running in much less time, but you are at the mercy of your provider. I would go this route if you have 0 knowledge in this field and have no desire to learn the skills required to go for route #1.
Let me know if you have any specific questions based on what I have said. Hope this helps.
|
rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
|
Re: Website host [Re: tripp23]
#22033328 - 08/02/15 12:40 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
op, listen to daytripper, he nailed it.
i use dreamhost/network solutions
|
tripp23
Kratom Freak



Registered: 05/21/08
Posts: 4,030
Loc: Florida, US
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
|
|
Great post! Thanks so much! One more question that I'm kinda iffy on.
Do you even need a host? I've played around with html codes before and it's not too difficult, I'm sure I can get it down quickly. If I go with html.. I just upload the site? This is where I'm confused.. like.. upload the site to the internet? I don't get it
Basically I'm asking.. if theirs no way around the host thing.
-------------------- Experience my nightmarish first time of smoking Ganja!

Edited by tripp23 (08/02/15 01:07 PM)
|
daytripper05
Psychonaut




Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 6,962
Loc: In my garden
|
Re: Website host [Re: tripp23]
#22033661 - 08/02/15 02:05 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Yes, you need a host. The "host" is just the company or entity that is running the server that is serving your website to the internet. One could, in theory, host the server themselves. I use to do this but you quickly learn this is a horrible idea.
Wordpress.com is a host in itself, same with Squarepsace, but they most likely just use Amazon Web Services or something like that to actually host their stuff. So in these cases, Wordpress or Squarespace mange the hosting environment making it easier for the user.
So you do three things.
1. Register yourdomain.com and edit the DNS settings. Change the DNS to point to your new host. If you don't have a host, go to step 2.
2. Find host and create a monthly account for their base plan. At this point, "shared" hosting will be more than enough for you. Once you get a hosting account, you will have an ip address. Go back to your domain registrar and update your DNS to point to these settings.
3. Upload website code and pray that it did it correctly.
|
daytripper05
Psychonaut




Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 6,962
Loc: In my garden
|
Re: Website host [Re: rackem]
#22033665 - 08/02/15 02:06 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
rackem said: op, listen to daytripper, he nailed it.
i use dreamhost/network solutions
Both solid choices. Lots of people use Dreamhost.
|
koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
|
|
I vouch for using WordPress as a cms. I use it for a couple of websites and even though I also still run my own cms which I made over a decade ago, it's just so much easier and the important maintenance is done for you, allowing you to focus on maintaining your content. If you want, you can modify any of the themes there are on offer but I personally think there's a lot to be said for running it right as it comes out of the box. It's a relatively hassle free approach that allows you to focus on your business. And there are lots of plug-ins that enable you to do just about anything that you'd want with a business website.
Of course, run it from a host of your choice and not through WordPress.com
|
rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
|
|
i gotta ask this... why the hell are websites so damned expensive? i just put out an rfq to redo my companies and they came back in the 25k range.
|
koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
|
Re: Website host [Re: rackem]
#22033703 - 08/02/15 02:21 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Labor, proprietary solutions and excessive margins.
|
rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
|
Re: Website host [Re: koraks]
#22033717 - 08/02/15 02:26 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
i would think that sense it is now so competitive those margins wouldn't be as great.. guess i was wrong.
|
koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
|
Re: Website host [Re: rackem]
#22033731 - 08/02/15 02:29 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Well, I suppose it depends on what you exactly put in the rfq and who you sent it to.
|
rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
|
Re: Website host [Re: koraks]
#22033749 - 08/02/15 02:32 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
mostly local companies.. but it wasnt like i was asking for a total rewrite.. just looking for a revamp of an existing page.
just wasnt expecting that much.. kinda took me off guard..
|
koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
|
Re: Website host [Re: rackem]
#22033767 - 08/02/15 02:36 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Yeah, sounds like quite a big amount for what seems like a simple redesign. But perhaps it doesn't look as simple to them as it does to you, especially if several companies quote such a high amount. Perhaps give one or two a call to see how they estimate the scope of work and to explore your requirements with them?
|
rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
|
Re: Website host [Re: koraks]
#22033773 - 08/02/15 02:38 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
solid advice.. ill give them a shout tomorrow.
|
daytripper05
Psychonaut




Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 6,962
Loc: In my garden
|
Re: Website host [Re: rackem]
#22034327 - 08/02/15 04:38 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
rackem said: i gotta ask this... why the hell are websites so damned expensive? i just put out an rfq to redo my companies and they came back in the 25k range.
Lol, because we have more work available to us than hours in the day. Supply and demand really. And web development is hard anyway and finding a quality developer is even harder to find.
Design is also expensive. So that quote was probably broken down into 2 components, design and the actual build. If you are interested in a company to do another quote, I sub-contract for an outfit out of Alabama. I bet they could it for less than $25K. PM is you are serious have a budget of more than $10K. Chances are if they quotes $25k, it'll still cost at least $10K for even a freelance person.
|
daytripper05
Psychonaut




Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 6,962
Loc: In my garden
|
Re: Website host [Re: koraks]
#22034354 - 08/02/15 04:42 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
koraks said: I vouch for using WordPress as a cms.
I only vouch for this for people with low budgets, low experience and/or knowledge. It's really a shitty CMS if you are judging the quality of the code and the level of security. Wordpress gets hacked all the time. I'v had client quit paying for regular updates and all the sudden their sites goes down all because of an outdated exploit.
Wordpress isn't build on any real solid OOP foundation. No modern PSR compliance. It's also not a really a CMS. It's a blogging platform. Anything else after the fact is third-party, which can be hit or miss in the Wordpress world.
Just my opinion on the subject. There are MUCH better CMS's out there. Craft CMS is probably the best on the market right now. I know the owners of this CMS personally, extremely talented dudes. Super cool to hang with at conferences.
http://buildwithcraft.com/
|
|