Domain registration & hosting

[I.M.Eminem]

Hello guys,

I've already registered my main domain with Network solutions, however I'm in doubt as for the rest of domain names.

Let me explain, these names are secondary so I don't want to pay $350 to Network Solutions or Register.com annually. There are more interesting offers in the market and some companies charge as low as $9.95-$15 annually (i.e. domainsdoneright).

How can I be sure that the domains registered with these registrars really belong to me?

Secondly my primary site will be hosted with Verio and the rest of sites will be hosted with a more affordable hosting company say hostonce.com.

The question is as follows: is it possible to get more or less suitable hosting solution for as low as $60 per year (that's what hostonce.com offers and BTW domain registration is included)?

It sounds too good to be true. They even promise to support MySQL and it costs 4.95/m, but they only charge annually which is one more reason to ask why.

I'm afraid that if I register and host my sites with them, I'll be held hostage. They won't let me transfer my domains to the other hosting company or any other registrar.

Of course, maybe it's only my foolish fears, but I want to rest assured that I'm on the safe side.

Maybe you have some suggestions as for domain registration and web hosting, I'll be happy to know all of them.

Thank you
George

[ihelpyou]

You want an Icann registrar. I use Dotster.

Web hosting? There are thousands of them. Do a search on Google and do lots of research. When you find one, ask them if they are an affiliate. Many are simply affiliates of the real web host. Find the real host.

When it comes to a registrar or a web host, you certainly do NOT want to find cheap. You are talking about the most important part of your site existence. Cheap is very bad.

[I.M.Eminem]

Thank you Doug,

I'll follow your example, moreover I also thought about Dotster.

As far as web hosting is concerned I'm in despair, there are thousands of companies dealing with it.

I know that Verio is one of the best, but that's just all. They all use marketing gimmicks to attract customers.

Maybe you'll just say which hosting companies you use to make my searches more simple.

Thanks
George

[ihelpyou]

I use www.analoghosting.com for these forums and www.communitech.net for my main site. Neither one are cheap but both are VERY good.

[Advisor]

Just be careful...most of the very cheap hosting companies don't give your sites their own unique IP address. You can find many at $10 a month, however, with your own IP address. Not sure if you can get that for much less, but possibly.

Jill

[I.M.Eminem]

Well I've finally done it with Dotster, they had a weekend promo so I saved $100 (thanks go to Doug).

Jill you know even the cheapest hosting providers give your sites static IP's nowdays. Moreover web space is also out of question, hostonce.com, which I mentioned in the previous post gives you unlimited traffic and disk space, however QoS is what really matters.

If my main site is hosted with Verio.com, I am 100% sure nothing terrible will happen and I have 99.99% uptime guarantee. The site will also download at the speed of light, that's why I readily lay out $49/m.

On the contrary if one hosts his site with a '$5 solution provider', he should be sceptical of its QoS. Yet he may have unlimited web space and traffic, but the site will be unreachable or will download so slow that no one is going to stand it.

Well, I'm ready to drop as tiredness overcomes sleeplesness.

Bye, hope you've had a great weekend.
George

[Blue]

When you find one, ask them if they are an affiliate. Many are simply affiliates of the real web host. Find the real host. I must take exception to this remark.

My opinion may be biased because I'm a reseller, but I think my reasons are valid none the less.

First, in my case, I give my clients the exact same featuresets as the "real" host but at a substantial discount. Second, though I may be another link in the chain (only once removed) I can almost guarantee that my response time is better than the "real" host ,and my technical knowledge is on a par with the "real" host. Third, since I've been a reseller for a long time, I have the answers to most problems before they're asked and can resolve them faster than the real host, and in any case, it never takes me longer than the "real" host. Last, and maybe most important, since my client base is much smaller than the "real" hosts, I can give a level of "personalized" service that the "real" host can't begin to even approach.

Rather than just writing off a reseller or an affiliate because that's what they are, I would suggest that you consider them equally to a "real" host. You just may find that the better deal, both in your money spent and the level of service, is with the reseller or affiliate.

[Advisor]

Excellent points, Blue!

Jill

[MazY]

Originally posted by Blue
Rather than just writing off a reseller or an affiliate because that's what they are, I would suggest that you consider them equally to a "real" host. You just may find that the better deal, both in your money spent and the level of service, is with the reseller or affiliate.

All valid comments, Blue. To suggest that the "real host" can provide any more of a viable service than the reseller is almost nonsensical. In fact, the more I think about it, the less it makes sense.

They are exactly the same services, usually, as you say, cheaper and run by smaller companies, ergo the service is often better.

Trying to find the "real host" may be a little pointless in the long run. Having said that, I have been with my real host for just over three years and never had a single problem with them.

Now, as a VISP for them, I am able to provide the same stability and features. How transparent anyone cares to make their reselling to the customer is up to them. But there really is absolutely no reason why it should make a difference.

[ihelpyou]

Well, I know that I should have worded that differently. Maybe say that "many" sites offer hosting but have No clue? You just have to be careful. I fully agree with you Blue, it is just hard finding affiliates such as you, that's all. :)

I could be a "hosting" company also with CT, but chose to not be as I am not a tech person and would not be able to give the service that others could. Many other sites would choose that route eventhough they have NO clue as well. This is what I meant, but did not clearly word. Just have to be careful.

[markymark]

I suggest anyone looking for a host should first take a look at www.webhostingtalk.com web hosting forum. It is a little bitchy at times, but you are sure to find a reliable host.

[Blue]

Thanks, Doug for the clarification. And YES! By all means, one should carefully check out any hosting company.

Although I don't broadcast my reseller status in big bold letters across the top of my pages I definately don't mask it either. In fact, I actually use the fact that I resell for a major hosting company in a positive marketing way by undercutting the fees they charge. I think that along with the fact that I promote satisfaction in service, my clients are left with a good feeling because they are in actuallity hosted with one of the major players, and at a reduced cost.

[ihelpyou]

Yep Blue, you do it the right way. We know though that many out there resell services and offer them like they ARE the host. Even if they do not have a clue. They are in it for the bucks alone.

If all of these would be upfront like you are, things would be easier for someone searching for a host. You do it right! Not only that, but people would be more apt to go with you simply because they would have ALL the added service you could provide.