Help with web design and hosting

straws

Hi everyone

I've just moved this from the small biz forum, as someone thought I might get more help here...

I'm looking into setting up my own website (it seems too expensive to get someone to design one for me, unless anyone can recommend someone good but cheapish), but I'm confused by the options. I need to register a domain name, produce a website and have the site hosted - preferably all with one company. I've looked at a couple of domain registration sites, but I was wondering if anyone has used a good one?
Also, does anyone know how much space I would need on a server, as what's offered seems to vary quite a lot. I want to have up to 5 pages and will be selling products, although not with an e-commerce facility - I'll just offer the option of paypal etc.
Any help would be really appreciated - I'm quite clueless about all this!

F1F1

Putting 'web design and hosting' into the search box at the top of this page and choosing to search 'chat forum' brings up various threads.

amcluesent

I can only speak as I find, but have so-far been impressed with the customer service I've had from NSDesign in registering my web-sites. They now have NSBuilder to allow creation and hosting of a decent web-site with integrated e-commerce.

Astaroth

I have personally always had my domain names and hosting packages seperate so that if you have problems with 1 company you only have 1/2 of it to move plus a lot of hosting companies used to have very high fees for releasing a domain name.

For domain registration I have used http://www.123-reg.co.uk for years with no problems at all and their service when I have caused a problem has been outstanding.

For hosting I am currently using http://www.dataflame.co.uk - I have only been using them for 6 months or so so cannot give them as high a recommendation as 123-reg but the couple of problems I have had have been fixed quickly and efficiently.

If you are only going to have 5 static pages then you will need a few meg of space (though no one offers this little). The other thing to consider is the amount of bandwidth you are going to need - again I doubt it will be much but for this you need to consider the size of your pages, how many visitors you will get monthly and how many pages each visitor is likely to view. I would imagine again that the smallest option will be more than enough for you.

Personally I wouldnt use paypal as in my eyes it looks very unprofessional - nochex is slightly better but still not up their with a "proper" merchant account.

meclive

Astaroth wrote:

Personally I wouldnt use paypal as in my eyes it looks very unprofessional - nochex is slightly better but still not up their with a "proper" merchant account.

Depends on how you use nochex, you can directly use the api and make it look as professional as you want.

straws

Does anyone know anything about vengavenga.com? It seems really cheap for an e-commerce site and most of the ones they've done look OK to me.

inmypocketnottheirs

Take a look at https://www.wholesalebabywear.com and see if a template like this is what you are looking for. It cost £70 from https://www.nobledesign.co.uk

HTH

straws

I can't see any templates on there? I really need to be able to update the site myself, which is why vengavenga appeals.

inmypocketnottheirs

straws wrote:

I can't see any templates on there? I really need to be able to update the site myself, which is why vengavenga appeals.

I have complete control over the https://www.wholesalebabywear.com site, I can edit products, add and delete categories etc. It is on os (open source) software so anyone can manipulate the site (providing they know the codes etc) but at least on a day to day basis products can be updated.

Does the site look like what you would need? If so drop nobledesign a line from their site, say that you have been recommended from wholesalebabywear.com site and say you want basically the same thing. You can change fonts, colours etc, you jsut need to specify.

HTH

sweven

Hi Straws - I've got a system called Spanglefish where you can get a free site which you can edit yourself, upload pictures of items and add Paypal buttons. The sites are free if you don't mind a couple of google ads. Feel free to try one out - if it doesn't suit you there's no harm done.

http://www.spanglefish.com

Doublespresso

Try http://www.toast.it/ they are UK based and specilaize in e-commerce and would probably guide you through all you need.

From what I know their sites are excellent in terns of flexibility and ease of use by the end user.

:beer: