Choosing a Web Host for website or blog

deadleg22

Can some of you recommend some web hosts please, preferably that can allow .co.uk domains. I was looking at bluehost for ages, reading reviews and was impressed. Finally went to commit and I cant create a .co.uk :mad:. At the moment I am looking at freevirtualserver.com. I was happily going to just create a 'free' domain then they surprised me with a set up fee of £12.99. Is a set up fee typical? if a set up fee is £12.99 and I only get 100MB of bandwidth and 100MB of webspace, I'm not sure thats a good deal anymore...
So I know a lot of you are bloggers, if you could suggest or warn a webhost that would be great!

thankyou

tomewer

Get your domain from http://www.godaddy.com/.

Then definitely go with Bluehost for hosting - their customer service is fantastic. If you don't fancy them, then go for Host Gator.

All the best!

MikeWSavesMoney

If you're looking for a blog or a simple personal website, you don't need a separate host. In fact, I'd highly recommend against getting one unless you know what you're doing with DNS/naming, Wordpress/Joomla, self hosting, etc.

Instead, if you sign up for a free blog at www .wordpress.com, www .blogger.com, www .typepad.com, www .posterous.com, you can get a custom domain from those services (all configured for you) or save money and get your domain from godaddy.com as tomewer suggests and then point it (via the DNS manager) to your blog host.

You only need your own host if you plan to get into website/blog customisation (other than applying a certain premade theme).

All the best,

Mike

richard-

Get your domain from https://www.namecheap.com

deadleg22

Cheers guys, forgot you could buy a domain on one and host on another. First website btw. I think I will go with 123-reg

Trixi

Looks like you've decided but I just thought I'd throw in a reccomendation for Vidahost (don't think I can link you here?) - reasonably priced, UK based and with really excellent customer service - all my daft emails have been anwered within a few hours - even late at night!

Also don't forget that a lot of hositng companies throw in a free domain ith a year's hosting so don't forget to check this before you pay for one seperately.

seventeenfour

Hi,
It might be a bit late for you but I've only just joined the forum.

I'll second the Vidahost reccomendtion. I have used them in the recent past and their service has been excellent. I only moved from them because I needed to use a Microsoft server.

Vidahost's Basic Package should do the trick if you are just starting out. If you start running out of bandwidth you can easily upgrade, no point in paying for bandwidth you aren't likely to use.

I use 123reg for domains too and can't fault them. They are the cheapest I've found for .co.uk domains and their response time is fast.

Hope this helps.

Thomas

geordie_joe

Trixi wrote: »

Also don't forget that a lot of hositng companies throw in a free domain ith a year's hosting so don't forget to check this before you pay for one seperately.

And don't forget that many of them register the domain themselves and "lend" it to you. So if you decide to leave their hosting you either don't take your domain name, or pay an arm and a leg for it.

Before you accept a free one, check the small print and make sure it is not just "free use of it" while you have the hosting with the company. Make sure it will be registered to you and you will have full control over it should you decide to switch hosts.

MCLF

I have my domains registered with 123-reg and am extremely pleased with their service.

I tried this host last year:
http://m2host.com/index.php

and signed up for their $12 a year plan.

I don't use it for my main website, but I have been very impressed with them. I've had better service than I've had with much more expensive hosts, and - touch wood - no problems whatsoever.

I'd recommend them as a good way to start up.

geordie_joe

MCLF wrote: »

I tried this host last year:
http://m2host.com/index.php

and signed up for their $12 a year plan.

I'd recommend them as a good way to start up.

Not sure I like these, or trust them. For $12 per year you get

DirectI Domain Registrar Reseller Account: DirectI is one of the worlds leading registrar. On all of the hosting plans and billing cycle you get DirectI Domain registrar reseller account for FREE which costs more than $200. By this account you can register domain name for almost all type of domain extensions on your own. You can set your own pricing for the domains and further sell it to your clients. In other way you wil be registrar of your clients domains and will be having full control on the domains like renewing domains, protecting domain privacy etc

So, you sign up to $12 for a year and they give you something worth $200. Something that lets you sell domain names, but keep full control of them.

They are giving you the means to "sell" something to others, when in fact you will just be giving them the right to use it for as long as they do what you want, such as buy their hosting from you.

If they are giving you this facility, then they have it themselves, and I bet they use it too. Advertise a free domain name when you take out hosting, then you find out it's not yours, you only have the use of it while you pay for hosting from them. Stop paying for their hosting and your domain disappears so fast it makes your eyes water.

They may be good, but if they were good why would they need to handcuff you to them when you sign up? Could it be they know that once you have signed up you will realise how bad they are and want to move, so they take steps to prevent you?

Before you take out any domain name, or hosting, remember the domain name is the most important part of a web site. You can switch hosting in minutes, but that's no good if you can't move your domain name too. It's best to keep them separate, and go with 123-reg, or another company that is just as good. That way, if you switch hosts, it just takes seconds to change your domain name servers.

MCLF

geordie_joe wrote: »

Not sure I like these, or trust them. For $12 per year you get

DirectI Domain Registrar Reseller Account: DirectI is one of the worlds leading registrar. On all of the hosting plans and billing cycle you get DirectI Domain registrar reseller account for FREE which costs more than $200. By this account you can register domain name for almost all type of domain extensions on your own. You can set your own pricing for the domains and further sell it to your clients. In other way you wil be registrar of your clients domains and will be having full control on the domains like renewing domains, protecting domain privacy etc

My account isn't a reseller account. It's a simple hosting plan. My domain is, as I said, registered with 123-reg.