which web hosting to use

Mrs_Huggett

Hi there, I am in the throes of starting a new business venture which I will need a website for, this will really only be for giving information about the service I will provide and to showcase designs of a product that I will also be selling. The two arms of this venture do somewhat go hand in hand and are both stemming from the vintage side of the wedding/function market so a dual site will be fine which will save me time and money, but I just don't know what to do regarding a website, I have in the past used 123.reg for a non profit org that I helped to run, but I had no input into getting photographs onto that site, and for my business I am going to need to put my work on there, I do have a competent photographer in my husband so half the battle is won!! How easy is wordpress? Or should I be looking at companies like 123.reg, which to be honest seems to be about my level of ability!! Any help would be really appreciated.

jjww_2

Hi I have a small business and have a web hosting package from bt which provides a web site builder with designs and templates, photos are just uploaded to computer and then easy to put onto site. I am unfamiliar with any other web hosting providers, but I am pretty sure someone who knows a bit more will be able to advise.

Are you wanting a shop online function within the website or is it basically just online advertising?

Mrs_Huggett

Hi jjww, thanks for that, no I don't need a shop online do have to have your phone or broadband with BT to use their site builder?

InsideInsurance

Do you have a budget to get the site set up for you or are you looking to do it all at minimal/ no cost?

Most CMSs, including wordpress, are relatively easy to get up and running but can take a bit of learning to get the most out of them, know which extensions to install etc.

You could go for a "builder" solution like the BT one suggested, you could get a CMS and buy/ find an off the shelf template for it and so just need a webhost that supports the technology the CMS is written in or you could pay a designer/ developer to set everything up for you and create your own template and then you maintain all the content yourself. If you do the later then generally go with the developers recommended host (ideally directly with them rather than through the developer)

steve1980

You can get hosting from www.hostsphere.co.uk and use one of the many 1 click installers including Wordpress.

The cheapest hosting package is £19.99 a year and a .co.uk domain name is £6.98 (no VAT to be added unlike 123-reg)

InsideInsurance

steve1980 wrote: »

(no VAT to be added unlike 123-reg)

I'll never understand why a someone thinks dealing with a tiny company makes it a good thing? Personally I get concerned that a company isn't turning over £71,000 (remember it is turnover not profit)

paulwf

How important is the image you portray and your branding going to be OP? I'm imagining for the wedding market you'll need to create a fairly classy image? Unless you are very web and design savvy perhaps it would be good to get a professional to set it up?

For some products where giving information is more important than the image a DIY website is great, but for other products you need it to look slick. What sort of budget do you have OP?

steve1980

InsideInsurance wrote: »

I'll never understand why a someone thinks dealing with a tiny company makes it a good thing? Personally I get concerned that a company isn't turning over £71,000 (remember it is turnover not profit)

So every single company you deal with are VAT registered?

No wonder small businesses are fading.....

jjww_2

Mrs_Huggett wrote: »

Hi jjww, thanks for that, no I don't need a shop online do have to have your phone or broadband with BT to use their site builder?

No I don't have anything with BT just went on their business site and signed up for webhosting which costs me £2.99 a month, you get about ten email addresses, a web site builder package which is loads of templates that you adapt and edit to fit your needs and I think I paid £20 for my domain name. Its got a few good functions like livechat which enables you to talk to customers etc.

I don't think I am allowed to post email address of business on here? but I am not very technically minded and I have managed to get to the front page of google for searches in related categories, and did not find it hard to do.

I am not usually a fan of BT but have had no problems with their web hosting, I also set up a website for father in law.

steve1980

jjww wrote: »

No I don't have anything with BT just went on their business site and signed up for webhosting which costs me £2.99 a month, you get about ten email addresses, a web site builder package which is loads of templates that you adapt and edit to fit your needs and I think I paid £20 for my domain name. Its got a few good functions like livechat which enables you to talk to customers etc.

I don't think I am allowed to post email address of business on here? but I am not very technically minded and I have managed to get to the front page of google for searches in related categories, and did not find it hard to do.

I am not usually a fan of BT but have had no problems with their web hosting, I also set up a website for father in law.

£20.00 for a domain name :eek:

Livechat is downloadable for any website.

jjww_2

steve1980 wrote: »

£20.00 for a domain name :eek:

Livechat is downloadable for any website.

I gather from the horrified face I maybe wasn't a good money saving expert and did not research it enough? OOPS. I take it £20 is a bit much.:(

I wasn't aware livechat was available on all websites. Never mind I did not feel it was a bad deal and I am happy with it which I suppose is the main thing.

I know to do my homework a bit better next time like the OP.