Website building 101: domain names; hosting etc.

bgscotty

Hello!

I'd be grateful for advice...

I've been researching how to build a personal website, and have received very helpful advice on here previously.

I purchased a domain name with bravenet.com

I also have free hosting with bravenet.

I would now like to build a personal website.

However, I do not like bravenet's templates or website builder.

Could someone tell me:

* What is free hosting and what does this provide? (there are ads with bravenet)

* Am I tied into being hosted by bravenet because I purchased my domain name via them?

* Will I have to re-purchase the domain name via bravenet on renewal?

* Can I move away from bravenet- and what can I move and how do I do it?

* What elements can I move and why should I consider this?

* Is it better to pay for hosting?

* Any suggestions as to good, reasonably priced hosting companies?

* Can anyone suggest a good way of building a website (either with an online website builder or with easy-to-learn web design functions as I am a web design total beginner)?

Thank you.

Scotty

sco0ter

The answer to your first qeustion is here

http://www.bravenet.com/global/hosting_matrix.php

smartsuit

I have used godaddy.com for years without problems. I have found them to be the cheapest I can find. You can transfer your domain from bravenet to godaddy as well
They do free hosting without ads but the paid for hosting is so cheap!

JOel_2

bgscotty wrote: »

* What is free hosting and what does this provide? (there are ads with bravenet)

Free Hosting usually entitles you to a small amount of free space, normally, with minimal functionality (No database, dynamic scripting, email support etc etc) As you said, these are often supported by adverts on your page.

* Am I tied into being hosted by bravenet because I purchased my domain name via them?

No, you can host your website anywhere you like, so long as you have access to update the Domain records to tell it where the new location is, or use web forwarding.

* Will I have to re-purchase the domain name via bravenet on renewal?
* Can I move away from bravenet- and what can I move and how do I do it?

If you want to move your domain name to a new registrar, you can do, sometimes they levy an admin fee. You will need to contact bravenet and let them know you wish to transfer, and have a new registrar ready to recieve the domain name. If your happy with bravenet, you can just renew with them. Its usually not wise to let your domain expire and then renew it elsewhere just incase someone gets in there before you do (cybersquatters are a pain in the backside for doing this). Most registrars give you a weeks grace to renew after the expiry date.

* What elements can I move and why should I consider this?

You can move you domain name, and your hosting (web, email etc), for the name, its usually down to price. For hosting its usually down to what features you need, how much traffic you expect to have on your website.

* Is it better to pay for hosting?

I'd say yes, as you get rid of the ad's, much more choice in the features you get and usually better support than the free packages. You also get the choice of windows or linux hosting, depending on if you want to run dynamic languages (ASP on windows, or PHP on Linux)

* Any suggestions as to good, reasonably priced hosting companies?

I use catalyst2.com for my hosting needs, they are cheap and reliable. For A beginner I'd plump for a low level Linux package, Cat2 do a basic package for 11.99 a year, plus you can add extras on if you need them.

http://www.catalyst2.com/webhosting/single/linux/packages

* Can anyone suggest a good way of building a website (either with an online website builder or with easy-to-learn web design functions as I am a web design total beginner)?

I think someone else might be able to help you with this question.

Regards

Joel