| Part 2 - Choosing a Blog or Web Host | | | | own domain name. It is not expensive (usually about |
| Today there are dozens of different web or blog | | | | $10.00 per year) and is the one item on your list that |
| hosting sites to choose from with the most popular | | | | will pay for itself right away. If you do not want the |
| being Blogger and WordPress and Livejournal to | | | | URL of your blog or website to read something like |
| name just three of many. Use Google to search for | | | | and would rather have your own website name or |
| the most popular blog hosting websites and take | | | | blog name for example then purchase your own |
| some time to look and see what each has to offer. | | | | domain name. |
| Blogger and WordPress offer free templates for you | | | | Most blog and web hosting sites offer this as a paid |
| to use and edit on your own and there are also | | | | service and this is something you should seriously |
| hundreds of websites that offer templates such as | | | | consider doing from the very beginning. Try a |
| Infinity Remix WP Theme and others. Here too a | | | | website such as Whois to check the availability of |
| basic search of the best website templates will yield | | | | the domain name that you have chosen. Avoid |
| hundreds of results. Finding a host that suits your | | | | checking for domain name availability at hosting sites. |
| needs can take some time. If you are building a | | | | Some less reputable sites will "park" the name you |
| website I suggest looking at Yahoo! Web Hosting or | | | | are looking for and then try and charge you a fee |
| FatCow Web Hosting. Be sure to really look around. | | | | for using it. At this point be prepared to be creative. |
| Be careful in choosing a host for your website or | | | | The domain name you want may already be in use |
| blog. For complete control of your blog you may | | | | or may be "parked" by somebody else. Parking is |
| want to have it hosted on a web server as you | | | | when |
| would a website. | | | | A question most people are left with after reading |
| Remember too that website design more often than | | | | this chapter is "Should I pay for hosting or use a free |
| not requires more work due to multiple pages, CSS | | | | service? Here is the answer to that question: if you |
| considerations and overall site structure. Things that | | | | are starting out new with a one page blog, then for |
| you need to consider are, Will I be using a theme or | | | | the time being use a free host. If you are putting up |
| template that comes with the blog or web host's | | | | a website there are a few different things to |
| services? Will I need to "upload" my custom theme | | | | consider even if this is your very first site. For |
| to the blog host or web server? | | | | instance if your site is a common interest website a |
| Before joining a blog host or agreeing to any terms | | | | free hosting service is a great way to go. If |
| go to a few of them and see exactly what it is they | | | | however you are serious about retail, then you must |
| offer. Will there be banner ads placed on my blog? | | | | have your own domain name as well as complete |
| Will my free package be banner-less? Can I place ads | | | | access to your site and the server it resides on. For |
| on the page or edit the html? There are a lot of | | | | that you will have to pay a fee. Again if you do your |
| things to consider so have the detailed plan that you | | | | research you'll see that there are many inexpensive |
| created in the first chapter handy when you research | | | | web hosting plans out there to choose from. It |
| the best host for your website or blog. Compare | | | | should also be noted that a lot of web hosting |
| what the host is offering and check that against | | | | companies have what's called a "basic" package you |
| what you need. Once you have decided on a host | | | | can try for free, or a paid package usually called |
| you must consider purchasing your own domain | | | | "premium" which entitles you to things such as |
| name. Your choice of name will more than likely | | | | support from the web host, email addresses, extra |
| depend on availability so you may need to be | | | | storage and privileges and so on. |
| creative. I strongly recommend that you own your | | | | |