how do i get my own url?

[whyrichard]

hello,

new at all this,

how do i get my own url?

cheapest, easiest...

thanks,
r.

[tutubibi]

I assume you are asking about having your web site?

So, steps:

1) register domain, seems that whyrichard.com is still available (I use GoDaddy and their 99c for .INFO special but a lot of choices there)
2) get hosting or use free one that comes with the domain
3) create parking page or actual content and upload to your site (or create your content on .mac and than just forward domain to that page)

That's about it. Once all 3 steps done (it could take as little as 1 hr for all) anybody typing your URL in the web browser will see your page :)

[whyrichard]

alright... register domain... using register.com?


thanks for guidance...


r.

[tutubibi]

Well, register.com pricing seems excessive ($35 for .COM).
Many good and lower priced options out there. I don't recall paying for a domain registration more than $10 in the last couple of years.

[kidwithdimples]

You can get a domain with less than $5. Check out godaddy.com

[benlee]

how is the email setup at godaddy? you can get email address right. such as benlee@(domainname).com?

[tutubibi]

how is the email setup at godaddy? you can get email address right. such as benlee@(domainname).com?

Yes, with each domain registration you get 1 free email box (25GB) and 100 forwarders.

[benlee]

Yes, with each domain registration you get 1 free email box (25GB) and 100 forwarders.

how do you check your mail? could you use mail app? what are 100 forwarders?thanks

[Cassie]

I like to use Yahoo! Small Business hosting for my website. $12.95 for a .com address, their email service built in. Makes it easy.

[tutubibi]

how do you check your mail? could you use mail app? what are 100 forwarders?thanks

You can use web mail or configure client application like Apple Mail, Thuderbird, Outlook to download messages (same as you do with your ISP mail box).

Forwarder is not an actual mail box (does not provide storage) but does forwarding to other address. For example contact@<somedomainname>.com can forward to yourname@gmail.com (or yahoo or hotmail).

You can configure your real domain mail box or any forwarder to be "catch-all" so anything sent to your domain email will go there.

[kidwithdimples]

I believe there is a control panel for your stuffs. For example: www.benlee.com/cpanel/

Or maybe mail.benlee.com? I'm not too sure about that one. Forwarders are like let's say you want to use benlee@benlee.com. You have other email addresses such as benlee@hotmail.com and benlee@gmail.com. You can forward those email addresses to benlee@benlee.com, so when someone emails you at hotmail or gmail, the email will come straight into your @benlee.com.

I hope this explains it. Maybe someone can explain it better.

[JNB]

Take a look at 1 & 1 (www.1and1.com). I've been with them for about four years, they just keep adding stuff every time I turn around. I'll never be able to use it up. Very fully featured, tons of free tools.

Bottom line, shop around. Your needs will dictate the provider that meets them the best.

[tutubibi]

I like to use Yahoo! Small Business hosting for my website. $12.95 for a .com address, their email service built in. Makes it easy.

Yes, if you just need email and couple of static pages it is fine.
However, if you ever decide to put any service scripting or database, you would need to upgrade to something more expensive.

[Aea]

You purchase a domain name from a company (I used registerfly, and now I prefer namecheap). When you purchase you can choose for however many years you want to register, from 1 to 10 years. You probably only want to start out with only one year to start.

When you register the most important part about actually running a website is customizing the DNS to point to your website. Many registrars offer services such as email or forwards (ex forwarding you@yourdomain.tld to you@gmail.com).

You should start off with a simple hosting account from a provider like 1&1, or GoDaddy (incidently both of these providers have very bad reviews, just some major names that came to my mind), you can host http://webhostingtalk.com to find a good hosting provider.

When you purchase hosting usually you'll have a choice of a reseller or shared package, a reseller allows you to become a webhost, a regular hosting package is probably all you need. Most providers come with a control panel, the most popular is cPanel, then Plesk, and then DirectAdmin. A control panel allows you to setup emails, ftps (easiest way to upload files to your website), etc. You can setup an email client (like thunderbird) to interface with your new emails, upload files via FTP, etc.

If you'd like I could set up a tiny hosting account (on Plesk) for you to experiment on.

[benlee]

is a private account preferred? Who owns the domain. Me or the company that I register it through?

Thanks

[Nicolasdec]

Use godaddy and get a domain.

[dogbone]

is a private account preferred? Who owns the domain. Me or the company that I register it through?

Thanks

You own the domain name, unless you forget to re register it when it runs out and someone snaffles it.