If you're following my website building adventures, I had built a website, but was having trouble getting it uploaded to the internet.
I submitted a ticket to my host, HostGator. It only took a half hour to receive a reply explaining the problem. Not bad!
The problem: I hadn't pointed the nameservers to HostGator.
Okay, that's happened to me before. The first time I heard it, I felt like I was reading a foreign language. At this point, I should know better. But this is exactly the kind of thing that made me want to create Website Building 4 Newbies. If you've hired a web designer, he/she will probably do this for you. And I would guess that if your host is also your domain registrar this will be done for you (though I'm not sure). Otherwise, you need to know this.
How to Point Your nameservers to Your Host
When you create an account with your new host, the host will tell you what your nameservers are. Usually there are two. It's just a string of characters.
Go to your domain registrar, log in, and go to your domain name. Somewhere, you'll find a place where you will tell the domain registrar what your nameservers are.
Simply input the nameservers and save the info.
If you can't figure out where to input the nameserver information, do submit a ticket for help or telephone help.
I just did this about an hour ago, with my domain registrar, NameCheap, and frankly, I didn't find it easy to find the info. I just kept stubbornly clicking things until I found it. But it's definitely easier to just ask for help.
For NameCheap, here's what I did (I will need to click around again to figure it out, but I will do that for you!).
After logging in, I'm choosing "manage domains" from the top menu. A screen comes up with the two domain names I have registered there.
I click on www.heartbeat-childrens-music.com and another screen comes up.
On the left there is a menu. Okay, the second item down is an obvious giveaway: Domain Name Server Setup.
I don't remember that being there before, honest!
Okay, I click on that, and a screen comes up that has five different fields so that you can add up to five nameservers. I've never had more than two.
Click on "save changes" and logout. You're done!
If you want to see how my website looks now that I've finally uploaded it, visit www.heartbeat-childrens-music.com. Frankly, I do not like this template. But it's a start.
I'll be updating this blog as I make progress.
Janet
Showing posts with label HostGator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HostGator. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
My Progress So Far
By now I had hoped to have at least a website template up at www.heartbeat-childrens-music.com.
No such luck.
I did find a music-oriented template at XSitePro . I don't really like it. But it's a start.
Now all I need to do it publish it, using XSitePro's automatic publishing page. It asks for a bunch of information. And apparently, I'm getting at least some of it wrong. Because I keep changing the info and hitting "publish" and there's still no site up.
At this point I have three choices:
1. Submit a ticket to HostGator asking for the right info.
2. Call HostGator, asking for the right info.
3. Spend hours trying to figure it out myself.
For may years, I've chosen option 3. Maybe I have more testosterone than most females, because it's a bit like men refusing to ask for directions (yeah, I've done that too).
But I'm ready to try one of the other options. Be back later today with the results.
Janet
Update: I just submitted a ticket at 10:33am. They have been VERY prompt with their replies, so I expect to have an answer within a few hours at the most. I will let you know how long it takes to get the right info.
No such luck.
I did find a music-oriented template at XSitePro . I don't really like it. But it's a start.
Now all I need to do it publish it, using XSitePro's automatic publishing page. It asks for a bunch of information. And apparently, I'm getting at least some of it wrong. Because I keep changing the info and hitting "publish" and there's still no site up.
At this point I have three choices:
1. Submit a ticket to HostGator asking for the right info.
2. Call HostGator, asking for the right info.
3. Spend hours trying to figure it out myself.
For may years, I've chosen option 3. Maybe I have more testosterone than most females, because it's a bit like men refusing to ask for directions (yeah, I've done that too).
But I'm ready to try one of the other options. Be back later today with the results.
Janet
Update: I just submitted a ticket at 10:33am. They have been VERY prompt with their replies, so I expect to have an answer within a few hours at the most. I will let you know how long it takes to get the right info.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
HostGator
So I finally found a web host for HeartBeat Children’s Music. It’s HostGator.
If you’ve been following this blog, you may be wondering why I went back to the same host I had given up on earlier.
Well, I did some research, and frankly, HostGator came out ahead. I’m still not happy about the poor way they communicate their prices (for more on that, see my post Watch Me Get a Host for My Site.
But my colleagues and friends gave HostGator high marks. And it came out on top on website reviews.
Originally, I was going for their least expensive plan, Hatchling, advertised at $4.95 a month. It’s actually $8.95 a month if you pay from month to month.
For only a dollar more per month, I can have unlimited domains. That means I can switch two of my other websites there for just $12 a year!
So I chose the Baby plan, which is advertised as $7.95 a month, but costs $9.95 a month if you pay from month to month.
So is my hosting account all set?
Well, not exactly.
Just to get the web hosting working, I need to point the “name servers” to the new host. What does that mean? I’ll tell you in my next post, when I actually do it.
If you buy your domain name from your web host, you don’t need to worry about that. But I have read advice suggesting that you do not buy your domain name from your host.
Why not? Because if you later change hosts, you may end up in an awkward situation. It’s been suggested that the host might make it difficult for you to switch hosts.
This actually happened to me with my first domain name and host. And yes, switching was a pain in the neck. But I don’t remember any real horror stories. So you may want to make your life easier and simply buy the domain name from the host, especially if this technical stuff intimidates you.
What do I need to do after that?
Once I point the name servers to the new host, I still need to design the site, or get it designed.
I have no idea what I’m going to do about that, so it should be fun exploring the many options (which I describe at WB4N).
Meanwhile, I’m happy to have finally chosen HostGator and gotten the important web hosting aspect of this job completed.
Janet
If you’ve been following this blog, you may be wondering why I went back to the same host I had given up on earlier.
Well, I did some research, and frankly, HostGator came out ahead. I’m still not happy about the poor way they communicate their prices (for more on that, see my post Watch Me Get a Host for My Site.
But my colleagues and friends gave HostGator high marks. And it came out on top on website reviews.
Originally, I was going for their least expensive plan, Hatchling, advertised at $4.95 a month. It’s actually $8.95 a month if you pay from month to month.
For only a dollar more per month, I can have unlimited domains. That means I can switch two of my other websites there for just $12 a year!
So I chose the Baby plan, which is advertised as $7.95 a month, but costs $9.95 a month if you pay from month to month.
So is my hosting account all set?
Well, not exactly.
Just to get the web hosting working, I need to point the “name servers” to the new host. What does that mean? I’ll tell you in my next post, when I actually do it.
If you buy your domain name from your web host, you don’t need to worry about that. But I have read advice suggesting that you do not buy your domain name from your host.
Why not? Because if you later change hosts, you may end up in an awkward situation. It’s been suggested that the host might make it difficult for you to switch hosts.
This actually happened to me with my first domain name and host. And yes, switching was a pain in the neck. But I don’t remember any real horror stories. So you may want to make your life easier and simply buy the domain name from the host, especially if this technical stuff intimidates you.
What do I need to do after that?
Once I point the name servers to the new host, I still need to design the site, or get it designed.
I have no idea what I’m going to do about that, so it should be fun exploring the many options (which I describe at WB4N).
Meanwhile, I’m happy to have finally chosen HostGator and gotten the important web hosting aspect of this job completed.
Janet
Friday, July 10, 2009
Watch me get a host for my site
Apologies for the delay, I've been on vacation!
It's about time I get a host for this website. When I was researching the hosting page at Website Building 4 Newbies, I decided that HostGator was my first choice for hosting, other than the host I've been using, Banana Hosting.
Well, I've never used Host Gator, and I want to experience using the host I recommend to you. So right now, as I write this, I will get my host for www.heartbeat-childrens-music.com.
Okay, I'm at the website, looking at their $4.95/month option. I clicked on the "Learn More" button. Looks like the plan for me. It has unlimited bandwidth and unlimited disk space. That's all I need for this site. If I were planning to host a forum on the site, offering products and using a shopping cart, or making it uber-popular, then I might want something more. But for my purposes, this is fine.
I click on the order button. There are two options:
o Register New Domain
or
o I will use My Existing Domain and update My Nameservers only.
I've already got my domain. I've heard its best to get your domain and your host in two different places. That way, if you have a problem with the host, you can switch hosts without having to fiddle with the domain name.
This is reminding me that I need to deal with the nameservers. I hate doing that. It's not hard, just confusing. So I'll write about that here, so you can suffer with me, uh, I mean, learn how to do it. ;-)
Okay, I'm entering my domain name and clicking the "next" button.
Hmmm, this is interesting. It's telling me the cost is $8.95 plus $5 setup. What happened to the $4.95 option?
I'll click on live chat and find out what the story is.
Okay, Douglas Be was wonderfully helpful. But I am not going to get hosting with Host Gator today. Here's the scoop:
The cost comes out to $4.95 per month if you pay for three years worth of hosting all at once. The cost is $8.95 per month if you pay from month to month.
I asked Douglas if this was stated anywhere on the site. He said that if you are on the order page and you hover your mouse over the price, it gives you the details.
Well, expecting people to hover their mouses is no way to communicate! I'm not sure I want a host who can't be clear about its pricing. And I told them just that.
The pricing itself is fair enough. I'm not looking for a cheaper host. I'm looking for a more honest host.
So no hosting yet. I will do some more research and write another blog post when I find a good host.
Peace,
Janet
It's about time I get a host for this website. When I was researching the hosting page at Website Building 4 Newbies, I decided that HostGator was my first choice for hosting, other than the host I've been using, Banana Hosting.
Well, I've never used Host Gator, and I want to experience using the host I recommend to you. So right now, as I write this, I will get my host for www.heartbeat-childrens-music.com.
Okay, I'm at the website, looking at their $4.95/month option. I clicked on the "Learn More" button. Looks like the plan for me. It has unlimited bandwidth and unlimited disk space. That's all I need for this site. If I were planning to host a forum on the site, offering products and using a shopping cart, or making it uber-popular, then I might want something more. But for my purposes, this is fine.
I click on the order button. There are two options:
o Register New Domain
or
o I will use My Existing Domain and update My Nameservers only.
I've already got my domain. I've heard its best to get your domain and your host in two different places. That way, if you have a problem with the host, you can switch hosts without having to fiddle with the domain name.
This is reminding me that I need to deal with the nameservers. I hate doing that. It's not hard, just confusing. So I'll write about that here, so you can suffer with me, uh, I mean, learn how to do it. ;-)
Okay, I'm entering my domain name and clicking the "next" button.
Hmmm, this is interesting. It's telling me the cost is $8.95 plus $5 setup. What happened to the $4.95 option?
I'll click on live chat and find out what the story is.
Okay, Douglas Be was wonderfully helpful. But I am not going to get hosting with Host Gator today. Here's the scoop:
The cost comes out to $4.95 per month if you pay for three years worth of hosting all at once. The cost is $8.95 per month if you pay from month to month.
I asked Douglas if this was stated anywhere on the site. He said that if you are on the order page and you hover your mouse over the price, it gives you the details.
Well, expecting people to hover their mouses is no way to communicate! I'm not sure I want a host who can't be clear about its pricing. And I told them just that.
The pricing itself is fair enough. I'm not looking for a cheaper host. I'm looking for a more honest host.
So no hosting yet. I will do some more research and write another blog post when I find a good host.
Peace,
Janet
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