Webpage host

Hey Ashtray

Guys, I don't know anything about the process of wanting a webpage, to actually having one. Except back in they day with geocities or something. What are the steps to having a running webpage?

In my head, this is my understanding:

I have to have a host company that sells me the domain name or something?
I hire a designer
I hire a coder
The designer designs, the coder takes the design and makes it computer-happy, and then the code/images and stuff are loaded onto the hosts servers?

I have no idea, haha. I have the stuff on my end ready, it's a music production website, very simple. A number of samples of my work, maybe a couple videos of the commercials I've done, a short bio, contact info, and maybe some photos, but I work out of my bedroom, so probably not. How do I know how much bandwidth or whatever I'm going to need? How do I predict the amount of traffic I'm going to have in order to get the right package from the host? Does it work like that?

And lastly, what are some good, reputable website host sites. I'm not sure if that's even the right terminology. Thanks!

Szechuanosaurus

You need a web designer. They worry about all that other shit so you don't have to.

Ganluan

Unless your site is pretty complex you don't need a separate coder and designer. Most web designers nowadays are also proficient in the coding side, or at least enough for most needs.

Other than that your understanding is basically correct, although where you host the files doesn't have to be the same company that you register the domain name through. Either way, like Szech said a web designer can handle that for you.

iglidante

I use Hostgator. A friend pointed me to them when I got tired of Godaddy's crappy control panel (I still use GD for buying domains, but that's it).

For about $8 a month, I can host as many domains as I like on what basically amounts to unlimited storage. And the control they offer is excellent - I can do whatever I like.

But since you aren't web-savvy where hosting and development are concerned, your best bet is a simpler package. But whatever you do, DON'T go with some local hosting company that charges you $25 a month for 50mb of storage. Please.

Enc

I use godaddy for both hosting and domain name registration, and my website has had little to no downtime. I've used IXWebshosting in the past, and while they are cheap, they are amazingly unreliable. Go Daddy has decent service, and I've only had one outage (about 10 minutes on a Sunday evening) in the year I've been hosting with them.

You don't really need a web staff so much as something to work with. Joomla and Wordpress make designing and working on your website amazingly easy by reducing the amount of back-end work that needs to be done and allowing a nearly infinite amount of plug-ins to help you customize your website. I knew next to nothing about coding and such and was able to use Wordpress to make some nice css based web pages that have been pretty amazing.

Hey Ashtray

Ok cool. So let's forget about hiring a coder/designer and assume I am proficient enough to come up with something that looks fine, no scrolling gifs or any bullshit like that.

I've looked at www.homestead.com and for 5 GB of storage, a domain name, and their webpage editor which after using it seems pretty good, they want 20 bucks a month. This is just an example, is that outrageous?

Let's assume for a moment that the only thing I can't do is code. So if there's a program to design the website and then convert it into the code I'd need (which I'm sure there is), then what do I need, and how much should I be paying to host this bunch of code.

Thanks!

Szechuanosaurus

What's the goal of your website? Make money? Find a job? Hobby?

Hey Ashtray

More like an online business card. Bio, contact, and most importantly, audio clips in a player like the myspace one or some other all in one flash. The site is pretty much so people can google my name, go to my site, hear the work I've done, see the clients I've worked for, and get a hold of me.

Edit: But it has to look good. check out www.hemmingshousepictures.com. I want something clean and easy like that, but with some nice design elements.

Szechuanosaurus

Hey Ashtray wrote: »

More like an online business card. Bio, contact, and most importantly, audio clips in a player like the myspace one or some other all in one flash. The site is pretty much so people can google my name, go to my site, hear the work I've done, see the clients I've worked for, and get a hold of me.

Edit: But it has to look good. check out www.hemmingshousepictures.com. I want something clean and easy like that, but with some nice design elements.

Ok, so ultimately your objective is to generate leads.

What dollar value does a lead have? How much would one successful 'sale' net you (ie if you are looking for freelance appointments, on average how much would you charge for one appointment)? How many leads do you estimate you can convert into sales?

iglidante

Hey Ashtray wrote: »

I've looked at www.homestead.com and for 5 GB of storage, a domain name, and their webpage editor which after using it seems pretty good, they want 20 bucks a month. This is just an example, is that outrageous?

I'd say that's pretty outrageous. I mean, for $7.95 a month I get unlimited. I thought it was just high, but it actually is unlimited.

EDIT: I thought you said 5MB, not 5GB. Still, it's a bit much, but if you've got the budget for that, I guess it isn't too bad.

MKR

Hasweb is a solid company. I've been with them since 2003, and have never had problems. I've contacted their support desk during holidays, weekends, and in the middle of the night, and always get a reply within a few hours.

Enc

For an example of how effective you can be with a generic host plus wordpress, this was done by a relative of mine for her dog training business. She has no real web or photoshop skills. Took her about a day to get the build to what she wanted plus a weekend to get all the copy going:

http://everydoghasitsday.co.cc/

For what you are looking for, you can make something easily with a little elbow grease + basic hosting costs. Look into Wordpress (easier) or Joomla (harder).

Jasconius

When you hire a developer they will likely recommend you a host.

If you are actually going to hire a developer then you have nothing to gain be securing a host right now at all.