Need help on setting up a domain

[Pokey93]

My wife is starting up a new business and we would like to develop a web site for it. Problem is I have no clue on how to go about it. I would like it to be a professional looking job so I don?t want any free sites and would also prefer it to have it?s own domain (i.e. www.thenameofourcompany.com).

So the things I need to know are:
1. Where do I go to set up a domain?
2. Do I have to go through a special ISP to get it or can I just buy web space and access it through my existing ISP?
3. Does an email account come with a domain or do I have to set it up separate? I would like to have the business email read ourname@thenameofourcompany.com or something similar.

If there is any help, guidance, references (books, web pages), etc. you guys could give me or direct me to would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Pokey

 

[exorr]

Good luck on your business!

First, go to register.com and see if your Domain is available. If it is you can either purchase it through register.com or one of many other sites. Some sites give you better prices. I'd reccommend just going through register.com though since this is your first.

Second, you can buy the URL, that way you own it. Then you must either pay someone to host your website for you, or do it yourself. If you don't know much about computers, it may be better for you to pay someone to host for you as they know what they're doing and your not going to want your site to go down for long periods of time when running a business. There are 100's of places that will host, each as different available options. I would think you could find a nice service for $10 a month or less. This normally includes them setting up email for you, etc. yourname@whatevercompany.com. Usually you can have up to 5-10 email addresses.

There are thousands of webpages out there. Hopefully someone can give you a few good ones to look at for beginners.

 

[Pokey93]

Thanks exorr.

Does anyone have a list of good reliable web hosts? Any I should stay away from? Second thing, do I buy my url through the registar or through the web host?

 

[exorr]

Buy it through register.com or a site like it. Buying the domain name and having it hosted are completely seperate things. Hosting facilities may allow you to buy domains through them, but if you already own it, then it just makes it that much easier.

 

[Pokey93]

Bump for more suggestions?

 

[jjkeefer]

Search the internet for web hosts. Having another company host your site will be more reliable because there will usually be no downtime, such as power failures and stuff like that, something critical for a business to operate fully. Other services that a hosting company may provide are services to build the webpage for you, something that you may or may not need. As for books, I have never ran across any, but you can always check Amazon or BarnesAndNoble online and see if there are any.

 

[blstriker]

People here at AT seem to be happy with http://www.3-95.com/ It's only 3.95 a month with no setup fee. It's what I would use if I weren't doing it myself.

 

[Lars]

Buy the domain at registerfly.com (Good and cheap) and check some discussions at webhostingtalk.com to find a good host for what you need.

 

[Nocturnal]

actually buy the domain from www.godaddy.com -- 8.95 for a year.

ive purchased two domains from them recently.

 

[avedis]

I'll throw in a plug...

www.lowcostdomains.com

Good price, offers unlimited e-mail aliases to forward wherever you like.
they also offer web hosting, and such.
I've had my domain with them for a couple years now.

 

[Pokey93]

Thanks for the tips everyone.

One more quick question, is there a difference between registration renewal (10 year limit on most of the sites I have been to) vs. actually buying the domain?