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02/11/2014 09:10:22 PM · #51 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Domain name registrations can usually be made for 1-10 years, and it should get cheaper/year the more years you are willing to pay for up-front.
Also, once your domain is registered, it can usually be moved (with some hassle) to a different hosting service if necessary, or even to your own computer if you are willing to pay for a static IP address -- something I'm sometimes surprised more of us don't do ... |
The problem with having a static IP and domain name pointing to your own computer is that it opens a connection between your personal computer and the open internet, which is a very dangerous place. The small number of people who are actually capable of keeping their machine secure in that kind of environment would never open themselves up to that kind of risk, because...mistakes happen.
Personally, I have an AWS EC2 instance that I pay about $5 a month for. It's cheaper than getting a static IP from Comcast, and it keeps everything I have that's public facing on its own isolated machine. |
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02/11/2014 10:37:47 PM · #52 |
| Purchase your domain name apart from hosting. Some hostingsites will actually own the ddomain and you rent from them so if you decide to switch hosts you lose your domain. Purchase the domain from someone like go daddy and set up up with a separate host. |
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02/11/2014 11:10:48 PM · #53 |
Godaddy is a cheap way to register domains...it doesn't have to be the same as your hosting provider. I have about 20 domains registered with them. You also can find coupons online that can save you a lot with them.
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02/12/2014 06:26:49 AM · #54 |
| i like namecheap.com, because they don't try to cram all sorts of other stuff down your throat at checkout. click the link, scroll down for pricing. and their automated system for moving the hosting is pretty straight-forward and quick. |
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02/12/2014 06:35:37 AM · #55 |
[quote=MarkB] I have created a number of sites and will second the Wordpress recommendation.
Some creative folk in the one of the design capitals of the world, Cape Town have started using a blog rather than a website. A website can become static and I think the look of most blogs are more appealing these days.
Wordpress is good.
Five reasons why a blog is better than a website.
Message edited by author 2014-02-12 06:51:53. |
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02/12/2014 07:18:37 AM · #56 |
| I'm also a fan of Wordpress. It's easy to use, open source and free. For hosting there are many affordable choices. HostGator is doing a pretty good job for me. |
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02/12/2014 07:25:28 AM · #57 |
Thank you very much for the info, all. I've registered with namecheap based on positive reviews, will use WordPress as the content management and delivery tool (and hosting, for now).
Thanks again. |
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04/02/2014 05:40:37 PM · #58 |
Can someone please explain to me what Wordpress is and what it exactly does and why should I have it?
I'm about to register for my Domain Name any input is appreciated. Unfortunately I have a very, very long name. Most people cannot spell either of my names from memory. Janine is usually butchered and Edmondson either is done with U's or not enough D's.
I have gotten a logo done and it is
Janine Edmondson Photography
But in reading this thread maybe I don't have to go with the same name for the website...your thoughts?
In doing some research for the Domain Name .... I think I need to stay away from just "Janine"...there are some very unsavory sites linked to that....ahhhh hummmmm
Someone recommended WIX for the website...but maybe smugmug would be the way to go...anyone have a WIX site?
We figure it will be roughly $150 per year of fee's involved... |
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04/02/2014 09:14:35 PM · #59 |
| Well maybe I shouldn't ... |
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04/03/2014 12:03:29 PM · #60 |
Originally posted by Ja-9:
Can someone please explain to me what Wordpress is and what it exactly does and why should I have it?
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Probably best to visit https://wordpress.org for this kind of information. If you need it or not can only be answered by you. |
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04/03/2014 03:21:27 PM · #61 |
Zenfolio is a bit cheaper than Smugmug and is just as good IMHO, except that they print through MPIX whereas now SM has a relationship with WHCC (whom I use anyway for my own printing).
They used to be even cheaper $99 per year, but I think they raised the rate this year for the professional plan. If you decide to go that way, use JS5-7XQ-F3A as a referral code that will save you 10%. [Sorry, I hate putting that in because it sounds like that's why I am recommending them...and it's not. But 10% off is better than none.]
Another lower cost option is to get your own unlimited hosting provider, and your own web software. I have been testing out Piwigo (since my Zenfolio was up for renewal and I was thinking I could save some money.) It's actually quite nice! I don't think (so far) it would work for me to sell online, if that's what you want to do) but for a gallery, it might be good enough (though Zenfolio also has a lower price plan if you aren't selling).
You can get it for free (software doesn't cost) on your own server, but the easiest way to test it is to sign up for a free 30 day trial of their hosting service...which is what I did. Actually, I started a thread on web software here: //www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=1246585 where I've mentioned it. The software is really quite nice, and even the hosting there is pretty cheap. See my other thread for links to example sites (or go to the piwigo site and see their list!) Note that even if you host with them, you can have your domain go right there, so you don't need to use piwigo in the domain name as your trial setup would have.
One other place I have a gallery for selling is fineartamerica.com. It costs me about $35 per year. Not as flexible as the other options, and I've never tested their print quality, but it does bring you an automatic audience! You'll get your own website, not fineartamerica branded (see //neilshapiro.artistwebsites.com/), but then you'll also automatically have a parallel site on fineartamerica ( //neilshapiro.fineartamerica.com/ ), where you'll get your photos viewed everyday from around the world. Not a lot, but I've definitely had "cold" sales there (whereas DPCPrint sales seemed to have dried up for me), and I don't think I've ever had a cold sale from my regular (zenfolio) site (because there's nothing to drive traffic there other than search).
There are also gallery plugins for Wordpress, but the ones I've looked at don't think they compare to Piwigo in terms of photo loading and management on a do it yourself host. Also, Wordpress sites are constantly under attack these days, and you need to be careful to install a good security plugin and take measures to protect it.
Look around, there are a bunch of threads on DPC discussing do it yourself hosting and web hosting services.
ETA: Here's a tutorial on creating a photo website in 10 minute using Piwigo: //www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/create-photo-gallery-using-piwigo/
Message edited by author 2014-04-03 15:41:14. |
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04/03/2014 11:29:27 PM · #62 |
If you're not trying to sell anything from your site, you can create a site at wordpress.org or even tumblr, and point your domain name at it. That's the cheapest and easiest you're going to find.
If you want to sell stuff, listen to Neil. Or else some of my work peeps are using squarespace. It's about $20/month, I think, but the sites they're building look fantastic. |
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