First Site Questions

[Johnsoir]

So I've started to build a website. And the more work I do on it the more questions I have.

The designing and building aren't really the issue. The issue is what to do after?

Where do you all host your sites? Do you just upload your files from your computer on to the host sites server and then it works?

How to you register a domain name? And where? What do you do with that?

I feel like I'm so lost and being someone who has been mostly self taught (Books, the web, forums) I can't seem to find answers for what most would think at simple questions.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and TIA.

[tracknut]

The designing and building aren't really the issue. The issue is what to do after?
Designing and building is about 99% of the problem, so you're almost there!

Where do you all host your sites? Do you just upload your files from your computer on to the host sites server and then it works?
There have been a ton of threads on who uses what company for hosting, so just search the forum for website hosting and you'll find a ton of options. If you're building your own site, then you can get a generic host, you don't need one that has templates, specific tools for selling, etc, etc. But if you're expecting some other services, you do need to make sure your host will supply them.

How to you register a domain name? And where? What do you do with that?
You find a "registrar" to get a domain name. Most hosting services also do registration, and they only key to remember is that *you* need to be the owner of the domain name, and not have anyone else "do it for you". All registrars will be looking at the same domain list for available domains, so it's not like one can get you a better name than another. Once you have a domain name, your registrar "points" that name to your hosting service, to make everything work as you'd expect.

Dave

[dsd17]

Bluehost.com is the company that we recommend at my job. They are pretty cheap, very very rarely down and make things really easy. You can register the domain directly from them and do the hosting and email as well.