The first thing you need is a domain name. There are many different types of domains most of which are hosted in the USA. They can end in different suffixes such as .com, .me, .us, .net etc. .com domains tend to be the most popular but there are many reasons why you might choose a different ending. Sometimes it might just sound better, or it might separate your domain from someone else's if the one you wanted is already taken. The important thing is, the choice is yours.

Some domains are more heavily regulated. For example, to own a .com.au or .net.au domain name, you must be an Australian registered company or a business with a registered business number (ABN, BRN, BN). The licence requirements for a .com.au and .net.au domain name require your business to be registered for business in Australia.

Do I need a domain  name for a blog?

Well that depends on whether you want to host your own blog, or want to use a free service such as blogger. Blogger is a blog hosting service that is totally free and your domain name will be something like http://yourname.blogspot.com should you decide not to use a domain name. However, you can set up a domain name to point to your blogger account, which will give your blog it's own domain name. For example if you wanted to choose the name, groovydomain.com your domain name would be http://www.groovydomain.com instead of the blogspot version of your blog address.

If however you want to host your blog on your own server space, you need a domain name for people to find your blog on the web, kind of like a street address to your little place on the web. The advantage of hosting your blog on your own server space is that you can use your server space for other things, have much more control over what you do and you can host downloads and much more when you have your own web hosting space. I use WordPress to run my blog which is software that you can create your blog with on your own server space. You can host several websites on that web space, with more than one domain if you want to. You can host several different blogs or websites for different purposes and of different types. You can start your own community, with a forum and gallery, or have an informational, store or magazine style site. The possibilities are endless!

Where do I get a domain and Website Hosting?

Like anything there are many options out there and it can be very overwhelming to know where to start. I host my domain names with GoDaddy and have found them to be really good and reliable. They send reminders when your domain is up for renewal and the prices are very reasonable. They have the option where your domain contact details can be kept private also by using Domains by Proxy, or if you are not concerned about your personal details being publicly accessed you can save money by not using that option. If you don't know where to host your domain, GoDaddy would be my recommendation. I have been using them for over 5 years and have never had a problem with them.

One word of warning I can give you in regards to domain hosting, is when purchasing a domain, make sure your hosting company has not purchased the domain on your behalf. Some of the less reputable hosting companies do this so that they own the domain (often they include it as part of your website hosting) and if you wish to change your website hosting, they can hold your domain up for ransom. I would recommend always purchasing your domain name yourself, so you have full control over it.

Website Hosting is also an area of many many options available to you. There are many different services at different prices, traffic levels, limits, software, dedicated, managed or unmanaged hosting and the list goes on. Different people will have different needs and not all hosting will suit everyone. The majority of website owners do not need too many bells and whistles. Unless you get a boatload of traffic, you only need a fairly basic hosting plan. If you want easy software installation, make sure you get a hosting service with Fantastico. It has a ton of software built in that is super easy to install. You can install anything from your blog (eg. WordPress), content management system, eCommerce store (eg. ZenCart) or Forum in just a few clicks. Using Fantastico makes it super easy. Make sure you do a bit of research before choosing a hosting company, it's important to find someone who is reputable and easy to work with.

I use Hostgator for my website hosting and have become an affiliate because I love their service so much. I tried several different hosting companies before switching to Hostgator and found the process of finding someone who had good support, was reliable and reasonably priced a bit of a headache. There is nothing worse than having to change your website hosting because you are not happy with who you are with. I currently Hostgator for hosting a busy Forum and have in the past used it for a busy Digital Scrapbook Community, including forum, gallery and store. I currently also use it for my blogs and a few other websites I run as well.

Hostgator have the very cheap $4.95 web hosting which is unlimited and so reasonably priced, but they have great options for those who need a bit more grunt to their website as well. They are perfect for cheap and reliable blog hosting and they can be so much more as well. They are definitely worth checking out if you are looking for web hosting! Use the code word GREEN to get 20% Off your initial order!

At the end of the day, whether you go with my recommendations or find someone else, the important thing is to do your research. Determine what your needs are, whether a basic hosting plan is going to be enough or whether you need something a bit heavier for your needs. If you are just going to be running a basic blog, the $4.95 plan is going to be great to start with. You can always upgrade if you need a heavier plan over time. With Hostgator you can host unlimited domains for only $7.95 a month. Only need one domain, you can go with the $4.95 plan. The business plan offers even more options. It is probably the best option for an online store as it includes SSL certificates which are important for protecting sensitive info on your site.

You will often see uptime guarantees advertised by hosting companies and it is important, but in my opinion uptime guarantees are all well and good, but more important is how good is the support when just your site goes down, or there is some other problem with your site. By the very nature of computers, things can and do inevitably go wrong.. but having that back up support is all important.

Well I host my blog and my husbands golfing community along with a few other websites of various types with hostgator. They have a reliable service and great support and in my opinion one of the best around for a reasonable price. Their support is available 24/7 and is top notch.

The price is extremely reasonable and not one of those sites that is too good to be true. I have had my websites hosted with them for 5yrs now so can attest to good longstanding service.

If you are looking for webhosting they are well worth checking out. It’s really easy to install a wordpress blog using fantastico in the control panel, a forum, online store or you name it. I love their service so much I have signed up for their affiliate program. So if you are looking for good, reliable and cheap hosting, check them out.