Selecting a host for your new website - Part 3 of 3

Selecting a domain name in 4 simple steps - Part 1 of  3
Registering your new domain name - Part 2 of 3

Selecting a hosting plan can be a little confusing, so mistaking this step can blast your momentum. Picking the right plan now will allow you to grow and provide you with services at a competitive price. Finding that sweet spot will make your life easier by letting you focus on your primary goals.

It's no simple thing to try to predict the level of demand your website could generate, so be realistic about your potential, and determine a range that is perfectly reasonable. Lets assume for simplicity sake that you do not require a dedicated server. That kind of power is not typically used by young Jedi's.

Understanding your requirements will make this part much simpler.

If you are just starting out, measure in gigabytes the totality of your website. Double that figure. For bandwidth, it's fair to assume 1000 page views is equal to 1 gigabyte. Having a database is a popular feature. Does it use MySQL and PhpMyAdmin or is a Linux alternative ready and waiting. Maybe E-commerce is high on your list, if so pay special attention to the certificate rules. A popular feature that allows you to host any number of domains within one single plan is a convenient way to buffer your margins.

Hosting companies generally charge you for the bandwidth served plus features in use. For those of you just starting out the basic plans are generally enough, so let's stick with that. Going for a plan with unlimited bandwidth sounds like a winner, but don't be fooled by this gimmick, you could end up paying more.

Assemble a list of qualified matches into a matrix of features and hosts. How do you list all of the plans when they come in so many forms and configurations. Keep it simple by only listing those that include the feature that you need most.

You may have noticed that most of these plans are hosted on a shared server. Shared hosting spreads the cost of maintaining the server to all of  it's users. It's certainly cheaper but when the server gets busy your website will suffer. Sharing just means that the hosting provider will not guarantee the speed of your page loads when traffic gets busy. Your visitors will have to wait in a queue before the server sends the page they have requested. When traffic is light your pages should load without any delay.

Alternatives to sharing can expose you to risks that if not handled precisely can wreak havoc for you. A popular one is dedicated hosting. This type is usually reserved for enterprise class businesses that demand the best performance. The cost is much greater than shared, but is optimal for companies not ready to host their website in house. Another alternative is to do it yourself. This will require you to install a server and maintain it somewhere. Only an expert should handle this beast.

All the big names in hosting provide a detailed control panel designed to assist web masters with the complexities of offsite hosting. It's sort of feels like a file manager on steroids, when all the bells and whistles are  installed and functioning. It will become your command and control center, supplying you with metrics  to boost your performance, helping you deliver a superior experience.

By now you've determined which of the hosts match your criteria. If you're left with a choice between two hosts, call them both to ask the same question. A response from one could tip the scale, and give you a reason to make a decision.

Here's where it can get sticky. Your decision at this point will bound your ability to expand if the features you need are not available. A change of host may be unavoidable. Don't panic if you make a decision that eventually changes as your domain name will always remain in your possession. Moving your website sounds like a chore but can be made simpler with the right tools.

Once you've committed, purchase the plan.

When your website has outgrown its birthday suit, an upgrade from basic to business class hosting is just a click away.

Hosting prices fluctuate mildly but are expected to remain at this level.

Registering your new domain name - Part 2 of 3

Selecting a domain name in 4 simple steps - Part 1 of  3
Selecting a host for your new website - Part 3 of 3

This is the big day. You're ready to buy a domain to host your new site. Just getting to this point was like starting a new job, minus the pay and free coffee. I don't want to burst your bubble, but unless your Mom is in the kitchen, it's possible that you are the only one celebrating the official start of your new career.

Add another item to your fine list of bragging rights, because this ones big. No, huge!

All that hard work you've done, selecting your domain name, from a number of good options, will prove it's worth when your site gains traction and provides you with leads. Just be patient til then, and focus on the content you're providing because most of the setup for the domain is remarkably simple to manage.

There exists a variety of Registrars all over the world who can register your name. Give preference to those located in the country where the website will be hosted.

Only a few subtle differences separate the majority, so lets focus on the similarities.

Normally included in the price of a new domain name are things like a welcome page, an email address, subdomains, domain forwarding and DNS control. Better options become available if you're ready to buy a hosting package.

The better Registrars will include features that may also interest you. Like domain privacy, which protects your identity from public viewing. Without privacy, many of the personal details you submit to the Registrar become instantly available online, recorded in the public WHOIS database. Another popular feature is live support. You may never need it, but it's there when you do.

Registering your domain through an Accredited Registrar will ensure that possession is transferred to you immediately.
A partial list of Accredited Registrars is located at ICANN (Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers)

Meanwhile, as the price of a new domain has risen to more than $12 per year the value of a good one remains priceless.

Selecting a domain name in 4 simple steps - Part 1 of 3

Registering your new domain name - Part 2 of 3
Selecting a host for your new website - Part 3 of 3


What's in a domain name? A lot, in fact. It will become the platform from which you develop the awareness for your product. Your domain name is essentially being co-branded with the product that it will host. Consider that most businesses own their respective domains in the dot.com universe, and many have payed a ransom trying to take possession of what they feel is their right to own. There is tremendous value in a name that is as distinct as the product it represents.

In this article I will explain briefly the method I am familiar with and by no means is it the only method you should consider on your path to choosing the perfect name. This method is less formal than most and leaves the door wide open for you to explore the landscape of domain name theory.

Acquiring the right name may be the easiest part of the start-up process, if you have clearly stated your goals and intentions. Investing just a little bit of time now will really payoff in the future, as good names quickly become someone else's property.

There is a tired old belief which states that all the best names are gone, or out of reach, financially. Don't believe the hype! When it comes to naming a domain, the sky's the limit. While it's true that all single word domains have long been registered, multi-word combination names keep the playing field open. Now, this doesn't mean that just any fancy name will do. It's the right name that will make all the difference in the end.

Follow these 4 simple steps and you will have a domain name worth remembering.

Step 1 - Rediscover the old you
Read through some of your best work. Pick up those dusty old business plans and other communications you've forgotten about and re-read them. Mine them for keywords and phrases that you used to explain your ideas and demonstrate your skills. Many of those old ideas have not changed since you first wrote them. Or if you're new to the name game, visit a website that you admire and take special notice of the language and tone that is used that catches your attention.

Make a list of the words you find most interesting and appealing. Write down synonyms of those words too. Tech mags are a resource rich in language written for nerds. Nature mags...um... never mind. What is your competition doing that you could learn from. The signs are everywhere you look when you're tuned in. Collect a list of words that appeal to you and relate well with the website. The more words the better.

Remember getting whacked with a thesaurus by the English teacher? Use it like a road map to hidden treasure. Thank them by sending them a link to your new website.

Step 2 - Elimination round
Weed out the words that do little to describe your new websites theme. Words that don't match your sites character should be obvious, ditch'em. Just because you like a word, doesn't mean your visitors will. A words meaning can change within a population according to a variety of demographics, so find them and forget them.

Highlight the words that best describe your sites content or purpose. Alphabetize the list for God's sake, your not in kindergarten anymore. Create groups of words that you feel are similar in nature and portray related sentiments. This step should cut your list in half. If you still have 10 words on your list, you've done enough for now.

Step 3 - Shuffle, remix, record. Repeat
Start by arranging words into familiar patterns, then re-arrange them into uncommon strings that you've never used before, like technosnorkle, or electrogiddyup. Less familiar word combos stand a better chance of still being available for registration. It will take some effort to uncover new word combos that deliver a meaning inline with the websites content.

This is the perfect time to crack open a can of Portmanteau. A portmanteau is the result of blending two or more words into one. Such that the new word inherits meaning from all of its parents. This method often produces a  more functional word with fewer letters.
(Spanish + English = Spanglish, spoon + fork = spork)

Concatenating syllables that still convey meaning are tricky to combine fluidly, but their performance is golden and their efficiency... legendary. Mash up syllables from different words and record slick combinations before you forget them.
(Eminem, Metallica, Telus, Verizon, Comcast)

Do any mixed words roll off the tongue or fumble when spoken? What image is generated in your mind when you say the new word out loud? Is the new meaning universal or specific to one language or group?
(tech = technology but hydro != hydrogen)

You could just invent a word, but then who would know what it means. A brand new word could fulfill the need if the product it represents is particularly unique. This would enable you to attach a special meaning to it without worry of confusion in the market. However, inventing a new word does not make you it's owner, others could copy it if you don't protect it..

Meaningless words take considerable time and effort to establish in the market, and often prevent shy customers from engaging ideas that reside outside their comfort zone. Note, that many new words have been successfully incorporated in the dot.com universe.
(Bebo, Kijiji, Ebay)

I have found value in new word combos that are derived from older languages, particularly Latin. Latin words when mixed with Ebonics can compound your potential for creative communication.

For instance, new word Synkroma demonstrates creative use of syllabic concatenation and presents little meaning to most readers. Roma is Italian for Rome, a place in Italy. Synk means relation or equivalence and is often spelled with a 'c'. If it has been used somewhere before, it's source is unknown. It has not yet been registered and remains open to interpretation. The website that takes it will give it new meaning and they will be linked forever.

Finalize your list of new words then ask your friends for their impressions on each of them. This will help you to realize why some are confusing or just nonsensical. Their review of your list can provide some much needed criticism that you can use to help nail down the best options. Know the difference before you commit.

Step 4 - Size matters
On the Internets, like in the real world, SIZE does matter! Although in the opposite direction (hint: smaller is better). Your new name should be easy to say and to remember, but mostly it should gravitate towards and revolve around your sites purpose and content.

The worst names confuse and irritate visitors by attracting them to sites with irrelevant content masked behind a name who's meaning does not match well. Like Bing for instance. No thank you, I don't play kids games.

Great word combos can be easily marketed to convey professionalism as well as demonstrate your creative aptitude. Elevate a potential names meaning above it's length in characters and avoid including dashes, that's totally nine-tees.

It would be nice to have a short name but this is no longer possible, as the cache of single words were registered some years ago. Alpha-Numeric combos only do well if already familiar (76ers, 7up).
Abbreviations are unique, but contain very little meaning outside their sphere of influence, with some exceptions.
(NIN, ACDC, GQ)

Domain names are not as unique as they appear. For some people another option is still available if the name that's been chosen is just to good to pass on. A TLD (Top Level Domain - the com in dot.com) other than dot.com may show potential if you can handle being herded into an uncommon domain space.
(myWebsite.cc, newSpotOnline.bs)

ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) regularly upgrades it's domain naming conventions by adding new TLD's to the glossary. Most countries have their very own Internationalized ccTLD like dot.ca for Canada, eh!

Registering a domain name that already exists in the dot.com name space will instantly make you a competitor for potential visitors searching for words included in the name. You could always attempt to buy the domainname.com from its current owner, good luck.

By now you have a canon full of killer names that must be checked to ensure availability. So light the fuse and point to a Registrar that will verify a names status. If a name is available and also ranks high in Google's index, you've scored. But if a name instead produces few results in a search you've won the game. Your new name is unique, legitimate, self-explanatory, and hopefully catchy too.

A good name is like having a sign on your front door, but a great name is like lifting a neon sign to a height that is visible from all directions, above everyone else that does what you do.