WallyJ_26

i was wondering where can i can i go to get a cheap good or even free website for my T-shirt company? Also what is a domain name? im sooo confused...please help...thank you

 

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Chani

A domain name is what is actually typed into your browser's (Internet Explorer, etc) address bar. Like, for these forums the domain name would be t-shirtforums.com and for Google it would be google.com

Also, where the .com is, you can get domain names (if they're available) on .net, .info, .co.uk, etc...

To purchase a domain name I use NameCheap Namecheap.com - Domain name registration, renewal and transfers - Cheap SSL Certificates - Web Hosting - Free URL Forwarding, Free e-mail forwarding and Free DNS services are included with .com, .net, .org, .us, .biz, .info, but a lot of people use GoDaddy Internet Domain Name Registration, Domain Transfers. Your domain name search starts here.. It's all personal preference.

But you need hosting for your domain name. The name itself won't get you anything. You need server space to put your actual site on.

For that I use Dreamhost Web Hosting by DreamHost Web Hosting: Web Sites, Domain Registration, WordPress, Ruby on Rails, all on Debian Linux! which will allow you the most (that I've seen) space and bandwidth for the least expensive price, but a lot of people would call it overkill, and their user interface isn't the most intuitive.

Again, a lot of people use GoDaddy Internet Domain Name Registration, Domain Transfers. Your domain name search starts here. for their server space, too.

For content for your site, (like a shopping cart software), most hosts offer some sort of automatic installations of software. DreamHost Web Hosting by DreamHost Web Hosting: Web Sites, Domain Registration, WordPress, Ruby on Rails, all on Debian Linux! offers "One-Click" (sort of) installs of Zen-Cart, which I think is the most powerful FREE shopping cart software available, but it's not for the faint of heart, and you need to know (or learn pretty quickly) some HTML and PHP to set it up properly.

There are a LOT of free online tutorials for HTML and PHP.

But another option would be buying your hosting, and then hiring a reputable developer for your site, at least to set it up (and possibly even maintain it for you). I don't have any suggestions for developers, and I have no idea what they cost (I hack my way through my own sites).

I wouldn't suggest relying on a free host. For one, they USUALLY have some sort of advertising on your site, which is just unprofessional, and they also don't offer you very much control.

Also, I wouldn't suggest getting your domain name from your server host. I did that years ago with Yahoo hosting, and it's nearly impossible to get your domain name from them if you decide to move hosts.

If you're just starting, and don't have any equipment and would like someone else to do 99% of the work for you (and take most of the profit, too), you could use a fulfilment company like CafePress CafePress.com : Create, Buy and Sell Unique Gifts, Custom T-Shirts and More. They offer relatively cheap stores, and you can have as intricate of designs as you'd like, all for the same price. But like I said, they take most of the profit from you because they do most of the work.

Good luck! If you have any other answers, or if anything I've said isn't exactly clear to you, just let us know!

 

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WallyJ_26

omg its alot, but will it be easiar as i go??? thanks alot

 

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Chani

It's pretty easy to pick up.

HTML is easy to learn for a lot of people, and I get by with almost no knowledge of PHP (I can usually recognize what's happening in code, but I can't write it myself).

I learned by diving in. Just do your research.

 

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WallyJ_26

But you need hosting for your domain name. The name itself won't get you anything. You need server space to put your actual site on. <---------------------------- what excatly is this, whats web hosting?

 

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Chani

Think of web hosting as hard drive space for your site. Once you have your domain name, you need to point it to your server space. The domain name itself rarely comes with hard drive space to host your site on. It's just a label for your site.

You purchase hard drive space (hosting) and put your files on that space. Those files are what internet users see when they point their browser (Internet Explorer, etc...) to your site when they type in your domain name.

Again, you purchase your domain name seperately from your server hard drive space (and I recommend using seperate companies for domain names and for hosting (hard drive space)).

Once you have your domain name, purchase your web hosting space from another company. Your web hosting company will tell you how to point your domain name to their severs (where your hard drive space is).

 

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WallyJ_26

ok got it.....i read up some more...thanks

 

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