Web 2.0 for Professional Use/Blogs and Blogging/Web hosting

Web Hosting

Registering a domain name

Choosing a domain name

The first step in creating a professional website is choosing an appropriate domain name. For a website meant to serve as a home for your personal blog, portfolio, resume and contact information, your full name is a good place to start. Creating a domain should be like naming a business: a straightforward, easy-to-remember name will insure that visitors don't forget the name of your website. Of course, creativity can be equally effective. Judge your audience and name your website accordingly.

Every domain registrar will allow you to check and see if a domain name is available to be registered. Though there are many top-level domains to choose from, but there is little reason to choose an extension other than .com for a personal website.

Where to register

There's no one clear answer as to the best place to go to register a domain name. Be wary of sites that offer low prices - make sure you're getting a deal, and not getting shoddy service. Many web hosts will also register a domain name for you, along with your hosting account.

Below are some commonly-used domain name registrars.

Choosing a web host

As with domain name registrars, there is no definitive answer as to the single best web host. Most hosts will offer shared hosting, where your website is stored on a remote server along with other websites. While this does not offer you as many options as VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting or dedicated hosting, it is the most cost-effective solution for a small or personal website.

See also articles on Finances Online and TechRadar for reviews of web hosting providers.