Website work

Chris_Johnstone · #1 (**permalink**) 31-03-2007, 01:11 PM

Hey guys and gals,

I'm aware that several of you have websites to display your work. I noticed a few of you use Clikpic and so on for design and hosting. I managed to design my own site but I have no idea where to start looking for hosting. I thought one of you might be able to point me in a good direction.

Also, if anyone knows any basic PHP I'd be grateful if they could pm me regarding forms - something that just baffles me.

Chris

Tormentil · #2 (**permalink**) 31-03-2007, 03:31 PM

I use Web-Mania. £25 per year for 500megabyte. And thier support is excellent.

As for designing, I just use a straight forward html editor. Things like Frontpage tend to clutter the code with too much extraneous html.

Ollie · #3 (**permalink**) 31-03-2007, 06:39 PM

I use Award winning web hosting UK - SupaNames. Linux hosting, Windows hosting. £16:50p per year and that includes 150meg of web space and your own domain name. Up time is over 98%. I have used Supanames for more than seven years with no problems and have Seven websites hosted with them for various people. I would highly recommend them.
Roger

Chris_Johnstone · #4 (**permalink**) 31-03-2007, 06:41 PM

That sounds exactly what I'm after, Roger. I need a domain name in the process. Do they include an email addresses, I think that would make this PHP form thing a bit easier being held under the same domain.

Chris

Ollie · #5 (**permalink**) 31-03-2007, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris_Johnstone

That sounds exactly what I'm after, Roger. I need a domain name in the process. Do they include an email addresses, I think that would make this PHP form thing a bit easier being held under the same domain.

Chris

Hi Chris, Yes e-mail adresses are included, no limit to how many as far as I know and their servers do support PHP, but don't ask me how to write PHP as all I know is very basic. I think you can get ready made forms coded in PHP free from various places on the net. I assume you are thinking of using PHP forms for feedback etc.
Roger

Chris_Johnstone · #6 (**permalink**) 31-03-2007, 07:24 PM

Yea, that's right. I just got it working in the last half hour or so. However, the formmail is sent to my gmail account, that automatically marks it as spam so it doesn't show up in my mail client (Mail), hence why I was wondering about the email addresses attached to the domain.

Supanames sounds like it's perfect. I only have one site and one lowly php requirement but I guess you have to start somewhere!

Thanks for the help.

Chris

Ollie · #7 (**permalink**) 31-03-2007, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris_Johnstone

Yea, that's right. I just got it working in the last half hour or so. However, the formmail is sent to my gmail account, that automatically marks it as spam so it doesn't show up in my mail client (Mail), hence why I was wondering about the email addresses attached to the domain.

Supanames sounds like it's perfect. I only have one site and one lowly php requirement but I guess you have to start somewhere!

Thanks for the help.

Chris

Hi Chris the e-mail addresses attached to the domain if you use Supanames can be prefixed with any name before the domain name itself and you will still receive the mail. It's referred to as a catch all e-mail address so in theory you can have as many e-mail addresses as you want.
Roger

bob hastie · #8 (**permalink**) 31-03-2007, 10:47 PM

Hi there
Re domains, try 1&1 Internet Ltd.. Only £1.99 per year for .co.uk names. I've been using them for 3 years now and no problems.
For hosting I use the free space that my isp provides (tiscali) I get 50mb and have a fairly large site taking up about 35mb, bandwidth maybe a problem if I get many more people checking out my pics.
Bob

Kev Lewis · #9 (**permalink**) 31-03-2007, 10:53 PM

Looks like I took the dear option

I use Webfusion for hosting my site. 6Gb of webspace (3Gb used so far lol), 60Gb of monthly bandwidth, a couple of domain names and catchall email addresses. £110/year

Roy C · #10 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 08:43 AM

Which ISP are you with Chris as a lot offer free web space to members. I get 200 mb free with mine ( freedom 2 Surf).

jennyb · #11 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 10:05 AM

Using free web space can have implications with your search engine rankings, depending on how you are pointing your domain name to it. In general the search engines rank sites more highly if they have a domain name pointed to an IP address rather than redirected by a meta refresh (which they don't like) or forwarded with or without cloaking (without cloaking is preferable).

So, yes. there is lots of free web space about but it can be false economy if you want your site to be highly ranked in the search engines. In general, when you buy a hosting plan, you get an IP address associated with your site.

BTW, Kev. I see your site has a Google page rank of 4/10 now since you did that bit of optimisation a few months ago. That's not bad.

Jenny

Ollie · #12 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennyb

Using free web space can have implications with your search engine rankings, depending on how you are pointing your domain name to it. In general the search engines rank sites more highly if they have a domain name pointed to an IP address rather than redirected by a meta refresh (which they don't like) or forwarded with or without cloaking (without cloaking is preferable).

So, yes. there is lots of free web space about but it can be false economy if you want your site to be highly ranked in the search engines. In general, when you buy a hosting plan, you get an IP address associated with your site.

BTW, Kev. I see your site has a Google page rank of 4/10 now since you did that bit of optimisation a few months ago. That's not bad.

Jenny

I agree with Jenny on this one.

Another thing with using the free web space is that many of them insist on putting adverts on your pages. I'm not saying they all do but a fair amount of them do. The paid for service that I use doesn't and has no bandwidth restrictions etc. I only get 150meg of web space for my money which in photographic use isn't that much. I think I have used around 40 meg at the moment, but it's very easy to get more space with them for a very modest one off fee if required.
Roger

Kev Lewis · #13 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennyb

Using free web space can have implications with your search engine rankings, depending on how you are pointing your domain name to it. In general the search engines rank sites more highly if they have a domain name pointed to an IP address rather than redirected by a meta refresh (which they don't like) or forwarded with or without cloaking (without cloaking is preferable).

So, yes. there is lots of free web space about but it can be false economy if you want your site to be highly ranked in the search engines. In general, when you buy a hosting plan, you get an IP address associated with your site.

BTW, Kev. I see your site has a Google page rank of 4/10 now since you did that bit of optimisation a few months ago. That's not bad.

Jenny

Not bad considering I make it up as I go along, with a little help from my friends

What's a Google page rank ??

Roy C · #14 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennyb

Using free web space can have implications with your search engine rankings, depending on how you are pointing your domain name to it. In general the search engines rank sites more highly if they have a domain name pointed to an IP address rather than redirected by a meta refresh (which they don't like) or forwarded with or without cloaking (without cloaking is preferable).

So, yes. there is lots of free web space about but it can be false economy if you want your site to be highly ranked in the search engines. In general, when you buy a hosting plan, you get an IP address associated with your site.

BTW, Kev. I see your site has a Google page rank of 4/10 now since you did that bit of optimisation a few months ago. That's not bad.

Jenny

You are probable right but I have no trouble with my ranking. If I type my name in Google (Roy Churchill) my site comes up as No 1 in the list and that is without ticking uk only. On MSN I have always got a very high ranking - If I type something like 'North Devon Photos' it comes up as number one on the list, Cant get better than that.

jennyb · #15 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy C

You are probable right but I have no trouble with my ranking. If I type my name in Google (Roy Churchill) my site comes up as No 1 in the list and that is without ticking uk only. On MSN I have always got a very high ranking - If I type something like 'North Devon Photos' it comes up as number one on the list, Cant get better than that.

Yes, it depends on what keywords you want people to use find your site. You can only optimise on a few keywords anyway.

There is nothing wrong with free space as long as you are aware that there can be search engine implications.

Jenny

Chris_Johnstone · #16 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 12:23 PM

I have a BT connection in St. Andrews but that will change when I graduate and I'll likely have an ntl line for the next year, unless I move out.

I thought I had this clear in my head but all of a sudden it's become a lot more complex...

Chris

jennyb · #17 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev Lewis

What's a Google page rank ??

If you download the google toolbar, there is a menu item called PageRank. This shows Google's measure of importance of the page you are viewing. If you are serious about search engine optimisation, then it is important.

The home page of WAB is rated 6/10 which is very good and probably accounts for Eeyore's thread "theres no getting away from wab".

When deciding a web site's importance, Google also takes into consideration links INTO that site too. If you can get links TO your site FROM a site with a high Google PageRank, then that helps a lot.

Jenny

Kev Lewis · #18 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennyb

If you download the google toolbar, there is a menu item called PageRank. This shows Google's measure of importance of the page you are viewing. If you are serious about search engine optimisation, then it is important.

The home page of WAB is rated 6/10 which is very good and probably accounts for Eeyore's thread "theres no getting away from wab".

When deciding a web site's importance, Google also takes into consideration links INTO that site too. If you can get links TO your site FROM a site with a high Google PageRank, then that helps a lot.

Jenny

reciprocal links are the answer then, assuming they have a high page ranking as well. Mmmmm wonder who I need to suck up to lol

jennyb · #19 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris_Johnstone

I have a BT connection in St. Andrews but that will change when I graduate and I'll likely have an ntl line for the next year, unless I move out.

I thought I had this clear in my head but all of a sudden it's become a lot more complex...

Chris

Sorry, Chris, I didn't mean to confuse the issue. The bottom line is, if you can afford to buy your space, you will get better features available (such as web site statistics, utilities and PHP/Perl availability), probably better support if things go wrong and possibly better search engine rankings.

However, there is nothing wrong with free space as long as you are aware of the above.

Jenny

jennyb · #20 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev Lewis

reciprocal links are the answer then, assuming they have a high page ranking as well. Mmmmm wonder who I need to suck up to lol

Reciprocal links are VERY important for Google. But, with your signature on your WAB posts, maybe you don't need to suck up to anyone?

You also have a link from my links page with a pagerank of 4 - not as good as WAB I admit.

Jenny

Kev Lewis · #21 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennyb

Reciprocal links are VERY important for Google. But, with your signature on your WAB posts, maybe you don't need to suck up to anyone?

You also have a link from my links page with a pagerank of 4 - not as good as WAB I admit.

Jenny

Phew I hate sucking up anyways lol

Chris_Johnstone · #22 (**permalink**) 01-04-2007, 06:28 PM

Ok. I think I'm getting the hang of this.

I found a site called memebot.com. It offers everything free so you only get 30MB to host on and 100MB bandwidth but they seem pretty relaxed about what happens if you go over the limit which seems ok. You can use your own domain name too. So if I understand this properly, I can sign up to 1&1 for a couple of quid a year and still keep my hosting free. The supanames package is far from pricey so that's the back-up alternative.

So for now:

My website

Thanks for the help, I've learnt a lot.

Chris