Next step after choosing domain name is setting up web hosting. This article describes a process of how to get .com domain for free and how to create host account for your blog. After this article you’ll have your own domain on your hosting and you’ll be ready to start real blogging. I’ll recommend some services of other companies. I do this primarily because I’m using it and it’s the best way for me to host my blogs and sites.
What is a web host?
Web host (server in the other words) is like a computer provided by a hosting company. It stores your site and provide it to other people who are also connected through the internet.
Externally hosted blog
Basically you have two options to go with. One of them is externally hosted blog and the second one is self hosted blog. If you just want to get the feel of blogging you can think about 100% free services such as Blogger.com owned by Google.com. This service gives you everything you need for blogging. It gives you free domain name (subdomain- yourblogname.blogspot.com), hosting and blog software you can use to manage your posts. This solution is good to start, but it has several disadvantages. One of them is lack of professionalism. Your options are limited; you cannot customize your blog the way you want. You should know that you actually don’t own externally hosted blog and your provider can switch your blog off any time. So for being a real blogger you need something more.
Self hosted blog
Ideal way to start blogging is self hosted blog. All you have to do is to choose hosting provider and link your domain you got based on my previous post to your new host. I tried many web hosting but right now I’m using DreamHost.com for couple hundreds of my sites. This is unlimited hosting, so you can host as many domains as you want. You have unlimited space and on the top of it you can register 1 domain for free. Because I’m confident it’s the best web host for your blog, I’m offering you 10$ off the price of hosting! This special offer is only for BlogMentoring.com readers. You can use this unlimited hosting for other pages you have or you will create in the future.
Why did I choose DreamHost.com?
The reason is simplicity and sophisticate solution especially for bloggers. In upcoming post I’ll show you, how to install and start your blog in several seconds! If you order through this link, I’ll give you 10$ off for year hosting program, so you save money. Let’s have a look what you have to do to set up your hosting account properly.
How to set up hosting account in 9 steps?
- Go on www.DreamHost.com and click on “Sign up Now” button. Select “Host Domain” option on sign up page.
- This will move you to the next step. Now you can pre-pay your hosting monthly, yearly and even for longer. The longer period the cheaper it is per month. I strongly recommend 1 year payment. Things are changing fast and you don’t want to pay hosting 10 years from now even you are not using it.
- You don’t need private server (don’t choose anything here).
- You want to use Google Apps (about them later), nothing more.
- In step 5 you can either register a new domain for free or if you already have a domain, just choose “I already own a domain, I just want to host it with you.“ option. Free domain registration is still later available.
- In step 6 you have to fill some basic information about you.
- In final step you can use our special Promo Code “BLOGMENTORING”. If you fill this in, you’ll get 10$ off the price, so it will actually save you money. Check DreamHost’s Terms of Service and push “Proceed to Payment” button.
- On “Submit Payment” page you will see summary of your order. You can pay by PayPal, Google Checkout or credit card.
- After successful payment you will receive an email from DreamHost with all information you need. There will be your password too. After that you can login with your email address and password.
Link your domain to your hosting
If you registered domain during sign-up process on DreamHost.com, everything should be ready to use. You don’t have to link or set-up anything.
If want to use domain name that is registered somewhere else, go to Domains -> Manage domains in Dreamhost Panel (administration center). You’ll see there “Add New Domain” button. Click on it, fill your domain name and enter security text in the box and finally click “Fully host this domain now!”. After some time a successful page should appear with instruction how to set nameservers. These servers enable to show content of your blog after you write blog’s domain name into some internet browser. They connects domain and web host. Go to website of your domain registrant and find administration center. Change nameservers there to NS1.DREAMHOST.COM, NS2.DREAMHOST.COM and NS3.DREAMHOST.COM. After 24-48 hours everything should be set-up.
This whole process can take about 5 minutes. Next time I’ll tell you how to install and setup your blog in several seconds with DreamHost.
Read my DreamHost review.
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[...] I mentioned earlier in the post about web hosting your blog, we’ll use DreamHost hosting to set up our blog. In their administration panel every customer has [...]