Discussions
Owning your own Web Site
Posted by KiefersCorner • 8/17/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: ownership, web page
Is it better to build your own web page yourself, or use the free service from the hosting service ?
I have heard that if you use the free service that you do not own your own page is this true ?, and if you want to move to another hosting service you will loose you site, or pay a huge sum ?
User Comments
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the free services offered are usually rubbigh. Learn a bit of html and within a week you will have something a lot better. -
The only way to "own your own page" is to purchase a domain. You cannot purchase your sub-domain from a free blog hosting service like Blogger or Wordpress.com. Example: if the url contains "wordpress.com" or "blogspot.com" it's a subdomain of a free hosted service that is not owned by the blogger.
There are many advantages to owning your own domain. Neither purchasing it nor purchasing web hosting for the domain are expensive. You can find much more specifically related to this topic discussed in this post onecoolsite.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/how-and-why-to-get-your-own-domain/-
i purchased my domain, but wanted to know about the web site itself. Went to someone to build it they wantd $1500. The free tools that a hosting service provides makes me think that they will always own my site.
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What the heck do you want "built"? And what on earth is the $1500 for?
There are many free Blogger themes out there. Try this link bloggerblogtemplates.blogspot.com/2008/02/dilectio-blogger-template.html
blogger-templates.blogspot.com/
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Having a shopping cart included
$800 for web site another $700 to 1000 for the shopping cart
p.s i want my own web site to attach to my blog site -
There is free shopping cart software available
Blogger - Zero to (free) shopping cart in sixty minutes
blog.floatingatoll.nu/2004/09/one_hour_from_n.html
Wordpress plugin
www.bloggingpro.com/archives/2004/08/15/wordpress-plugin-paypal-shopping-ca...-
I use zen cart for my shopping cart stuff. I own a bunch of domains. If you can't fork over $9 a year for a domain, you probably should't be havin no site.
@timethief. My mother-in-law drug my wife to this seminar (and wanted me to go also) for a company that you pay them 29.95 a month to host and $3500 to build a "custom site" to sell their products.
Scam much? She also paid for my wife to go to the seminar. Why they didn't consult me first I have no idea. (in case you were wondering I talked them out of it after I stopped laughing)
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lol, i got the domain plus hosting for free @ desihacker.org , im using wordpress on it and im quite much pleased to tell you that u can always use backup plugin to restore ur posts on a new purchased domain name !!! so no need to worry about ! -
Thanks for that info on the cart i will ceck them out. But what about owning my own web page. Is this something i need to build myself or should i use the free hosting sites web building tools ?
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@KeifersCorner
I can see that you are using blogspot software. I rejected it in 2006 and chose open source wordpress software instead.
Please note that none of us can answer your questions with any degree of accuracy because we are not aware of what your skill level is. Suffice to say that your whole site could be built on free software, provided that you have the skills required to install it and to maintain it.
I'm bowing out of this thread now and sending you best wishes for a happy ending.-
I use wordpress on my sites also. I also used one of their templates to base my site on (I bet you can just look at it and tell which one).
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Thanks, i still use AOL if that gives you an answer LOL
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Go the doodlekit.com/home/website_builder and have a look what they have to offer. You could start with a free site and migrate to one of the pay plans. I am more than satisfied with the service.
They will register your .com domain for you once you decide on a selected pay plan and this could all happen immediately.
I migrated from the free plan to the business plan (www.vernonchalmers.com) to take advantage of the various tools that the Doodlekit guys offer.
Regards
Vernon Chalmers
www.vernonchalmers.com -
Thanks for that info, but im still left with the question. I have been told in order to actually own your web site and be able to move it to any hosting service you need to build or have someone build that site ?
I checked out go daddy and they tell you in the disclaimer that they own your web site and if you want to move to another service you wil pay a large sum to keep your site, since you used their template. -
If you're using Wordpress or Blogger, they can shut down your account in the blink of an eye if they don't like you. After which you have no redress. They don't even need to give a reason.
Therefore, if you use them, it's best not to put anything on them that's of much value to you (unless you back it all up). Post only ephemeral content.
In a wider sense, you could argue that the entire net is a little bit here-today-gone-tomorrow, and yet we rely on it more and more. What if we woke up one morning and found it had all vanished?-
@zencath
If you're using Wordpress or Blogger, they can shut down your account in the blink of an eye if they don't like you. After which you have no redress. They don't even need to give a reason.
It's my experience at wordpress.com (3 years) that the only free hosted bloggers there who had their accounts shut down had violated the Terms of Service, and ignored the warnings posted on their dashboard by Staff that contained a link for them to get in touch with Staff and make the changes required to comply with the TOS and policies.
The two most typical non-compliance with the TOS and policies situations were advertising, which is not allowed on free hosted accounts, and/or using a wordpress.com blog to drive traffic to third party sites.
faq.wordpress.com/2005/12/08/adsense/
wordpress.com/tos/
What if we woke up one morning and found it had all vanished?
Competent bloggers backup their blog contents.
Disaster Planning: Backups for Bloggers
www.backupreview.info/?pid=articles&category_id=1
www.blogbackuponline.com/techrigy/
Subscribe to your own feeds
Periodically Export Backup Copies and Save them to Disc
Use an offline blog editor like windowslivewriter or BlogDesk and have backups of every post your write on your own computer.
In addition, reputable web hosts also have backups of the entire sites that they host. -
if the 'internet' went down for 2 hours it would bring America to it's knees
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It's part of the Branding exercise...Guess you need to answer it for yourself what r u trying to accomplish...R u into serious business model that envisages a brand than go for a website that demonstrates that!! on the other hand if you want to have a blog that would help you wean yourself from your real life its better to opt for the free services...but the point is there is always going to be switch over cost built into the product (thats the business model)..so i guess choice is urs.... -
I don't think that $1500 is unreasonable for what you are asking. Even if you are using free, open source products (such as Wordpress and Zen Cart) it takes time to install, configure and customise the software. There is the time back and forth to check your requirements and also time to handover (train) you in updating and maintaining your new site.
One thing that I would check when it comes to the ecommerce component - make sure it is for a fully functioning store. It should include at least one payment module (of your choosing) and have the shipping and tax modules configured correctly for your location. You also need to agree on how many 'customisations' you would be allowed included in the cost after your site is launched.
Hardly anyone is completely happy with an off-the-shelf template (free or otherwise). There will always be changes - simple change of colors, add rotating banner images, etc - and it takes time to implement these. And time is money.
PS Definitely go with your own domain name and paid hosting. If this is your business we are talking about you do not want to put your business in the hands of someone else. It does not stop you from using free, open source applications but you do own (and have control of) your business (both the files and the data).
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