Site Setup & HostingOnce the site has been designed and built, it needs to be hosted on a Web server. Again, the cost varies depending on choices you make. What's In a Name ?There are two ways to set up the URL for your your Web site: as a subsite of an existing domain or as a custom domain name. Each has its own pros and cons. Subsite A Web site that is part of another Web site. Being a SubsiteWhen you're a subsite of an existing domain, your Web site's URL begins with the other domain name. For example, Spirit Riders' Web site (http://www.wickenburg-az.com/spiritriders/) is a subsite of the wickenburg-az.com Web site. This is, by far, the least expensive way to address your Web site. In fact, many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) allow you to create your own subsite on their server for no additional charge. Internet Service Provider (ISP) An organization that offers access to the Internet, either via dial-up (modem) connection or direct network connection. There are several drawbacks to being a subsite:
I'm not trying to talk you out of setting up your Web site as a subsite. It's a perfectly good solution for families and very small businesses that add a Web site as an afterthought. It's also a good solution for businesses that are part of a larger business ”for example, the local office of a nationwide real estate firm. But for independent businesses that are serious about building a Web presence, having a custom domain name is a much more professional and practical solution. Having Your Own Domain NameWhen you have your own domain name, your site's URL is usually http://www followed by the domain name. For example, http://www.marialanger.com/ and http://www.wickenburg-az.com/ are two examples of URLs for domain names I maintain: marialanger.com and wickenburg-az.com. Having your own domain name is more expensive than being a subsite. There are at least two specific costs to consider:
Domain Name System (DNS) A database of domain names and corresponding IP addresses. All domain name servers have access to this database.
The main benefit of having your own domain name is that your Web site's URL can be easily identified (and remembered ) as part of your company. But what some people don't consider is the portability of a domain name ”you don't need to change your site's URL if you move your Web site to another ISP's server. Since a domain name is like a pointer to a specific IP address, changing the IP address in the Domain Name System automatically updates the domain name to the new IP address. So a Web site move is completely transparent to Web site visitors . Server SetupIf you plan to host your Web site on an ISP's server, the ISP may charge a setup fee for the site. This is a one-time fee that ranges from $25 to $100. Some ISPs have a stated fee but generously "waive it" for new customers. (My question: why not just say setup is free?) I discuss server- related fees in Chapter 4. Other Setup FeesIf you hire a consultant to design and build a Web site, he may have a whole list of setup fees that you'll have to pay before your Web site goes online. Make sure you know what these fees are and what they cover before you hire the consultant. If they seem high or unreasonable, discuss them. Since many of these fees are simply icing on the cake, you can probably get some of them reduced. Tip The fee that really bugs me is the so-called domain name setup fee. That's where the consultant charges you $150 (or some other outrageous figure) to register your domain name ”something you can do yourself for $35! Web HostingWeb hosting costs refer to the fees you'll pay to have your site hosted on a Web server. The fees vary based on the hosting options you select. There are so many hosting options that I've written a whole chapter about them: Chapter 4. Be sure to read it and include the costs that apply to you when coming up with a total for the cost of your Web presence. |