Note: The following page will contain links to various service providers that I have selected. If the service provider I use has an affiliate program then I have signed up for it. Thus, clicking on a link here could provide a finders fee for me at no additional cost to you. Using the links provided helps support the Reptile Entrepreneur educational outreach. Remember how I say make sure you know what you need to pay for anything free? Well, it is actually these services that pay for you getting free information from this podcast! So, please use these various links for your purchase and give these businesses the honor of paying for your educational resources!
No Fluff - What Should I Do?
This a tutorial so you can understand each element. But this tutorial will be here always. What do you need to do if you want to take all my recommendations and get going? Here is my recommendation and what I personally do when I start a website.
- Click the “Powerful Web Hosting” link below.
- Select the “Getting Started” button
- Select the two or three year option (The intro offer saves a lot of money so I take advantage of it and select at least the two year option)
- Select Basic. You will be taken to a domain selection screen.
- Select a new domain name, type in one you already own, or save this decision for later. If you are purchasing a new domain make sure the Domain Privacy option is selected on the check-out screen. It is another $12 a year, but keeps hordes of sales people off your back.
- Enter payment information and you are off to the races!
Early Bird Note
This section is being developed! The link below is to Bluehost which is where I have been purchasing domains and hosting services. I currently host three websites with Bluehost and and very happy with the service. I judge the hosting service based on if the website ever goes down and how easy it is to get customer service to help with issues. One of the things I like best is that their domain packages all come with an SSL certificate which is the security certificate you need as a website in this day and age.
If you are coming across this page while it is being developed then I welcome you to what is truly the ground floor of this show! You have found it before it was announced! Right now I am having enough of it up that I can do the applications to Apple Podcasts. They tend to take their time with things (or not, but you never know). This tutorial will be up soon. Until then, you can click the link below and check out BlueHost. I really like the company.
This tutorial is written for the 2021 time period and is accurate at the time of writing. As with everything – especially anything in software and in marketing – things change. If you click on a link and it is very different from what I am describing here please let me know at bill@reptileentrepreneur.com. I actively keep the links and information on this site up-to-date. But Bluehost doesn’t notify me when they make changes. (rude, huh?) So, just let me know if you see something different and I will get it tightened up quickly. Thank you!
Who is Bluehost and why them?
Bluehost is a hosting company that allows you to buy both a domain name and a hosting package all at once. And they throw in some incentives such as the domain name free and free month introductory periods for things like email. Of course, you always want to know what you are paying to get free things. In this case, we can lower the shields because all of this is designed to get you to purchase the hosting package which will be a loss for them in the short run, but will be profitable over the years. So, now that we have identified where they get their profit we know it is okay for us to go forward. Just know that the prices are introductory and will increase when the intro period is over. But I will go over each and every line item so you are well informed as to what you are purchasing.
The whole process of you getting a domain name and a basic hosting package will be between
Domain or Hosting or Both?
When you click the link above you come to the home page and here you have a decision as to what you need.
1-Domain Name Only. If you have figured out the perfect domain name and want to reserve it then you click on the “Domain” name in the menu
2-Hosting Only. If you already have a domain name reserved and you are ready for a hosting provider then click on the chevron (upside down triangle) to the right of the “Hosting” name in the menu and select “sharing hosting” from the drop down menu.
3- Domain and Hosting. If you are ready to reserve both domain name and hosting then there is a great package deal where you can get them together and save some money. Currently, you can sign up for a hosting plan and get a domain name for free. This is actually a very good deal and one reason why I chose to work with Bluehost. Click the “Get Started” to go forward with this process.
I am going to go through the Domain and Hosting purchase because that covers everything. The steps will be a little different if you are just getting a name or just hosting, but they make it very obvious and easy so I am not worried about you navigating it. The important part is knowing what decisions to make and we will go over that here.
The Hosting Package Length of Time
We start with the hosting package. And here is where we find a feature list that needs some attention. This is where you start to feel panic because you do not know what you will need and don’t want to make the wrong decision up front! Well, I am here to tell you that there is no reason for that tightness in your throat. There is nothing that can’t be changed if you find you need something else! I will go over the options, but if there is anything you are not sure of then you can always add or remove it later.
Our first decision is the choice of one or two or three year package purchase. As you change between the three you will notice that your monthly cost goes up and down. So a three year term will have an introductory rate of $2.95 a month while a year term is $4.95 a month. So you can save a significant amount by signing up for a longer term. But you need to ask what is your confidence that you will be doing this for three years? If you are setting up a serious business then three years is a reasonable option. If you are unsure where this all will lead, stick with the one year. I generally so a two year term to begin with.
Picking the Hosting Package
It is a wall of features. The most important feature in an SSL certificate and each one of these packages has one automatically. Here is a quick tour of the feature list.
“X” number of Websites: This is how many domains can point to the allotted memory space. Starting off you only care about one and so don’t worry about this feature. If you want to add another website to your plan it is simple to upgrade to the next hosting level.
SSD Storage: This is how big your website can be as far as how much physical memory it will take up. The main limitation of the Basic program is the limit to 50GB. But this is more than enough to get you up and running. You can always, at any time, upgrade to any of the other plans which all have unlimited SSD (Solid State Device) storage.
Custom Themes: This is just saying you have options for how your website looks. Don’t worry about this one.
24/7 Customer Service: This is basic to a good hosting service. We wouldn’t be here in the first place if this wasn’t included! Bluehost has the option for phone or chat help. I always go for help via chat. Bluehost customer service has been effective and I am happy with it. This is a make or break line item for any host. But it is included with all packages so you don’t have to make a decision based on it.
Website Builder Available: All the features under this heading have to do with the website design tool they have to make putting up the website easy. It is a good way to get up quickly.
Free Domain: It is very convenient to include a domain name with a package. Though you have the option to use a name you already own.
Free CDN: CDN (Content Delivery Network) is something that happens in the background to store your files in servers around the world so people accessing your website can get the files from servers closer to them. Bottom line: This makes you website load up faster around the world. CDN is a good thing.
Free SSL Certificate: This is the security certificate that encrypts the data coming to/from your website. This is what protects customer credit card information. Necessary for a website. Putting it on afterwards is a pain.
Free Office 365: This is a free 30 day trial for purchasing an email account. We are used to email addresses being free. Well surprise, surprise, they cost money to maintain and run. So, if you want to create an email for your website this will give you an email service. Many people keep and using their free gmail, yahoo , or whatever email account. Although effective, having your email be bill@reptileentrepreneur.com is more professional than reptileentrepreneur@gmail.com. They both work, but having an email for your domain is a good idea.
Free Domain Privacy: This is relevant for you if you are reserving a domain name. The contact information for owner of a website is available to the public. This uses someone else’s address instead of yours. I learned from not doing this once what happens when all the sales people in the world find out you are a new domain name holder. It was ugly and I vowed to have domain privacy every blasted time in the future. This is worth it. If you get the Basic package that doesn’t include this for free then add it from the al la carte menu on the check-put screen. It is highly recommended.
Free Automatic Back-up: Bluehost is teaming up with a company called CodeGuard. Website backup is a good thing. There are other options out there, but this is an effective option. After a year, it renews at just under $40 a year.
Dedicated IP: Having your own IP address is a consideration way beyond the scope of the standard first website. Leave this to much later in your entrepreneurial life.
The Bottom Line
Any of these hosting packages would be good to start with. I suggest getting the Basic package and making sure you add Domain Privacy on the checkout screen.
Selecting a Domain
Selecting a domain is easy. The next screen allows you to type in a domain name and to see if it is available. If it is then you can go forward. If it is not then you can try different variations or try a different extension.
Extensions: The .com extension is the most well known, but a host of new extensions have been released that greatly expands the digital address base. You can get .com, .net, .org, .info. online, .blog, .biz, .store,….and it goes on and on. This was done because so many of the .coms were taken. It doesn’t help that hoarding domain names became a business where people would buy up as many strategic domain names as they could with the intent of selling them back at a profit. This expansion of extensions has nipped that in the bud. The new extensions are not as well known, but since most people use links to navigate the web (as opposed to typing in the domain name directly), the new extension won’t hurt that much. But if the domain name is not available under .com then make sure you check out why. If someone has that name and a substantial web presence you may rethink joining them where they have the spotlight.
The Final Check Out
When you get to the final check out screen you will be presented with a number of options. Depending on which package you selected, some of these will be checked or unchecked.
Domain Privacy: If you purchased a domain and did not get a hosting package where this was included I strongly suggest including it now. I decided not to do it once and my contact information was picked up by sales people all over the world overing my web services. I get this option ever since. It hides your contact information (which is required) from the public view.
CodeGuard Basic: This service is useful as it backs up your site. Backing up can be used to bring your website to where it was before something went wrong. This is a useful feature and I recommend it. Back-ups have saved me many times before.
Bluehost SEO Tools Start: This service helps you get noticed on the web.There are many methods to do this and I would suggest passing on this for now.
Single Domain SSL: This is included in all packages so you don’t have to add another one on.
Microsoft 365 Mailbox 30 day free trial: This is a full service email program. It is worth it if you need an email with your website name (instead of a “gmail” or “yahoo” provider)
SiteLock Security: This is an internet security service to protect your website from cyber attacks. It is definitely a good feature to have, but it is something that can be added on later. Your decision on this one.
Once you provide payment you have a website and are ready to go! Your next step is to start populating the site. You can work with the Bluehost web builder that is included with your package. There is an excellent video available on YouTube which can lead you through setting up your website from the beginning. I have linked it here and have linked in the entry point to where it will pick up right after you complete the step above.