Claim a Space for your Website on the Web

Before you get started with the fun work of building your e-resume portfolio website,  you need to claim a space for it on the web by registering a domain name and signing up with a web host. The domain name is your address on the Web, and the web host is your landlord.

Don’t worry if you’ve never set up a web site before. This is a beginner course. I’m going to show you exactly what you need to do to get a domain and a web host. And I’m even going to tell you how you can do this without spending a penny!

3 Things You Need to Do to Claim a Space for Your Site

• Sign up with a Web Host
• Register your domain name
• Make sure your domain name is pointing to your web host.

What is a domain name? A domain name is the address for your site on the web. Stafflink.ca is the domain for my business. LauraUpcott.com is the domain for my personal e-resume portfolio website.

What is a Web Host? A web host is a company that gives you a space on their servers for you domain and all of the files that make up your web site.

1) Signing up with a web host

In the following video I recommend a web host called Hostgator.com for your website because that’s the web host I use. If you want free web hosting, here’s another option:

How to Get Free Web Hosting

You can get free web hosting at x10Hosting.com.  They have seem to have everything you’ll need to follow along with this course and set up your e-resume portfolio website. They even have an option to get a free sub domain. So it’s possible for you to build your entire e-resume portfolio website for free. But there are always tradeoffs when you get free services on the web.

Dangers of Free Web Hosting

Here are some very important warnings with free web hosting that you need to be aware of:

• If you sign up for free web hosting and you don’t access your account for 30 days, your account may be deleted along with all of your hard work.
• Free web hosting is generally less secure and less reliable
• Your site will load more slowly
• There may be downtime
• The free web host may disappear along with your website if the company goes out of business

Here’s a video where I tell you about my favorite web host Hostgator:

2) Choosing a domain name

In this 9 minute video I walk you through the process of choosing a domain name for your site. But here’s a tip I discovered two place you can get a free domain name.

How to Get a Free Domain Name

1. Any one can get a free domain name from DotFree.com. Go to http://www.dotfree.com/ and sign up for your free domain name.
2. Students and educators can get a free domain name from http://uni.me/

3) Pointing your domain name to your web host

Now it’s time to make sure your domain knows how to find your web host.

• If your registered your domain name with the web host that you signed up with, then this step will happen automatically and you can skip this part.
• If you signed up for your domain name and web host separately, then keep reading.

The registrar for your domain allows you to point your domain name servers (DNS) to your web host so the Internet will know where your find your web site. Depending on which web host you signed up with and how you registered your domain, this step may already be set up for you:

• If you registered your domain with your web host, then your DNS will be managed for you automatically and you can skip this step.
• If you registered your domain with a registrar that is separate from your web host, then you may need to point your DNS (domain name servers) to your web host.

Point your DNS to your web host:

1. Find out what your name servers are. If you signed up with HostGator you will find this information in the welcome email for your account. You may also find your name servers in the Account Information section of your website control panel (also known as the cPanel).
2. Log into your registrar account.
3. Find the Domain Manager section.
4. Locate the Name Server section for your domain.
5. Update the name servers to the correct name servers for your web host.
6. Save changes.

It can take up to 48 hours for your domain to transfer to your web host but it usually happens in about an hour. If you have any issues with pointing your domain to your webhost, you may have to contact your web host or your registrar for help.

Add your domain to your web host:

1. Log into the cPanel of your web host.
2. Click Parked Domains. Parked Domains (Domain pointers) allow you to “point” or “park” additional domain names to your existing hosting account.
3. Type in your domain name and click Add Domain. This associates your domain with your web hosting account. This allows people to reach your website by entering your domain into their browsers.

It can be a bit tricky the first time you set up a new domain. Be sure to let me know if you get stuck at this stage and we’ll get it sorted out.

Moving Forward

Action points for this lesson:

1. Decide which web host you want to sign up with.
2. Choose a domain name you want to use for your website.
3. Find out if the domain name is available.
4. Register your domain name.
5. Sign up with a web host.

Got a Question? Please let me know in the Comment section at the bottom of the post and I’ll be sure to get back to you.

Next Step: Install WordPress on your web site.