Three Ideas for Multiple Domain Hosting

Establishing a presence online is easier that it has ever been before. This is primarily because the price for both domain names and web hosting services are at an all-time low. When choosing a good web host, they provide you with virtually everything you need to build your site and make it accessible on the web in a relatively short amount of time. However, this is not always the case. For example, some only allow you to host one domain, which essentially means that you can only run a single website. For many people, this is not a problem. On the other hand, if your goals require more than one site, such a hosting arrangement would not be ideal for your needs. Traditionally, if you wanted to accomplish this you were forced to purchase separate hosting accounts from different providers. The market has changed in recent times and thanks to multiple domain hosting solutions, you can now conveniently run a multitude of sites from one account.

1.) Friends and Family

There is a lot you can do with multiple domain hosting at your disposal and one of them is creating a fun personal site for friends and family. Today’s web hosting plans are loaded with great features, many of which can be used to help you set up an appealing website. With all the free software programs that often come included in a hosting package, you can easily incorporate interactive features such as polls, surveys and beautiful photo galleries complete with high resolution images.

2.) Social Networking

MySpace, Facebook and Twitter are more popular examples, but a multiple domain hosting plan gives you the ability to implement a social networking platform right next to your personal site. You have so many options here for connecting with your audience and significantly expanding your web presence. A powerful web hosting solution will give you the tools needed to create a blog, community forum or an informative portal where you keep readers up to date with the latest news. With all the open-source CMS products on the market, you have what it takes to actually build your own social network that rivals some of the biggest commercial sites.

3.) Online Business

The types of users reaping the most benefits from multiple domain hosting is online business owners. The power and potential of the internet has been proven and because of this, every company should strongly consider moving their business online. Hosting plans on the market are very business friendly with features such as multiple email accounts, fully integrated mailing lists, FTP access and several other tools that can be very useful for your business endeavors. And thanks to all the free shopping carts available, you can set up an online storefront and truly making an impact in e-commerce.

Conclusion

There is so much that can be accomplished by have the having the freedom to run multiple domains and these are just a few ideas. It is a cost effective arrangement that can help you kill two, or in this case, at least three birds with one stone.

The Key Aspects of Domain Management

Registering a domain name is a very easy process that can be done by almost anyone. For the most part, all you have to do is find a registrar, select the name, enter some information, submit the payment and the domain is all yours. It is really as simple as that. However, some people start to experience problems after the registration process has concluded and the time comes to manage the domain. This is when you encounter foreign terms such as name servers, domain forwarding and others that lead to utter confusion. Rest easy. The situation is not as perplexing as you might think. In fact, once you understand the aspects that go into it, managing a domain can be just as simple as registering one. In this article we will go over some of the most important elements you need to make yourself familiar with when managing your domain.

Name Servers

You will learn to embrace name servers shortly after registering your domain with the registrar. The company you purchased a web hosting service from will notify you that these name servers much be changed and pointed to them in order for the domain to function properly with your website. So, what exactly is a name server? In non technical terms, it is simply the name of the server you domain and site will be hosted on. When logging into your domain account to make the adjustments, the host will ask you to enter text that looks something like this: NS1.YOURHOST.COM and NS2.YOURHOST.COM The purpose they serve is to let the DNS know where the files for your website are located. This way, when a user types your URL into their browser, the DNS knows exactly where to direct them to, which is normally your homepage.

Domain Forwarding

Also referred to as domain redirecting, domain forwarding is the process of pointing a domain to another existing website. This method can be very useful as it gives you the ability to have multiple domains for a single website. For instance, you can take a .net domain and point it to the same website designated for your .com extension. By doing this, you can make the most of your domain investments and expand your presence without having to spend money for an additional website.

Domain Locking

Once you register a domain, it is critical to understand whether the name is locked or unlocked. If the name is not locked, then it is at the mercy of domain thieves and hackers looking to steal your precious internet identity. The most savvy criminals can access your account, manipulate the system and gain total control of your domain. Therefore, unless you are requesting a transfer, your domain name should be locked all times.

Conclusion

It may take some getting used to, but you will find that managing your domain name is a piece of cake. This is specially true if you start out with more than one. Even if you get lost, a reputable hosting provider and registrar will be more than happy to walk you through the process.

Do You Need WHOIS Privacy?

Many people do not realize that you when register a domain name, personal details such as your name, residential address and email address is often made freely available to anyone who wants to access it. This means that personally identifiable information that you would probably like to keep confidential is exposed to virtually anyone with internet access. Unfortunately, the ICANN, the global regulatory body for the domain name industry, has a policy stating that each and every registrar is required to maintain a WHOIS database that contains publicly accessible contact information for all names that have been registered. Even worse, if you do not submit correct or complete information, your domain name is subject to being deleted from the registry. If more people knew that they could be put in such a bind, they would probably think twice about registering a domain name.

Privacy and Protection

There is good news in all this, and that is WHOIS privacy services that make sure your personal information remains confidential and protected from the public. This type of service can help keep you and your domain safe from a variety of situations, including spam, data mining, fraud or identity theft, stalkers and more. These services are quite similar to having your number unlisted in the local phone book as it prevents strangers from viewing your telephone number, home address and other private details you do not want to openly share with the world.

Benefits of WhOIS Protection

Whether it is provided by a web host or another service, WHOIS privacy can turn out to be an invaluable feature that keeps you protected from bothersome third-parties. Here are some of the benefits:

Shields Private Information

A reliable service ensures that your private information is never exposed to anyone else as it is securely maintained at all times. This type of service can provide you with the utmost security against cons looking to commit fraud or identity theft.

Spam Protection

Whois privacy can also dramatically reduce the amount of spam that makes it to your inbox. Spammers are infamously known for harvesting email addresses from the WHOIS database, often selling that personal information to third-party marketing firms or using it to aid in their own spam campaigns. In fact, these spammers can have your email address floating on the market for years once they get a hold of it. A protection service can limit your exposure to spam by creating a randomly generated email address for your domain, deterring the attempts of unscrupulous individuals who try to harvest from the database. At the same time, your primary email remains active so you continue to receive vital updates regarding your domain.

Complete Control

Perhaps the best thing about WHOIS privacy services is that you retain complete ownership and control of your domain name. This mean you can renew, transfer or sell it just as you would be able to do before. The major difference is that you receive a level of protection that cannot be obtained from simply purchasing a domain with the basic features.

What is Domain Slamming?

Back in the 1980s, many consumers were faced with a problem known as telephone slamming. This term refers to an illegal practice that involved altering the subscriber’s phone service without their authorization or consent. The issue of telephone slamming became more evident once the telecommunications industry was deregulated in the mid 80s, particularly following the brutal wars over prices among the major providers. Once the millennium rolled around and the internet rose to prominence, a similar practice called domain slamming began to rear its ugly head.

Domain slamming involves a third-party company sending a domain owner a notification, typically via fax or email, that appears to be a renewal notice, but is actually a solicitation to purchase something from the sender. Let’s say you receive a notification indicating that it is time to pay a bill to renew your domain name. If you are someone who is busy or simply wants to protect their online identity, you just may go ahead and comply to get it out of the way. What you did not notice is the somewhat cryptic writing in the contract you signed that essentially authorized the company to charge you for its products or services. This is a common scenario that has occurred a countless number of times.

Types of Domain Slamming

For the most part, domain slamming happen is conducted in three ways. These types are as follows:

Misleading Invoices- Some of the more unscrupulous registrars commit domain slamming just to obtain new customers. They send you a bill that appears to come from your existing provider, but it is indeed and order form that once completed, switches you over to their service.

Wrong TLD – Perhaps your domain is registered with .com TLD, but you are receiving renewal invoices for .biz., .net and a host of other extensions. This should raise a red flag immediately. If you do require domains in these extensions, purchase them directly from your current registrar and don’t fall for the bait in the email.

Additional Services - In this scenario, the bill actually has the correct domain listed, but is aggressively marketing services that could supposedly benefit you. Since the proposal is likely originating via spam, this company probably does not qualify as the best option for your needs. If you are interested in what hey have to offer, perform an online search and find a reputable service that can provide the same thing without running the risk of being duped into purchasing something you do not want.

More Warning Signs

By now, most of us realize that registering a domain name should only cost about $10 per year. However, the fees charged by domain slammers are usually considerably higher. Prices like this should instantly trigger a red flag. Another obvious sign is receiving notification via fax or snailmail. Virtually every registrar on the market will only send information regarding your domain name by email. You are probably approached in this manner quite frequently, but it is all about knowing how to recognize the tricks and having the smarts to avoid them.

Targeting Specific Demographics With Domain Names

Most people automatically assume that a .com or .net domain is the best way to get the most traffic and to reach their targeted audience. Of course, this is not necessarily false, as both of these domain extensions add a sense of credibility to your website. However, even though a .com or .net domain extension is generally optimal, there are some situations where using a region-specific domain extension would be more beneficial . Using region-specific domain extensions is especially useful when trying to target a particular demographic. For example, if your target audience is in Canada, then you may want to use a .ca domain. The following are several reasons why one would consider using region-specific domain extensions.

Easily Targeting a Specific Audience

As mentioned above, using a region specific domain will allow you to target a particular demographic or region. Using region-specific domain extensions will make it easier for you to offer products or services that are specifically targeted towards customers in a particular region. Doing this will increase your sales conversions, as your visitors will be more likely to be interested in your product.

Increasing Your Potential Customer’s Trust

Many people are more comfortable shopping with merchants that are local or at least within the country. It gives them the assurance that they will receive fast shipping, and personalized service. Of course, many people do not mind shopping globally, but there is a large group of people that are more willing to purchase goods or services from local merchants.

Enhancing Search Engine Optimization

In some cases a domain with a region-specific extension will receive a higher search engine ranking. One such case would be if someone from China is performing a search for: “web hosting company in china,” a site named webhostingcompanies.cn will often rank higher than a website with a .com extension. There are also directories that people use to find certain products or services in their area. Your site will appear in these directories if you have a domain extension that is specific to that region.

Maximizing Your Marketing

If you want to maximize the potential and outreach of your business, then you may want to consider registering a .com extension and a region specific domain. Doing this will make your business viewable to international and national users. Domain names are relatively inexpensive, yet they are an excellent opportunity to diversify your income stream. Making the right decision in regards to your domain name and extension is crucial, as it will represent your brand and your company online.

How to Find the Best Multiple Domain Hosting Plan

If establishing your web presence calls for more than one website, multiple domain hosting is an option you need to consider. As the title indicates, multiple domain hosting is a type of arrangement that permits you to run numerous domains from one account. Though widespread now, this option was not always available as past times required that you obtain a separate account for each individual domain. As you can imagine, this was rather costly, inconvenient and just plain inefficient. The old way made it difficult for a webmaster to keep up with all of their sites while severely deducting from their bottom line. These days, there are a large number of companies that offer the ultimate in convenience by allowing to maintain all your sites in an easy and efficient manner.

Storage and Activity

There are a number of obvious reasons to choose a plan that offers multiple domain hosting. The key is knowing what to look for in a host. One of the first features you need to consider is your options for disk space. Since you will require a higher capacity to store the files for your websites, you may also be required to pay a little extra every month. Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need a tremendous amount of storage to run multiple domains. However, you don’t want to sell yourself short either. If you only need a few small sites, a couple of gigs should suit you just fine. On the other hand, if you intend on building large sites with a lot of files, high resolution photos and video, you will obviously require a greater capacity.

Bandwidth is another critical feature that must be taken into account. If you feel that you will be generating a high volume of traffic amongst of your sites, or a have a need to incorporate streaming audio and video, you will need an adequate supply to make sure everything functions smoothly. This is very critical as media files tend to eat up a lot of bandwidth. When it comes to disk space and bandwidth, it is important to come up with some estimates in regard to how much you need. Without enough space, you will not be able to store any files. Once you exceed your bandwidth limits, your site will become completely inaccessible. It is much better to have more than enough of both as this will provide your websites with the room they need to grow.

Easy Access and Control

As with any type of hosting plan, the control panel for a multiple domain solution should play a key role in your decision. This piece of software is the central office for your web presence so having something that is functional and easy to use is very essential. There are many types of control panels on the market, but applications like cPanel and Plesk are ideal for multiple domains because they make it simple to maintain all of your sites from a centralized area.

Conclusion

Finding a host that allows you to run multiple domains is rather standard these days. What you have to do is find one that offers the features and can provide the level of reliability you need to keep each and every one of them up and running.

Multiple Domain Hosting for Niche Marketers

Online business owners who have a multitude of websites to accommodate their niches often run into problems with substantially high web hosting fees. Whether you are paying on a monthly or yearly basis, the cost for hosting can add up pretty quickly when trying to run more than one website. Fortunately, there is a solution that can help you dramatically reduce the costs. By opting for multiple domain hosting, you can host all of your niche websites under a single account and literally save hundreds of dollars each year.

Multiple domain name hosting is not to be confused with domain forwarding, which lets you direct different domains to one particular website. For example, let’s say you have a domain and create content for a website at yoursite.com. You then purchase similar domains but instead, use extensions such as .net, .org and .biz. Domain forwarding allows you to take these domains and point them to the original domain at yoursite.com. This way, whenever some types in yoursite.net, yoursite.org or yoursite.biz, they are still taken to a location that displays the content from yoursite.com. Multiple domain hosting does not operate in this fashion. Instead of being forwarded or redirected to the same website, this type of arrangement allows you to have a number of different sites that contain their own specific content.

Multiple Domain Hosting in Action

As an example, let’s assume that you have targeted a total of five niches to make money online. Your existing domain is myserversite.com, which you transfer to a provider that offers multiple domain hosting. After uploading the content and composing your main website, you then add on the four additional domains to your account. During this process, the system creates a folder for the add on domains, which will actually look a lot like sub-domains. For instance, when adding mysoftware.com to your primary domain, the system might create a “software” folder, thus resulting in a sub-domain that reads something like mysoftware.myserversite.com. The key factor to remember is that when a user types in the mysoftware.com URL, they will be taken to an entire website rather than a sub-domain. In simple terms, these sub-domains end up taking the form of top level domains for your add on domains.

Maximizing the Potential of Multiple Domains

There are quite a few ways multiple domain hosting can help you save money apart from the obvious. Aside from directly cutting the cost of web hosting by more than half, there is a wide variety of features and options that typically come included free in hosting packages that will ultimately allow you to save even more. These offerings generally include powerful e-commerce tools, marketing services, free online advertising credits and pre-installed software scripts to name a few. While these features have become standard on the market, they still are not guaranteed, so finding a host that bundles them in a multiple domain hosting plan could result in a steal for you.