Get Organized
YOU ARE SO CLOSE.
Take a deep breathe. The hard part is almost over. You’ve done a ton of planning, organizing and prioritizing. This part is simple. Well, usually it’s simple. What do you want to call your website?
When choosing a domain name here are a few tips to consider:
Keep it simple
Keep it short
Keep it relevant
You can check to see if your domain is available with a variety of providers. I recommend NameCheap or GoDaddy. If the domain you want to use is taken there are options to negotiate purchasing it. Warning this can be very expensive and there is a cost associated with the negotiation even if the offer is not accepted.
Your domain cost for the first year is included with a Squarespace subscription but generally you can expect an annual cost of approx. $15-$20 per year.
Hosting
Hosting costs are included with Squarespace and Wix sites but a separate hosting plan is needed for WordPress.
BIG HUGE WAVING RED FLAGS HERE… You get what you pay for! For example, while GoDaddy offers hosting plans starting at $11 a month it does not include some of the basics such as daily backups. And while companies like GoDaddy have excellent support for issues with domains, their tech support is not always well versed in WordPress.
MEET WP ENGINE
For full disclosure, I am a WP Engine Partner and I get commissions on referrals but there’s a reason I have committed to WP Engine for my clients and it’s simple, they are just better.
WP Engine plans start at $25 per month so a bit more pricey than some others but their plans include daily backups and through my account I have access to Real Live Human One-on-One Support which means if something breaks - which can happen with WordPress - between you, me and the experts you have an excellent safety net.
