Website, domain, wordpress

16 replies
This should be in the web development section but I have no clue how to find it. This forum isn't too user friendly, or maybe I'm just stupid.

Anyways

I have a total noob question. I want to make a site with wordpress but I don't want anyone to be able to go to the site until it's finished. Can I build a site with wordpress before buying a domain, or is there a way to keep the site completely private until I'm ready for people to find it?

Also last time I was on here everyone was saying to avoid GoDaddy, does anyone know why to avoid godaddy for a domain and where I should get my domain if not through them?

I heard a lot of people on here also say to not use hostgator for hosting so I was thinking of using namecheap, but it seems on youtube wayyyyyyyyyyyyy more people recommend hostgator. It actually seems like everyone recommends hostgator and godaddy.

I hate having so many people pulling me in so many directions when it comes to something I know nothing about. I could go with the many and regret not going with the few, or I could go with the few and kick myself for not going with the many. Any deeper insight on that would also be appreciated.

I want to build a membership site that is just a one time fee, but I also want people to get access to one part of it in exchange for their name and e-mail does anyone know if that is better/easier than figuring out how to give people a pdf for free in exchange for e-mail?

Sorry for so many questions I'll just stop now. I could write a 500 page book in a week easily about what I want to do and questions I have to get there lol.
#domain #website #wordpress
  • Profile picture of the author Saiah Davis
    Hi Justin,

    There are wordpress plugins that offer you the ability to make your homepage private while you work on your site development.

    I would avoid godaddy as they are crazy with their upsells and could end up costing you more unecessarily lol. I've been using arvixe for years with no issues.
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    • Profile picture of the author [Justin]
      Hey, thank you all for the replies. I really like the sound of a one-click install for wordpress since I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing, so I may have to use hostgator. I got a plugin called profit builder and I'm going to use it to build simple one page sales page to sell access to a membershipsite. I'm going to sell on clickbank and I was going to do ebooks, but since I got that plugin I started thinking it would be less writing to just do a membership site, and my customers I think will feel like they're getting a better deal because I'm going to charge $67 dollars and for me I'd be more likely to buy access to a membership site for that price than for an ebook. I guess I could do like 37 for an ebook and upsell to a membership site, but then I'd have to figure out how to make a pdf look all professional and stuff, and with profit builder it seems like I can make a really nice looking membership site fairly easily. I pretty much spent 2 years studying marketing 24/7 and luckily before finding out about clickbank or anything I've been studying this one niche in particular religiously for almost 10 years, and I feel like I can crush my competition, but I won't, I'll sell their stuff too and then my customers will end up in their forums and stuff talking about me and then their customers will come to me from word of mouth. Anyways I've had all these ideas but no way to do them. Was about to go to school for web design until I found out about optimize press, profit builder, and instabuilder a month or 2 ago and I had no clue there was anything out like that. I bought profit builder, felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulder since I don't need to learn whatever I was about to go through, I have no clue, but since then I have been procrastinating. Maybe I'm OCD or something, but I feel like I need to know 100% exactly what I'm doing before I do it. Maybe I just need to get hostgator and godaddy and just see what happens. I don't really understand why not to use those companies besides they got bought by a different company? I don't care who owns it as long as it works, if name cheap also has one click install for wordpress though then I will take everyones recommendation and stay away from hostgator, but really I just want the simplest way to just get started. Once I have hosting domain and wordpress then I still need to learn how to use profit builder, and then I need to get aweber and integrate everything, then build a nice sales page, then make my membershipsite, and then figure out how to sell with clickbank and get the buy buttons working and everything. I like it though because it's like, all that's left is the tip of the iceberg. Still a lot of learning, but all the important stuff sales wise/marketing wise I'm pretty confident with. But all that stuff is useless without the final stuff I need to learn now about building and owning websites.

      Man, I'm a rambler lol, but this stuff excites me.

      Maybe actually I will just make some stuff in random niches just to get used to how it all works, but actually no because in my niche I can blast my e-mail list with basically endless value for free and in other niches I won't be able to do that. I guess though I could set up some stuff in other niches to get used to profit builder and buying domains and stuff and just not build a list for them, but I don't know, I'll just start with my main idea.

      Dang, sorry I just talk so much. I'm done.
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      • Profile picture of the author hatchcrane
        If you're site is important to you - than I think you should learn how to install WordPress manually. That's the best way to build enough security into it to protect against hacking. Do a Google search for "my wordpress sites been hacked" or something similar and you'll get some more insight into the subject. It's relatively easy to find good video tutorials that will teach you how to install WordPress securely.

        I've been using Hostgator for a long time. They have good support and even tutorials about WordPress and other subjects.

        There's nothing wrong with GoDaddy. They've been in business a long time. NameCheap is good too.

        Also, remember to back up the site OFTEN!

        Doug
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        • Profile picture of the author [Justin]
          Originally Posted by hatchcrane View Post

          If you're site is important to you - than I think you should learn how to install WordPress manually. That's the best way to build enough security into it to protect against hacking. Do a Google search for "my wordpress sites been hacked" or something similar and you'll get some more insight into the subject. It's relatively easy to find good video tutorials that will teach you how to install WordPress securely.

          I've been using Hostgator for a long time. They have good support and even tutorials about WordPress and other subjects.

          There's nothing wrong with GoDaddy. They've been in business a long time. NameCheap is good too.

          Also, remember to back up the site OFTEN!

          Doug
          Dang, I saw a few other things on youtube of people saying it's better to install Wordpress manually but I never knew why. Man, it looks so confusing, but I will take your word for it and I'm really happy you said that, and it's reasons like this why I'm the type of person that likes to know 100% what I'm doing before starting. I saw one of your sites, I'm pretty sure if I remember right it was a free membership site. I think I remember thinking it had everything I needed but right off the bat I was kind of lost and went to youtube. I'm super thankful you just said that though because now that I know why people say to do it manually I think it's well worth the extra struggle to keep my site secure since I will be selling with it. If it was just like a blog with affiliate links or something I wouldn't really care, but I'm trying to go from zero to hero, so to speak lol. I'm not expecting miracles, but I'll be extremely proud of myself even if I just had my program done, on clickbank, ready to go, looking nice because when I first heard about clickbank and stuff I saw being a clickbank vendor as something I could never do. Ever. Since then though I tried everything with affiliate marketing, wrote a ton of books for amazon with affiliate links, and slowly I just started getting more and more confidence in myself. Went through a ton of programs on marketing from people like Eben Pagan, Chet Homes, read books from Jack Welch, Zig Ziglar, Went through programs from Peng Joon and John Chow. I basically just went nuts but never even attempted any of my real ideas all because of this web development road block. I never knew you could get some amazing plugin for super cheap that has everything you could ever dream of, and now that I know, I can move forwards with my ideas, and possibly change my life money wise but like I said before I'm not expecting a miracle. This, to me is more like a video game, and you just play it for fun. Only difference is, if you do really good in the game, you get real life money, so it's like the best game in the world, really. Anyways I'm just rambling again now, I don't even remember where I was going with this, but thanks a lot for your reply. I will DEFINITELY take the time to learn how to install wordpress manually.
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          • Profile picture of the author hatchcrane
            Yea - you really need to know how to install it right - for your own peace of mind. There is NO guarantee that your site won't be hacked or "broken" by some clown. But if you're making back-ups regularly and if you've installed it properly - then you will more than likely be able to recover should your site be attacked.

            There is a section (module) at my site that teaches how to secure your WP installation. The tutorial was made when WP 3.9 was current. But the principles work with the newest versions of WordPress.

            Complete installation tutorials are there as well.

            I'm sorry if you were confused. The site isn't completely finished, (as you can see)... So I understand how it
            could be confusing. Just dig around on the site - everything is there.

            Feel free to PM me if you're having trouble. I'm not the greatest Marketer in the world, (by a long shot, lol)... But I can install WordPress (with security built in), practically in my sleep.
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            • Profile picture of the author [Justin]
              Yea, now that I think about it actually, I'm not 100% sure, but I think you were teaching how to install wordpress manually, and I went to youtube to find an easier way. I can't remember exactly, but I do remember you, and I do remember thinking you were giving away a ton of value for free. I'll have to check out your site again tomorrow. It's hard to get myself back into focus mode, but I've went through this with myself plenty of times, and I know it's only a matter of time before I just go full on focus mode on all this and learn everything I need to know. PLUS, what I love about learning new stuff like this is you always know if you had to go through it, there's someone else who will be going through it, and you can help them out, only I'll charge money for it, but with what you're giving away for free I can't even imagine what you charge for. That's usually how it works though, the less "famous" people will give you for free what should be free, and when they charge you, you know it's going to be worth it, and it always is.

              I've said it before, but this is definitely my favorite website, and I need to get on it more often.

              Pretty much just giving myself some slack because I've basically been killing myself learning this crap like 15 hours a day for 2 years straight. Just finally got a part time job because I just finally accepted that what I'm going for is going to take time, and may never even happen, but since I've been able to just relax and not have to depend on this stuff for income, all the things I've needed to know to move on with my real ideas have been coming to me. Since I have started working again though, I took a ton of pressure off of myself and I haven't been near as productive. BUT I do feel a lot more relaxed and okay with where I'm at in life, so it's all around win win, but I would like to have a little more pressure on myself, I think I've been too idk, just to soft I guess. When I wasn't working I was going mad into this stuff every waking second, now it's just like, yea, when I feel like it. I need to find the balance, but I love the path I'm on, it's so cool and I have no clue how the heck I ever even found this path.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Lee
    You'll have to dig around for good membership site plugins, but for keeping your site private until it's ready, just use a free maintenance mode plugin.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nicole Sakoman
    Originally Posted by [Justin] View Post

    This should be in the web development section but I have no clue how to find it. This forum isn't too user friendly, or maybe I'm just stupid.

    Anyways

    I have a total noob question. I want to make a site with wordpress but I don't want anyone to be able to go to the site until it's finished. Can I build a site with wordpress before buying a domain, or is there a way to keep the site completely private until I'm ready for people to find it?

    Also last time I was on here everyone was saying to avoid GoDaddy, does anyone know why to avoid godaddy for a domain and where I should get my domain if not through them?

    I heard a lot of people on here also say to not use hostgator for hosting so I was thinking of using namecheap, but it seems on youtube wayyyyyyyyyyyyy more people recommend hostgator. It actually seems like everyone recommends hostgator and godaddy.

    I hate having so many people pulling me in so many directions when it comes to something I know nothing about. I could go with the many and regret not going with the few, or I could go with the few and kick myself for not going with the many. Any deeper insight on that would also be appreciated.

    I want to build a membership site that is just a one time fee, but I also want people to get access to one part of it in exchange for their name and e-mail does anyone know if that is better/easier than figuring out how to give people a pdf for free in exchange for e-mail?

    Sorry for so many questions I'll just stop now. I could write a 500 page book in a week easily about what I want to do and questions I have to get there lol.
    You have a option somewhere in settings to prevent search engine bots to find your website... that's for keeping it totally private!
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    • Profile picture of the author sprucehill
      Originally Posted by Nicole Sakoman View Post

      You have a option somewhere in settings to prevent search engine bots to find your website... that's for keeping it totally private!
      Namecheap is the best IMO for buying domain names. Godaddy is not too bad for domain names except for their unending upsells, but do not use them for hosting. Also, it is best not to use the same company for domain registrar and hosting. Use 2 different companies - one to buy the domain name and a different one for hosting.

      PLEASE do not use Hostgator (or any other EIG host) for your hosting. Yes, there are still a few people who have not had problems with them, and are still happy with them, but they are in the distinct minority. Just do a search on this site for Hostgator and read the many horror stories about why people are moving away from them.

      Note: Most of the people on Youtube and so-called "hosting review sites" are recommending Hostgator because they are affiliates who make a commission when you buy the hosting through their link. Do not listen to those people.
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      • Profile picture of the author [Justin]
        Originally Posted by sprucehill View Post

        Namecheap is the best IMO for buying domain names. Godaddy is not too bad for domain names except for their unending upsells, but do not use them for hosting. Also, it is best not to use the same company for domain registrar and hosting. Use 2 different companies - one to buy the domain name and a different one for hosting.

        PLEASE do not use Hostgator (or any other EIG host) for your hosting. Yes, there are still a few people who have not had problems with them, and are still happy with them, but they are in the distinct minority. Just do a search on this site for Hostgator and read the many horror stories about why people are moving away from them.

        Note: Most of the people on Youtube and so-called "hosting review sites" are recommending Hostgator because they are affiliates who make a commission when you buy the hosting through their link. Do not listen to those people.
        Hey, thanks a lot for your reply. I will use namecheap instead of hostgator for hosting, but then where should I get my domain from? godaddy? THanks again.
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  • Profile picture of the author KingServers01
    You can keep your site password protected using plugin until it is completed. Regarding GoDaddy, many users complain that GoDaddy took over domain name but I have never experienced that. You can try Namecheap for domain registration. Regarding Hostgator, it is not the same company anymore after EIG acquired it.. EIG owns many web hosting companies, you can check their wikipedia page and they have history of huge outages and number of downtimes.
    Signature
    Managed & Unmanaged VPS Hosting & Dedicated Servers
    Europe & USA by King-Servers.com
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  • Profile picture of the author quinng123
    I use Hostgator have never had a problem with them since the 4 years I've been using them. They have great support, the UI is simple, and they have one-click installs for wordpress.

    No you can not create a site before you buy a domain name. I wouldn't really worry about too many people seeing your site not unless you have deliberately given out the name and told people about it already. But if have you to check this tutorial out.

    Wordpress has membership plugins you can search and download.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mu
    Hellooooo
    I can help set you a "staging domain" IP locked, and a public domain, just P.M and I will walk you throug
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  • Profile picture of the author neelshopno123
    Originally Posted by [Justin] View Post

    This should be in the web development section but I have no clue how to find it. This forum isn't too user friendly, or maybe I'm just stupid.

    Anyways

    I have a total noob question. I want to make a site with wordpress but I don't want anyone to be able to go to the site until it's finished. Can I build a site with wordpress before buying a domain, or is there a way to keep the site completely private until I'm ready for people to find it?

    Also last time I was on here everyone was saying to avoid GoDaddy, does anyone know why to avoid godaddy for a domain and where I should get my domain if not through them?

    I heard a lot of people on here also say to not use hostgator for hosting so I was thinking of using namecheap, but it seems on youtube wayyyyyyyyyyyyy more people recommend hostgator. It actually seems like everyone recommends hostgator and godaddy.

    I hate having so many people pulling me in so many directions when it comes to something I know nothing about. I could go with the many and regret not going with the few, or I could go with the few and kick myself for not going with the many. Any deeper insight on that would also be appreciated.

    I want to build a membership site that is just a one time fee, but I also want people to get access to one part of it in exchange for their name and e-mail does anyone know if that is better/easier than figuring out how to give people a pdf for free in exchange for e-mail?

    Sorry for so many questions I'll just stop now. I could write a 500 page book in a week easily about what I want to do and questions I have to get there lol.

    Answers and advices -

    1. Yes you can build your website before buying domain & hosting. Do that in your localhost. If you want to know how to do that, pm me.
    2. For domain- Namecheap
    3. For hosting - Hostgator.
    Signature
    WordPress PROBLEM? Fix at $13 only! Email me neelshopno123@gmail.com
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  • Profile picture of the author Zenoth
    You can use a virtual server to develop your site on your localhost (I'm using WampServer).

    I don't know why some people told you to avoid goDaddy, because I'm using them for several years and I had no problems with them.

    Hostgator was bought by another company (EIG) which also acquired several web hosting companies over time and their services have become of lower quality than before.

    I recently tried stablehost.com for hosting and so far I am very pleased with them.
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