New web domain and email hosting recommendations

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jasonownsansw20

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 239789 3-Aug-2018 21:08

Hi All

Im starting a small business and im wanting to buy a new web domain name and have up to 3 emails hosted ideally using G-suite for emails and wanting to park a webpage and ideally build a website myself (or alternatively if anyone can recommend someone that can build a good website for an affordable price) might be easier to give that workload to someone else. im wanting to be able to add content to it myself after its complete to keep it up to date.
the hosting will be ideally in nz and NZD (visited by kiwis mainly) most kiwis seem to be used to a .co.nz domain

Can anyone provide me with some recommendations im not sure how much these things cost exactly not wanting to be held to ransom just want to get a good deal. im hesitant at even typing in my desired domain knowing that theres software out there that can snap up recently searched domains before people decide to purchase them to inflate the price.

sparkz25

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Reply # 2067807 3-Aug-2018 21:22

just go to discount domains and buy the domain you want its easy as to do, if you are going to buy the .co.nz buy the .nz one as well, once you have the domain then look for a web guy. secure that domain first

timmmay

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Reply # 2067813 3-Aug-2018 21:38

I do a bit of small business email / web work. I agree that Google is good for email, easy, fairly bulletproof. For your website SquareSpace is easy and makes nice websites, so long as you don't want anything too unusual or unique. I got a very basic but functional website up in 3 hours on SquareSpace for a friend's restaurant business a few weeks ago, no images, but with an extensive menu, map, front page, etc.

I think you can do this yourself, though some guidance might be helpful. I'm not really taking on work right now, not until September. But you can post here and myself and many others will help if they can.

First, register the domain - Metaname is a good registrar - ugly website but they have good technical stuff. Discount domains is good too, as is 1st domains.

Next sign up for Google Email. They have good instructions. Try to get SPF records set up.

Next sign up for SquareSpace. They also have good instructions. Use a template closest to what you need.

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jasonownsansw20

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 2067827 3-Aug-2018 22:55

Hi all thanks for the replies already!

Some more quick questions what kind of price sounds ok for a domain is $19/yr ok?

also purchasing additional domains with different suffix is it easy enough to have these re-direct to a single page?

When you say SPF records what are you referring to?

Also once you have purchased the domain how are the emails with matching domain handled/created? do you pay a yearly fee for each one or are they part of a package with the domain or?
can the emails be created using Gsuite?

If im creating a page myself do I need a provider to host the webpage, are there fees for this also?

Im obviously totally new to this haha

michaelmurfy

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Reply # 2067839 4-Aug-2018 00:02

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Squarespace is the way to go here for the website stuff. You can have a site up in no time.

As for the domain - Metaname is by far the best: https://metaname.net/ - Just purchase the domain first even if you're not going to use it right away. I'd personally go with a .nz domain name instead of a .co.nz or if possible, just purchase both and redirect the .co.nz to the .nz (easy to do in Metaname also).

For email, I really do recommend GSuite for Business. It is only $5/mo/user but is easy to get set up and just works.

The SPF record is key to securing your email. GSuite offers a whole bunch of email security that you do want to get set up. If @timmmay isn't free then flick me a PM and I can likely help out with all this.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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mattwnz

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Reply # 2067840 4-Aug-2018 00:10

Depends if you want to own the website, or just rent it. SAAS websites all seem to quite restrictive compared to using a CMS like wordpress. Also depends on your technical knowledge and how much hand holding you need.

timmmay

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Reply # 2067854 4-Aug-2018 06:18

Based on your questions I suggest you have someone do this for you. It's all trivially easy for someone who's done it a few times, but you'll possibly struggle and have problems, mess things up. Perhaps get @michaelmurfy to help you, I do offer this service as part of a side business I run but I'm too busy until September. As a general guide, it'd take me a couple of hours to set up your email, 2-8 hours to set up a basic website based on content you supply, plus between 1 and 20 hours communication time to work out what you want - the more you want to talk and the more detailed your requirements the more it'll cost you. Most professionals will charge $70 to $150 per hour for their time for this level of work.

$19/year per domain is cheap, it's usually more expensive than that. Yes you can redirect other domains to the main domains.

Antispam technologies
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sender_Policy_Framework
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DomainKeys_Identified_Mail

Once you have the domain you set up the service, which associates the domain with the service and lets you receive email. You usually pay per email account - each account can have multiple addresses. eg sales@example.com and fred@example.com can go to the same inbox, with nelly@example.com and support@example.com going to another email box.

SquareSpace for website.

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jarledb

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Reply # 2067863 4-Aug-2018 08:42

A little tip if you want to use Squarespace:

Use this to get 10% off your first order on Squarespace:

Link: squarespace.com/talkshow and enter code TALKSHOW

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modcar

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Reply # 2067926 4-Aug-2018 10:33

Checkout http://hostingnz.co.nz

They support virtually any content management system, and have a Web Builder too.

Nz based servers, nz based support