September 20th, 2006
Grocery Shopping for Bloggers: My Top Choices
It’s been around 10 hours since arriving in London for three years of university, an hour of that time spent looking for the cheapest bed-and-breakfast (a hostel of sorts) to plonk my stuff while waiting for my university accomodation to be ready. Moving from hostel to hostel asking for prices and room details reminded me of the hours I used to spend looking for the cheapest and best deals for my blogging necessities.
Yes, we’re talking stuff like domain names, hosting plans, blog software, desktop blogging software, and for some, even quality inbound links, quality blog design, paid e-mail address/management and misc. tools.
I’m sure many of you have gone through this process and may continue to spend that sort of time every few months refreshing your personal “top choices”. So, I thought I’d share my “top choices” – all of which I have been using for months now (at the very least), and am most satisfied with so far:
- Domain Names: GoDaddy with US$8.95/annum non-WHOIS-protected domain names (add US$0.25 for ICANN fee, but they give bulk and multi-year discounts), Dreamhost with US$9.95/annum WHOIS-protected domain names. Edit: Two different providers here because WHOIS protection on GoDaddy now requires you to sign up for their US$8.99/annum Deluxe Registration package.
- Shared Hosting: Dreamhost with US$7.95/month “almost unlimited” hosting (plus a US$97 rebate for your first year if you use the “MAXIMUM” promo code). Edit: I’ll concede this is an extremely arguable choice. I’ve had problems of my own with DH after all. But unless you’re one of the really unlucky ones, DH really provides a dreamy deal (pun intended).
- Blog Software: WordPress for the low, low price of $0.00.
- Desktop Blogging Software: non-WYSIWYG w.bloggar and/or WYSIWYG Windows Live Writer – both for the uber-low price of $0.00. Edit: Paul Stamatiou has a review of Windows Live Writer you might be interested in reading before downloading it.
- E-mail Address/Management:
GmailGoogle Apps for Your Domain for free (not all applications accepted though). Edit: Here’s a balanced review of Gmail for Your Domain.
I’ve decided to post only services/software I’m really confident of, so there are a few categories missing from this list (e.g. quality inbound links, VPS/dedicated hosting). But then, this is almost all you’ll need for your blog empire anyway, so nothing to worry about there.
Now, your turn! I’d love any help in finding even better (and cheaper) products/services – though I’m sure you’d have noticed my biasness towards anything free-of-charge.
P.S.: To ensure the full force of my credibility (as little as that amounts to…) is placed into this post, I’ve made sure that none of the links I place were affiliate links. Really. And to my knowledge, the “MAXIMUM” promo code shown is the highest possible rebate you can get for Dreamhost.
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150 Comments
September 21st, 2006 at 5:00 am
I sent out an email to my company’s classifieds awhile back asking if anyone knew of a good hosting company. I got more than a few less-than-desirable responses, but I was surprised that more than a few people, independently of one another, recommended BlueHost. I ended up going with my original hosting provider, but I’d say BlueHost is definitely worth a look for the blogger shopping for a hosting provider.
September 27th, 2006 at 8:05 pm
I was disappointed when I read you Desktop Blogging Software section because the one I use and really like was not there http://www.blogdesk.org/en/index.htm BlogDesk is free of charge and optimized for the blog systems WordPress, MovableType, Drupal, Serendipity and ExpressionEngine as well as the bloghosters Blogg.de and Twoday.net.
There’s no need to use HTML Tags in the WYSIWYG editor.
Images can be directly inserted and are automatically uploaded. Even publishing simultaneously to multiple blogs is a matter of a click. With the ImageWizard you can not only insert images to your posts – it’s possible to edit them as well (crop, resize, rotate, shadow etc.) Even Thumbnails can be created.
You can post date posts and have them publish at the time you choose.
It has a spellchecker and a technorati tag generator.
Most of all it’s very easy to use.
IMO it deserves to be up there and listed prior to windows live writer.
Thanks for listening.
October 11th, 2006 at 5:59 am
I personally register all my domains on http://www.name.com for USD 7.99, private whois at 4.99 and a pretty decent control panel for your DNS records… I haven´t found anything cheaper yet.
October 30th, 2006 at 2:07 pm
Godaddy for domain names is what I use as well. I’d recommend HostMonster for a host, their support/prices/quality of hosting is unreal.
November 3rd, 2006 at 7:05 am
I dont put all my eggs in the same basket. I use NetworkSolutions, Godaddy, BlueHost, HostGator, powerWeb. I will try BlogDesk suggested by Time Thief.
November 23rd, 2006 at 8:20 pm
http://www.GKG.net – for domain hosting – never had a problem and they are fast!
I use NetworkSolutions once – and now they won’t leave me alone! Plus it took a week for my domain to register, and I’ve heard similar from others, whereas GKG was almost instant.
I use shared hosting, but from friends – seems like everybody is getting into the referrals game these days. I also use Hosting Direct for one of my business sites. I like working with friendly, responsive people, and the prices are comparable to others.
March 2nd, 2007 at 7:30 am
Im a big fan of Dreamhost for shared hosting purposes, but like and other person said like to use hostgator, bluehost too. For domains I would stay away from Godaddy I have had some problems with them as several other people too. I use Namecheap instead.
May 15th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Transitioning from Full time to Part Time Blogging
May 19th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
good blogs thank you webmaster. have a nice day
May 19th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Im a big fan of Dreamhost for shared hosting purposes, but like and other person said like to use hostgator, bluehost too. For domains I would stay away from Godaddy I have had some problems with them as several other people too. I use Namecheap instead.
May 19th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Transitioning from Full time to Part Time Blogging
May 19th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Transitioning from Full time to Part Time Blogging
August 16th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Only thing i could agree is Wordpress …
August 23rd, 2007 at 5:44 am
Thanks
August 30th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
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September 24th, 2007 at 9:03 am
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September 30th, 2007 at 12:57 am
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October 2nd, 2007 at 1:28 am
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October 20th, 2007 at 12:24 am
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November 14th, 2007 at 3:08 am
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November 22nd, 2007 at 10:48 pm
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November 25th, 2007 at 4:14 am
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January 14th, 2008 at 9:18 am
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January 17th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
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January 19th, 2008 at 3:13 am
Thank You
January 29th, 2008 at 3:15 am
thankss12
February 13th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Godaddy for domain names is what I use as well. I’d recommend HostMonster for a host, their support/prices/quality of hosting is unreal.
March 11th, 2008 at 10:43 am
bluehost too. For domains I would stay away from Godaddy I have had some problems with them as several other people too. I use Namecheap instead.
March 16th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
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March 18th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
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March 18th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
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March 20th, 2008 at 8:16 am
bluehost too. For domains I would stay away from Godaddy I have had some problems with them as several other people too. I use Namecheap instead.
March 23rd, 2008 at 1:57 am
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March 26th, 2008 at 5:47 am
bluehost too. For domains I would stay away from Godaddy I have had some problems with them as several other people too. I use Namecheap instead.
March 26th, 2008 at 6:19 am
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June 16th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
thanks webmaster!
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p.s. i do love using go daddy!
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July 22nd, 2008 at 5:56 am
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July 22nd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
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September 6th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
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September 14th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Godaddy for domain names is what I use as well. I’d recommend HostMonster for a host, their support/prices/quality of hosting is unreal.
September 15th, 2008 at 9:41 am
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September 22nd, 2008 at 3:44 am
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September 24th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
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September 30th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I am a big fan of Dreamhost for shared hosting purposes, but like and other person said like to use hostgator, bluehost too. For domains I would stay away from Godaddy I have had some problems with them as several other people too. I use Namecheap instead.
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