Sofie Estolloso Hofmann Designs International

Getting a web host is simply choosing a web host and signing up for a web hosting account with the web hosting provider.

Choosing a web host or a web hosting provider may not be easy but signing up for a web hosting account is as simple as registering a domain name. Despite the simplicity of signing up for a web hosting account, I decided to give you an idea on how to do it as a follow up to my blog entry on how to register a domain name.

These two topics, registering a domain name and getting a web host, are very important. You cannot set up a Website without a domain name. You cannot set up a Website without a web host, whether paid-hosted site or free-hosted site.

I will be using DreamHost as the web hosting provider in this example. I am therefore disclosing here right away that if you decide to open a web hosting account with DreamHost using my referral link, I will earn from it as I am an affiliate of DreamHost.

It is not only because I am an affiliate of DreamHost but because I have also been its customer for three (3) years now. I find its features enough for my Website needs and its control panel is easy to use. For one thing, DreamHost offers a free trial.

How to Sign Up for a Web Hosting Account with DreamHost

Prepare your credit card in case you need it.

1. Proceed to DreamHost.

Click the button “Sign Up NOW”.

You will be redirected to the “Signup, Start your Free Trial!” page.

2. Supply the necessary details at the blank fields at the “Signup, Start your Free Trial!” page.

Email, Confirm Email, Password, Confirm Password

Remember the email address and password very well. Write them down.

Click the button “Continue”.

You will be redirected to the “Signup, Pick a domain…” page.

You have two options with notes below.

3. Choose either of the two options at the “Signup, Pick a domain…” page.

Register a new .com/net/org/info domain for me.

Note: The domain name is free with a hosting plan after free trial period.

You will be charged today to secure the Domain Registration during the free trial.

Following the free trial, the charge will be applied to the hosting cost, making the registration free.

The domain name will remain yours if you decide to close your hosting plan.

I already have a domain, please provide me with the information I’ll need to transfer it.

Note: You can still register a free domain later or use this option to add a free dreamhosters.com subdomain.

If you choose to register a new domain name, supply the domain name at the provided Domain field.

If you already have a domain name, supply the domain name at the provided Domain field.

If you choose to try a DreamHost subdomain name, supply the subdomain at the provided field like “subdomain.dreamhosters.com” without the quotes. Replace “subdomain” with your own name or whatever word you would like to use as a subdomain name.

Click the button “Continue”.

You will be redirected to the “Sign up, Pick a plan…” page.

You have three options with “Free Trial Offer Details” notice below.

4. Choose any of the three free trial offers.

You can choose a one (1) month plan, one (1) year plan or two (2) years plan. It gets cheaper the longer the period you choose.

Free Trial Offer Details

Your free trial of DreamHost membership will begin when you complete the signup process. If you cancel anytime during your free trial, you will not be charged. To cancel online, simply visit the “Manage Account” section of DreamHost control panel and click the “close this account” link.

If you are enjoying your time with DreamHost, do nothing and your membership will automatically continue at the normal subscription rate for the payment period you select here.

The free trial is for first-time customers only.

Click the button “Continue”.

You will be redirected to the “Sign up, Account Contact Info” page.

5. Supply the necessary details at the blank fields at the “Sign up, Account Contact Info” page.

First Name, Last Name, Street Address, City, State/Province, Postal Code, Country, Phone

Click the button “Continue”.

You will be redirected to the “Sign up, Just a little more…” page.

5. Supply the necessary details at the blank fields at the “Sign up, Just a little more…” page.

Pick First Server Username, In what city were you born, How did you first hear about us (optional), Promotional code or email address that referred you (optional)

Do not forget to check the box with the text “I agree to abide by DreamHost’s Terms of Service and Anti-Spam Policy. I also accept the terms of the domain registration agreement. I am also…”.

Click the button “Continue”.

You will be redirected to the “Sign up, Payment Info” page.

6. Supply the necessary details at the blank fields at the “Sign up, Payment Info” page.

Card number, Expiration Date

You will not be billed until your free trial ends. Cancel online anytime.

With the very important notes:

Cancel anytime – really!

For your convenience, we take your payment information so that your membership will not be interrupted after your free trial ends and to serve as security for any domains you may register. If you cancel prior to the end of your free trial, simply pay for the domains you’ve registered (if any) and you will not be charged for anything else.

Once your free trial period has expired, you are authorizing us to automatically charge you for your membership at the price of the hosting plan you have chosen.

You may change your card information or cancel your charge authorization anytime by visiting the “Billing” section of your DreamHost control panel. To cancel online, simply visit the “Manage Account” section of the DreamHost control panel and click the “close this account” link.

We accept all major credit cards, along with ATM or debit cards that have a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express logo.

Your card information is safe. We use SSL encryption technology to secure our transactions. We value your privacy. Please see our privacy policy for details.

Click the button “Continue”.

You will be redirected to the “Sign up, Almost Done…” page.

7. Click the button “Continue”.

You will be redirected to the “Sign up, Would you like to add a private server?” page.

Do not check anything, you can do that later.

8. Click the button “Continue”.

You will be redirected to the “Sign up, Would you like to add…” page.

Unique IP Address, Premium Phone Support, VPN Access, Gmail and Google Apps

Do not check anything, you can do that later.

But you can check “Gmail and Google Apps” if you like to run Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Docs all @yourdomain. Your email will be hosted with Gmail. These applications are for free.

9. Click the button “Continue”.

You will be redirected to the “Sign up, Welcome to DreamHost” page.

With the notes below:

Your free trial will begin as soon as your account is approved! We will send you an email with your FTP/shell password when this happens.

In the meantime, please continue to the https://panel.dreamhost.com/ to further configure your account.

Thank you for choosing DreamHost!

You are not finished yet.

10. Click the button “Continue to our web panel”.

You will be redirected to the “DreamHost Login” page.

11. Log in by supplying the necessary details at the Login page that you used when you signed up.

Email Address or Web ID, Web Panel Password

Click the button “Log In”.

Once you are inside the DreamHost Control Panel, you will see “Welcome to your DreamHost Control Panel!” with some notes.

You will also see “Approval Call”.

“You’re almost done! Below is a 4-digit confirmation pin. Click on the button below and we’ll call you asking for the 4-digit pin. All you have to do is enter it and your account will be approved!”

12. Click the button “Call Me!” and you are done.

Wait for the call and that’s it.

After the call and if your account has been approved, you can start exploring the control panel and set up your Website.

Well then, sign up for a web hosting account now with DreamHost. It is so easy!

Registering a domain name is very simple but I will still show you how to register a domain name. In this example, I will use GoDaddy as the domain registrar. I am therefore disclosing here right away that if you decide to register your domain name with GoDaddy using my referral code, I will earn from it as I am an affiliate of GoDaddy.

I like GoDaddy as the features it offers as a domain registrar are really good. GoDaddy has been in the business as a domain registrar. The price of the domain name is reasonable.

In a way, GoDaddy was even responsible that you can nowadays buy a domain name with .com, .net and .org TLDs (top level domain names) at a lower price per year unlike the original price of $35 per year when these top level domain names were first available in the market.

Registering could be done in three (3) easy steps but because of the other offers you might get confused.

How to Register a Domain Name with GoDaddy

Prepare your credit card if you are paying with your credit card.

Proceed to GoDaddy.

1. Search the domain name by typing the domain name at the space provided below or near “Start your domain search here”.

Leave the .com at the dropdown menu. The top level domain name .com is the most popular TLD unless your Website is about a non-profit organization, then look for a domain name with a .org top level domain name.

Click the orange button “GO”.

If the domain name is not available, just keep on searching for a domain name related to your business.

If the domain name is available, you have two options.

Click the orange button “Add” if you would like to purchase more than one (1) domain name.

Click the other orange button “Continue to Registration” if you are purchasing (1) domain name only.

Note: The price indicated at the illustration may change and definitely the currency depending on your location.

You will be redirected to the “1. Domain Registration Information” page.

But a pop-up window might appear and tell you to “STOP! Don’t miss your chance to SAVE (whatever percent)!”

Click the orange button “No Thanks” and you will be brought back to the “1. Domain Registration Information” page.

2. Supply the necessary details at the “1. Domain Registration Information” page especially if it is marked with red asterisk as it is required.

Do not forget to check the box corresponding to this text “By checking this box you certified that the Company Name specified above is the legal registrant of this domain name” if you put something under the Company Name.

Click the orange button “Next”.

You will be redirected to the “2. Your Domain Settings” page.

3. Check the details at the “2. Your Domain Settings” page.

You can change the “Registration Length” to 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 5 years or even 10 years.

Even if you are not sure, especially if you have a discount coupon or number, it is better to register the domain name for 5 years or 10 years.

You also have the option to edit the Registrant Contact, Technical Contact, Administrative Contact and Technical Contact by clicking “Edit” under the Registration Contact area. You do not have to do that, you can change the details later.

If you read “Hosting these domains elsewhere? Set nameservers”, do that later.

If you read “Includes FREE Auto-Renew Protection. Click here to change to Manual renewal”, do that later.

Click the orange button “Next” if everything is fine.

You will be redirected to “3. Your Privacy and Domain Protection” page.

You will be recommended to keep your information private and select a registration type.

If you like privacy but you are purchasing one (1) domain only at the moment, do that later. It is also an additional cost. You have the option to make your details private later for a certain fee.

Click the orange button “Next” again to continue.

You will be redirected to “4. Activate Your Domain” page.

There is really nothing to be done at the “4. Activate Your Domain” page.

GoDaddy will just offer you a lot of other things that you can include with your purchase.

You can even buy the domain name at a very low price if you purchase anything from the offers. Read the notices behind the offers like at the “Get your domain for only CHF2.06* with any purchase below”. You can definitely save here but think about it carefully.

You can “Add Email” or “Add Website and Hosting” right away if you like. But I do not like to rush you. You have the option to choose your web hosting provider later. Study the offers of the web hosting providers first. I have not tried GoDaddy but its web hosting features are not bad at all.

Note: The price CHF2.06* indicated here may change and definitely the currency depending on your location.

Click the orange button with cart icon “Next”.

You will be redirected to the “Review your Shopping Cart” page.

4. Check the details at the “Review your Shopping Cart” page.

Click “Enter Promo or Source Code” if you have a promo code or source code and supply it at the box under the “Order Summery” box on the right side.

Review if everything is fine.

Click the orange button “Continue to Checkout” which is also under the “Order Summary” box.

You will be redirected to “Account Security” page to log in if you are already a customer or “Create a New Account” if you are a new customer.

5. Supply the required and necessary details at the “1. Account Information” and “2. Login Information”.

Review your “1. Account Information”. Take note of the “Account Type”. Is it business, personal or both?

Review your “2. Login Information” especially your “Log In ID”. Remember or write down your “Log In ID” and password. You will need your “Log In ID” and password later on to access your GoDaddy account.

Click the orange button “Continue to Checkout”.

You will be redirected to the “Select Your Payment Method” page.

6. Supply the required and necessary details at the “Select Your Payment Method” page.

Select “CREDIT CARD” if you are using your credit card, otherwise select any of the four options.

Supply the necessary details at “3. Enter Your Billing Information” if there is a need.

Review “3. Enter Your Billing Information” details.

You have the option to click the box “use account information” if you like to use the same information that you supplied at the “Registrant Contact”.

Supply the necessary details at “4. Enter Your Credit Card Information”.

You are almost finished now.

Check the box corresponding to the text “I have read and agree to the terms and conditions of the: Universal Terms of Service, Domain Name Registration Agreement” under “Final Step: Accept Terms”.

Click the orange button “PLACE ORDER NOW”.

That’s it.

Do not forget though, print your receipt once your order has been placed.

Well then if you have not registered yet, proceed to GoDaddy and register your domain name now.

You might like to read the following related articles. It is very important to know how to choose a good domain name.
Choosing a good Domain Name
Registering a Domain Name