When launching a new blog or website there are many things one needs to consider, like choosing a good domain name, choosing the best (or the cheapest) web hosting company, finding the right designer/developer or simply gathering information on how to create and maintain a website.

One such place to help you in the early (and not only) stages of your online journey is Web Hosting Search. According to the Wayback Machine, their history dates back to the year 2000, but only in late 2006, WebHostingSearch.com switched its presentation format to that of a review and information website, which definitely was a wise choice. In late 2007, with a bit of design tweaks, they managed to create a useful web hosting information guide.

Looking for the right domain name?

Then look no further. Web Hosting Search helps you find available domain names through its domain name search tool. You can either input your desired name (like MyWebsite.com) or a keyword around which you’d like to get suggestions of names. Either way, the results will tell you if your initial search is available as a domain name and also present you with a list of available alternatives, based on variations of keywords, synonyms and concepts similar to those you’ve first provided.

Screenshot illustrating a query for the keyword “design”.

Until now, this tool has helped me twice. Once to come up with some of those available names for bloggers I’m offering on Blogsessive, and once to not only suggest a good domain name for a project, but actually the idea of the project itself. I’ll tell you more about this new project when things will start shaping up.

Domain secured, but what about the hosting?

Whatever you’re looking for when it comes to hosting, you’re bound to find with their help. Are you looking for cheap web hosting, WordPress hosting, eCommerce hosting, reseller plans, VPS or dedicated servers? They have the right information, easy to access, well structured, reviewed and rated, split across continents and countries.

Screenshot illustrating a list of WordPress hosting providers.

Each hosting company in the database has a dedicated page covering general company information including up to date contacts, hosting plans with complete features, WHS’ grade and a useful PROs and CONs section.

The only thing I could think of that it’s not implemented on these review pages is a user based rating system. Sure, there’s a section where you could ad your own testimonial, but let’s be honest, how many of us are really willing to type that much? A simple rating system would be more than enough and it could run in parallel with WHS’ own rating like:

WHS Rating: 94%
User Rating: 89% (with option to add own rating)

If all this information is not enough for you to make a decision, you could always try the advanced web hosting search, and believe me, it really is an advanced form, covering almost every imaginable feature, from hosting platforms to additional tools like forums, CMS and blogging platforms and many more.

Considering the fact that there are thousands of blogs in the blogosphere covering the web hosting tipc, a nice addition to their “offer” would be a blog widget, similar to CrunchBase’s, a widget that would display a short text along with the company name, the rating and links to WHS’ own review database. This kind of widget would be a great tool for bloggers writing about those specific hosting companies.

Domain? Checked. Hosting? Checked. I need a designer!

Now that the domain name and hosting are secured, you need to look for a designer or developer to help you build you future website. Web Hosting Search has created a directory of small design companies and freelancers across the globe from where you could take your pick.

The great thing about it is that it’s not an open directory. Companies and freelancers need to ask for inclusion and because of this there’s a better chance of finding a serious provider.

Considering that directory submission are subject to editorial approval, I would have expected that each company would have a dedicated page with a small review and list of provided services, along with a user based rating system for those who previously worked with them.

Also, at this time, the directory is too small to actually give you enough choices for your design needs, and it’s mostly built around US companies, but I’m sure that the WHS’ marketing department is currently looking for ways to promote their website and its features. This review stands as proof for that.

A source for information, that’s what it is

Sharp and straight to the point, easy to navigate and with a clean layout, WebHostingSearch gives you all the information you need to build your online presence from scratch and to find web hosting for your new website. Domain names, hosting options and designers aside, their articles and editor blogs are a good way to learn more about the online environment and are definitely two more places to look for on WHS.

Now, all they need to do is to grow their website, to promote it and add more interactive options and I’m positive that when this is done, they’ll have a powerful word in the informational/review market.

Visit WebHostingSearch.com now!

Free PDF eBook: Corporate Blogging Guide by Blogsessive

When it comes to SEO (Search Engine Optimization) there are so many little things that can affect your blog’s ranking. We’ve talked about headings and titles, META tags and keywords, link building strategies, but how do we put to use our blog’s domain name and hosting to improve our rankings? This “SEO Sunday” episode will explain a few important things you should consider.

Choosing the right TLD

Some say that the TLD (Top Level Domain) – domain name extension – doesn’t matter. Most say it does and from my own experience I must agree with the majority.
First of all, let’s say your writing in your native language other than English. By choosing a country specific TLD (but not exclusively) you’ll tell search engines where your blog is based and to whom it addresses. For English written blogs, a .COM or a .NET TLD will most likely do the best jobs since the .COM is the most common extension and English the most used language online. Also, .COMs are a good alternative if your country specific TLD has already been registered.

Keyword domain names vs. Brandable domain names

A keyword in the domain name will definitely help your rankings for that specific keyword. Still, this doesn’t mean that a well optimized blog using a brandable domain name will not rank well. If your going for a brandable domain, try to play around a keyword, like I did with Blogsessive. It will add a bit to the value.

Dashes and numbers in the domain name

Unless strictly required (numbers are part of the identity, like Hi5), I would suggest to stay away from numbers. SEO wise they add no value. Also, if in the future you’ll be looking to sell that domain name, all the money you’ll get will mostly be based on the traffic that name received and its page rank (if it will be the case).
Dashes are still dropping the financial value, but in regards to SEO, search engines seam to accept them – even if with less value – and with the right on and off page optimization they could rank very well.

Domain registration period

When you register a new domain, try and register it for at least three or four years. Why? Simple, search engines will know that domain will be around for a longer period of time and it won’t be a simple spamming/domain flipping registration. Thus, they will add more weight to the results coming from your domain. Also, if you’re buying a pre-registered domain names from a domain name marketplace, try to buy one that has been registered and not dropped for a long time. The longer, the better. It also adds to its financial value.

Register one or two more major TLDs

Let’s say you’ve just registered BlogDomainName.com and you’re looking to build a brand around that blog. By registering BlogDomainName.net and BlogDomainName.org (for example) and pointing them to the .COM, you’re telling search engines that you’re consolidating your online brand, which will again add weight to the results coming from your blog.

Domain name history

It’s always a good idea to check out if the domain name has been registered before by using a WHOIS tool, and if it has been, also check out its history with a service like the Wayback Machine. If that domain has been banned by search engines due to whatever reasons, don’t buy it. You’ll have an almost impossible job building up its reputation.

Shared hosting IP vs. Dedicated hosting IP

By sharing an IP with many other websites and blogs you’ll lose a bit of your own identity in front of search engines. Also, if search engines have a habit of banning the whole IP range if one of the websites you’re sharing the IP with will be banned for spam or other strange activities. By getting a dedicated IP you’ll be on your own, safe as long as you act fair. Dedicated hosting is not cheap, but many hosting providers offer dedicated IPs with even the cheapest hosting plans for a small extra fee, sometimes as low as $3.

So, as you can see, there are many other factors than links and META tags when it comes to optimization. Do everything right and you be getting closer to those high rankings, step by step.

Free PDF eBook: Corporate Blogging Guide by Blogsessive