Web site advice request - loss of Microsoft Live Site

[speckytecky]

Our athletics club has had a site set up and sponsored by one of our members using their Microsoft Live Account for about 6 years now. Recently the site vanished. Turns out some USA based company is demanding we cough up $180 for a 2 year use of the site name before we can get it back.

 

It was a useful site and as administrator for the club I found having a live e-mail address out of it particularly useful as my Orange home e-mail address limits outgoing mail to 10 recipients at a time. I have now set up a new Windows live address in my own name so that will get me round that problem but it leaves me wondering where to go with a web site for the club.

 

Due to the vast help I have had from many Edugeekers, particularly Sysman_MK and Steve Hill but many others as well I now have a fairly useful understanding of Joomla so I'm sort of toying with setting up a Joomla site using an Artisteer template. But how do I set about getting a site name and where best to host it?

[kmount]

Hi speckytecky,

 

Firstly, I'm sorry to hear of your troubles, I suspect the domain expired and a company 'bought' the domain and is now holding you ransom over it. Not much you can do really.

 

So, I'd look to start with a fresh identity working with a company who isn't stupid and who will look after your interests both technically and non-technically.

 

Nip over to CSNewMedia - Domains and type in an idea for your domain name (site name) eg. speckytechysclub.co.uk and find one that suits your needs and is available. (should only cost a few quid a year for this).

 

Then you need some webhosting, again CSNewMedia - Hosting probably the lite package will be plenty sufficient for your needs for now.

 

Once that's all done you can go ahead and install Joomla and start building your presence again.

 

There are other webhosts available, a plenty, some more expensive, some less expensive but having had great experiences like other edugeek members, CSNM is my preference.

 

Good luck, and shout up if you need any help!