Your email doesn't have to have ANYTHING to do with your web host. I host all my domain names (and email accounts) at GoDaddy even though my web hosting is through Dreamhost. I do this because GoDaddy has the easiest interface for managing domain names. They also host my email so changing web hosts has NO effect on my email addresses whatsoever. Doesn't matter if I am using webmail or POP/IMAP, and it doesn't matter if I change web hosts ten times in one month, my email accounts are not affected at ALL, nor are any emails ever lost.

All you do is, when you switch to a new web host, you have to go into your GoDaddy control panel and point your domain to that web hosts nameservers, takes about 10 minutes to take effect. After you do that, you must remember to go in and manually set the domains MX records back to GoDaddy so that they still have control over that domain for email ONLY. (You can also do this same thing by simply re-directing the IP Address....)

And it doesn't have to be GoDaddy, the point I am making is, whoever hosts your domain can ALSO host your email (if they offer that service), while still pointing your domain to a different company for web site hosting. It's very easy to do.



You would have to use an ENORMOUS amount of bandwidth before getting kicked off of your shared hosting account, something that is extremely unlikely to happen with ANY web host. Just to be clear, the main benefit of Bluehost "virtual" VPS (yes I realize that is redundant but it's accurate lol) is that you don't have to worry about your site's performance slowing because another site on the shared server is getting hammered. If you get an insane amount of traffic Bluehost will ask you to leave just as any other web host would but, unless you are advertising your sites URL during the super bowl, I wouldn't worry about that at this point. Personally, if I were you, I would go with HostGator if you just want a REALLY good quality shared hosting account that will allow lots of traffic and won't mess with your scripts (I get no commission for this LOL). If and when you decide you need a VPS, switch to Dreamhost.



Yes it is!

Good, perhaps we should let people know where the Google apps/Gmail thread was moved to; and now we can keep THIS thread talking about web hosting and email configuration

http://www.coffeecup.com/forums/website … and-gmail/

All this talk about web hosting and reseller hosting has got me to thinking (oh dear).

I contacted Hostgator and asked them a simple question.

The reply.

This is interesting. Why would they not absorb the accounts automatically instead of turning off the lights? I believe I read an article that Godaddy does this automatically. I would never leave my clients high and dry, notifying them in advance that they should contact HG and transfer their accounts in this type of situation.

Yea, this is why i specify in my hosting contracts that ultimately I am not responsible for your hosting if something should happen to my business. But, I also add that every effort will be made to supply the client with an alternative, including the transfer.

You are correct, GoDaddy DOES take over the hosting accounts if one of their resellers closes their account. You would THINK Hostgator also would do this, as they are the ones that stand to benefit by earning an additional client.

One of the things I have discovered by years of researching web hosts looking for the "perfect" one, is that each host has their strengths and weaknesses. For example, I use GoDaddy to host my domains, but I don't use them to host my actual web sites. I recommend Hostgator for shared hosting, but I recommend Dreamhost for VPS (or anyone who needs shared but plans to switch to VPS within 6-12 months...)

For reseller hosting their are a few different things to consider. Are YOU managing the clients web site? If so, charge them $25 - $35 per month for hosting and just put them on an existing shared account. They will never know the difference and it saves you a LOT of money. If you plan to actually re-sell them their own hosting where they have their own FTP username/password and manage their own web site, then Hostgators DOES look very good to me. But, as with any transaction, the client has to rely on the integrity of the person who sold them the hosting plan.

If I sold someone a hosting plan but then closed my doors, I would give each client at least a 30-day notice and I would personally make sure that they got all their files successfully transferred to a new hosting account before I deleted their original hosting account, but then I tend to go significantly above and beyond "normal" expectations when it comes to taking care of my clients. I have driven long distances and done tedious work just to make sure my clients stay happy. But most people in the industry aren't like me :-(



This is exactly why I would never buy hosting from a reseller. You're not doing anything dishonest at all, but why should I buy hosting from someone, and then spend HOURS and hours transferring files to FTP, knowing that at any moment I may be notified that I am losing my hosting account and must do everything all over again? Why not just buy hosting DIRECTLY from the companies so you have the security of knowing your sites will stay online?

Because being a reseller, is no different than owning my own store on the corner and selling my distributors products. Its a fact of life that everyone will go out of business, eventually. Yes, even CoffeeCup. Now, with that said, CC offers free upgrades for life, what good is that to me if they go out of business? I still think its a great offer and business strategy on their part, but the fact remains they could go out of business, and yet it hasnt stopped any of us from purchasing their products.

You would just think that if the middleman goes out of business, the supplier would absorb the clients. It seems like a good business practice. That's all. I mean, how hard would it be to transfer accounts?

You can't compare a company with various levels of self interests, employees, and financial means, with a single individual reselling hosting.

A reseller can have all the best intentions and ethics in the world, and die unexpectedly. The clients are still SOL.

Tom, I am going to check with my provider now that you brought up this question. I'm curious.

I don't really think this is true. An individual re-selling hosting is FAR more likely to go out of business than a huge company like Hostgator or GoDaddy that has hundreds of employees. Not trying to hate on you or anything, just giving my two cents



VERY well stated :-)

And for me, this is probably a much bigger deal than it would be for others because I do a lot of server side coding and use databases and such, so transferring files to another host is a VERY big deal for me.

Yea, I know your not hating. I love this sort of thing. Its how we learn. I do however have to disagree. Here is what I see as several advantages to reselling.

And as a reseller, I can only speak for myself.

1. I provide cheaper plans than the larger competition.
2. My customer support is much better than most of the larger entities.
3. My customer service is much more personal.
4. I have more control over my web development clients because I have control over both their domain and their server space. And as Tom knows that has come in handy as of recently.
5. Since most resellers also develop, there is something nice about having everything in the same spot.
6. Because Dave said so.
7. Finally, if I were to go out of business, my clients would be fine through the end of their contracted period and as I have stated to them I will gladly help transfer them to another reliable host. I just don't put it in writing for legal reasons - like, if I die; whats my wife going to do?

Keep in mind that CC is a very small company compared to the alternatives. And yet, the crux of their campaigns are upgrades for life. All I am saying is host through me for a year, and if you don't like it, then go somewhere else.