Every website needs two things to exist – a domain name (like www.spunsimply.com) and web hosting, the place 'on the web' where all your files sit. Spun Simply recommends our clients purchase an inexpensive hosting and domain-name package from 1and1.com. 1and1.com provides excellent quality of service, ease of use, a host of goodies (like free private domain registration and multiple email accounts), and the best prices we've found for our clients' needs. By purchasing this package yourself, your site will be up for as long as you want.

The 'Beginner' package provides a free domain name on top of $3.99/month website hosting (billed in 6 month blocks for a total of $23.94 per cycle). Your credit card will be charged this total the first time you register, and automatically at 6 month intervals. You can easily cancel the package in the future. (Note: If you already have a domain name but still need hosting, we still recommend 1and1.com for their price and stability.)

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To purchase the recommended package:

1. Click this link: http://www.1and1.com/?k_id=10507577 to visit 1and1.com (the extra numbers and letters are our referral ID).

 

2. On 1and1's front page you'll find a long menu on the left side. Click on 'Linux Hosting' under the heading 'Web Hosting'.

 

 

 

 

 

3. On the next screen you should see various prices for various different packages. Select the 1&1 Beginner Package listed as $3.99 per month. Click 'Sign up' to continue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. You will likely be presented with at least one 'special gift' or 'special offer'. Do not select these additional items if you do not want to receive additional charges (we don't think the extra products are necessary; if you would like to order them, they won't impact our design and site creation). Click 'Continue' to move on, whether or not you've opted to purchase the additional service(s).

 

5. You should be at a page called 'Choose a Domain'. Here you can opt to continue on without picking up a free domain (if you already had a domain registered) or search to see if the domain you want is available (if you either need a domain, or want to take advantage of the free domain name to add another to your site). If you do not want to add a domain, simply click 'Continue' and skip to step 8 of this walkthru. If you are also picking up a domain name, read on...

 

6. Towards the bottom is the 'Domain Check'. Enter the name you want for your website, including the extension (i.e. .com, .org, .us, etc). You do not need to include www in front of the domain name. Make sure you spell the name correctly and remember you can only use letters, numbers and dashes – no commas, apostrophes or other punctuation. Click 'Check domain'.

 

 

 

 

7. If your preferred domain name is available, it will appear on the page with 'available' next to it and its checkbox checked. If it is available, make sure it is the only checkbox checked (1and1 will present you with similar options, each for an additional cost) and click 'Continue'.

 

7a. If your domain name was not available, scroll down to the domain check at the bottom of the page and repeat step 6.

 

8. Your shopping cart should be displayed with a total of $23.94. Your domain name should be listed in the cart – make sure its checkbox is checked. Click 'Continue'.

 

 

 

 

 

9. Select your country and click 'Continue'.

 

 

 

 

10. Under 'are you already a 1and1 customer', select 'no.' (Unless you are already a 1and1 customer, in which case we're puzzled as to why you've come this far through this walkthru). Complete the contact information section. At the bottom, select 'register your domain privately'. Then click 'Continue'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

11. Create a password. Make sure you record your password so we can create and publish your website, and so you can access your 1and1 account. Click 'Continue'.

 

 

 

 

 

12. Complete the referral question and click 'Cancel order'. No, we're kidding – click 'Continue'.

 

13. Fill out your billing information and click 'Continue'.

 

14. Double check your information: The total should still be $23.94, your user information and credit card (or PayPal) information should be correct, and under 'User Contact Details' you should see "Register your domain with confidential contact data, so your personal information stays private." If everything looks hunkey dorey, scroll down, select the checkbox at the bottom marked 'I accept the Terms and Conditions of 1&1...' and click 'Order now'.

15. Tada! Web hosting!

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