If you already have one website, you may be considering the benefits of managing more than one for your business or personal interests. For newcomers, the technical terminology and myriad options online can be confusing. This article will guide you through setting up and managing multiple websites, whether for business purposes like reselling or for personal interest.
Getting Domain Names
Obtaining domain names is relatively straightforward. Choose a reputable domain registrar and purchase the names you prefer. On average, a .com domain name costs around $10/year. Registrars often differentiate themselves by offering additional services such as hosting, support forums, and special deals like free ID protection. Ensure your chosen registrar is reputable and offers an easy-to-use control panel for managing your domains.
Hosting Your Websites
Most registrars offer hosting, but you don’t need to host your websites with the same provider from which you bought the domains. You can purchase your domains from one company and host them with another. This flexibility allows you to shop around for the best deals for both registering and hosting.
Shared vs. Reseller Hosting
When it comes to hosting multiple domains, you have two main options: shared hosting and reseller hosting.
- Shared Hosting
- Features: In shared hosting, all your websites are accessed through a single FTP account and managed from a single control panel.
- Limitations: This setup is not ideal if you plan to resell hosting or if you prefer to keep things separate for each website. Shared hosting is typically more affordable but offers limited control and flexibility.
- Reseller Hosting
- Features: Reseller hosting allows you to resell hosting services, making it a good option if you want to start a hosting business. Each website has separate FTP access and a unique control panel, offering greater control and flexibility.
- Costs: Reseller hosting is more expensive than shared hosting but offers additional features like the ability to add shared or dedicated IP addresses and SSL certificates.
Setting Up a Reseller Account
- Choose a Domain and Hosting Provider
- Select a reputable registrar and purchase a domain for your hosting business (e.g., myhost.com).
- Purchase a reseller hosting account from a reputable host.
- Configure Your Account
- After setting up your account, you’ll receive an email with your details, including login information, control panel access, IP address, FTP details, and mail servers.
- Register your nameservers (e.g., dns1.myhost.com and dns2.myhost.com) at your domain registrar. These nameservers will be used for all domains hosted in your reseller account.
- Create Hosting Packages and Accounts
- Log in to your Web Host Manager (WHM) and create hosting packages (e.g., Personal, Business) with different quotas.
- Create accounts for each domain using the packages you’ve defined.
- Manage Your Websites
- Use WHM to create and manage accounts, and each domain’s cPanel for maintenance tasks such as creating email addresses, setting up forwarders, making backups, and installing scripts.
Financial Considerations
Hosting plans vary in cost. For example, HostGator offers shared hosting starting at $7.95/month and reseller hosting at $24.95/month. Shared hosting might seem cheaper due to promises of “unlimited” disk space and bandwidth, but reseller hosting offers more control and flexibility. Consider your needs carefully before choosing a plan.
Getting Started
To start your multi-domain or web hosting business:
- Pick a reputable registrar and purchase a domain.
- Set up a reseller hosting account.
- Configure your nameservers and create hosting packages and accounts.
Having multiple websites doesn’t have to be complicated. Start slow, keep things organized, and gradually expand. With a reseller account, you have the exciting opportunity to enter the hosting business, web design, or turnkey website provision with a low initial investment. This can be a lucrative venture, given the right approach and management.
By following these steps and keeping your objectives clear, you can successfully manage multiple websites and potentially grow a profitable business.
