Can anyone recommend a web host?

[DoNotAsfinishedXmasshopping]

After being with OxyUK for the last 2 years they have just about gone down the tube...so much so that they haven't bothered notifying me that my domain registraion has expired. So I am looking for a new host.

Any recommendations?

I use these guys. No miracles, but they seem stable.

TY

Where is it best to register a domain name? I previously registered through my host and it has therefore been registered in their name. Although that registration has expired it seems that the domain name (i.e. my domain name) isn't available for me to register a new site to ...and trying to get hold of anyone (i.e the sole trader) is proving very difficult...

How do I actually register that name in my name rather than my hosts name? If I register it in my name how do I get my host to publish to it?

No host should register themselves as 'registrant' of a domain name they have registered on your behalf. Once the domain is set up, you use the domain host's administration pages to point the domain's record to your web site host's name servers. Look at the help pages of potential domain hosts, they explain how it works - choose the one that you learn the most from!

If the domain registration has expired then you should be able to get it back, unless someone else has registered it.

I use UK2.net for domain registrations (and some hosting too - they have some killer deals but support is for experts only), 123-reg are also worth a look.

I was looking at 123 reg as - I was under the impression this is the core body through which all .co.uk registrations are made. Can't remember where I heard this though so I may be dreaming.

Problem is I wanted to email them to ask about how I get my domain back and how (if) I can upload my back-up home directory from my hard drive (which I downloaded from my existing cpanel thingy) without having to redesign my whole site. However...you can only get hold of an email address for them once you are a registered user. Otherwise I have an 0871 number to ring (I don't like talking to people...would rather email). I was thinking about emailing a random email [email protected] to see if anyone replies as all emails get through to a core account don't they? TBH though if they don't give me the facility to email them a query I am not sure if I want to deal with them IYSWIM...

For .com domains there is a 14 day grace period after expiry before anyone other than the previous owner can purchase the name, so you won't be able to buy it until the 22nd. Some registrars (GoDaddy) will for a fee let you 'backorder' the domain, which just means that the moment it is released from the grace period they will pounce on it.

Having said all that, ISTR that I looked up your domain when you posted about it last time (can't remember what it is though) and it was registered with a well-known registrar. Try them first.

Or just remind me what it is (mr dot anchovy at mranchovy dot com) and I'll have a look at the best way to get it.

it is .co.uk though

This is the info on the Who is lookup....

Registrant:
OxyUK Technologies

Registrant type:
UK Sole Trader

Registrant's address:
Their address (I won't post that but it is a UK address yet he is based in teh UK )

Registrar:
Dynadot, LLC [Tag = DYNADOT]
URL: http:/www.dynadot.com

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 09-Nov-2006
Renewal date: 09-Nov-2008
Last updated: 10-Nov-2008

Registration status:
Renewal required.

Name servers:
ns1.dynadot.com
ns2.dynadot.com

(sorry it is a US address and as far as I can work out it is a US regstrar?)

Ok I think it will be 3 months before I get my domain back according to Dynadot's T&Cs

It may just be easier to buy the .com - I think there is then something I have to do to make it a UK registereed domain for Google UK only searches????

Well it would make sense to buy the .com anyway until you can get the .co.uk back. Yes dynadot are a US based registrar, but that makes no difference.

Google will show your .com or whatever site in 'UK only' searches as long as the web server is physically located in the UK (which it will be if you use any of the hosts I have recommended).

Thats really helpful. I am definately getting somewhere.

I am going to have
MyCompany.com AND
PopularSearchTerm.co.uk

How do I do this logistically...I don't really want to build to websites...is this something to do with parker domains?

Also I downloaded my site as a "backup" of my home directory from cPanel. As I understand it I should just be able to upload it to a new host without having to recreate my website?

MrVibrating you are wonderful!!!

Oh and simple hosting that you use appear to be quite expensive compareed to there competitors....are they really worth the extra?

I was looking at 123 reg as - I was under the impression this is the core body through which all .co.uk registrations are made. Can't remember where I heard this though so I may be dreaming.

You are dreaming, there is nothing special about 123-reg - Nominet is the registrar for the .uk TLD. You can email them and they will help you get your domain back - look under 'Registrant correction' on this page, there is an email address, and even a 'phone number at the end.

Emailing a random email address on any domain is not a good idea, that's what spammers do. Your message will either be not delivered (it is not true in general that 'all emails go to a core account') or put in a hole with all the other spam.

To be honest, if you want someone that will help you out with pre-sales enquiries over email and help you get the results you want, you need a 'full service' host like the first one I recommended. People like 123-reg, UK2.net etc. provide cheap, automated bulk services to people who know what they want.

Sorry, that last post didn't make sense. I realised I hadn't picked up on most of the points in your previous message, so...

You are dreaming, there is nothing special about 123-reg - Nominet is the registrar for the .uk TLD. You can email them and they will help you get your domain back - look under 'Registrant correction' on this page, there is an email address, and even a 'phone number at the end.

Emailing a random email address on any domain is not a good idea, that's what spammers do. Your message will either be not delivered (it is not true in general that 'all emails go to a core account') or put in a hole with all the other spam.

To be honest, if you want someone that will help you out with pre-sales enquiries over email and help you get the results you want, you need a 'full service' host like the first one I recommended. People like 123-reg, UK2.net etc. provide cheap, automated bulk services to people who know what they want.

but I want cheap but with help

I can tell

I don't get why you want both, unless you will create two websites - the latter of which specifically is designed such that the Popular Search Term features around 3 times per page.

Could the popular search term not feature 3 times per page on MyCompany.com? Google, Yahoo, MSN etc will then pick that phase up.
Google will penalise you if you have duplicate content, so you don't want two domains with identical content.

I would suggest registering MyCompany.com (if that is something someone is likely to type in) and putting the popular search term as the page title. So page title would be something like: MyCompany - PopularSearchTerm - plus other descriptive text. Then make sure MyCompany and PopularSearchTerm appear in the body text content several times, within paragaphs with other content.

The main reason to have both is to stop someone else having the other one: SEO tricks like the one you mention have dubious merits.

You are right about the duplicate content issue though: if you are worried about page rank, parking one domain on top of the other is a bad idea. The easiest thing to do is just put a splash page with a link to the main site on the 'alternative' domain, but the best solution is to use an HTTP redirect (look what happens when you click on this link to www.softerstill.com/make_your_water_softer.

You would have to know the name of my company to put that it.

I know that I am getting hit with Popular search term (place driving instructor to be precise) from my web stats...but we are only on page 2-3 if you put that search term in - so the hits could be much higher.

If you use the search term place driving school the top hits are all the companies which have the domain names placedrivingschool.com/co.uk and drivingschoolplace.com/co.uk are on page 1 (repetitaviely) which leaves me on page 2-3....it seems to be working for them...so I thought I would do the same with the driving instructor variant.

I think I was thinking more of the http redirect thing (I thought that was what parking was TBH).

Yes, search terms in the domain names will always come out high so you have a good strategy. But for the sake of less than a tenner a year, get the .com so your competitors don't.

With parking, all of the pages under the parked domain are also available under the parked domain. This is not ideal for page ranking (although I am not sure if the effect is significant). So best practice is to redirect the user's browser to the domain you want. How to do this is probably outside the scope of Mumsnet though, and I can't find a link to a sensible tutorial at the moment. Google mod_rewrite 301 redirect, or start a new thread if you really want to know.