It is not your fault you got confused. You probably already know that choosing the wrong website hosting plan can be detrimental to your business.
Here is a common question we hear often from our website design clients:
Looking to maybe create a website from scratch and have a forum. But I’m not sure where to begin. I want something cheap yet will be effective. I was thinking of trying HostGator.
For the forum, I have no idea where to begin with that. I’d like a forum where there were games and stuff. I know there’s free ones, but with games? And a forum where I could put MY ads on there. I know the free forums like proboards have their ads on there, and I wouldn’t want that. I understand if I have to pay monthly for that too. Awhile back I know vB was good but I don’t know where to pay monthly for that.
How to Start a Forum Site
What is a forum?
An online forum is a conversation spot on a site. Registered members can submit topic of inquiry or interest and browse and answer the posts by other forum members. A forum is usually centered on practically any topic and a a feeling of an internet community, or virtual community, is likely to build between registered forum members. This kind of forum could also known as a message forum board, discussion group, message board, or web forum, nevertheless it is different from a blog, the term for a web log, as being a blog is generally published by one user in most cases only permits the replies of others towards the blog content. A forum generally permits all registered members to create posts and initiate new topics.
A forum can be created from any forum softwares however in order to make it available for everybody on the internet, you need to have a domain name and a web host.
Requirements in Making a Forum
1. Domain Name or a Subdomain. Your forum site can be a part of your website or the main content of your site thus you can use a subdomain(if you already have a domain) or register for a new domain name. Your domain name can be registered to any accredited best domain registrar such as Godaddy or Namecheap for $ 10 or less. Do not forget that it is a hassle to take the free domain name you receive at a web host and move it to another host.
2. Web hosting Account. In order for your foum site to be visible on the internet, you need to have a premium web hosting account. Do not forget also that the cPanel, auto-installers such as Fantastico and QuickInstall that lets you install a foum software easily is available in your web hosting provider. However, do not pick just any web hosting company. Identify your web hosting requirements first and review carefully the web hosting provider’s reputation before you sign up with them.
Best Forum Hosting Site
Many experienced web developers use Hostgator. If need a quality hosting plan, website experts usually recommend going with Hostgator because they are the best best domain host in the world today.
The Hostgator reviews will tell you that HG has an amazingly long, 45 days money back guarantee so you have ample time to test them out. They are rated A+ by Better Business Bureau which shows their commitment to customer satisfaction. You also do not have to pay for the first month. You can just try their fully functional hosting service – you pay only $ 0.01 (you need to use the exclusive coupon). Do you know any other hosting company that believe in themselves so much they can give you that kind of assurance? Anybody can grab an account from Hostgator for almost FREE.
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Click the coupon below try Hostgator cPanel hosting for almost free. If you already know that Hostgator is what you want, you can even save 25% off the normal price.
3. Install a Forum Software. You can install either an open source(e.g. phpbb) or a licensed(vbulletin) forum platform. Just pick which one suits you best. The good news is both of these forums softwares can be easily installed via one-click installer like Fantastico and QuickInstall that can be found in your cpanel. Just specify which domain or subdomain will use durig the installation.