Best web hosting site?

[bill5]

Wasn't sure where to put this...anyone doing this or has shopped around? I'm currently on the free version of wix.com but bumping my head against its ceiling. Looking for an inexpensive hosting that will allow me to set it up so people can buy (my) tunes off of the site. Don't need a ton of storage. Want something as easy as possible to set up and maintain. No coding etc.

[bill5]

In news that may interest only me, if you don't really have to, don't get into this. I've been researching options and what a pain....ironically, these sites that live by hosting other sites often SUCK in terms of giving you the basic info you'd think most people would want up front. For example, almost none of them give you any demos or free versions or even screenshots so you can see what it might be like to build a site (i.e.: is their UI good or does it suck). They also play games with their pricing:  "oooh look what a cheap price! *  "  with the obligatory and suspicious asterisk, which means "that's the rate for awhile, then after we have our hooks in you, we'll jack it way up." 

 

[Notes_Norton]

I've used Hostway for years, and it rarely gives me a problem, when it does, the tech help is decent. They aren't the cheapest, but they aren't expensive either.

 

I started with cybergate which was bought by value-web, which was bought by hosting.com and they were unreliable (that was still in the 1990s though. So I switched to Hostway and have been there ever since.

 

I don't use Hostway's shopping cart though, I've used cart.com since it was Americart (also purchased a few times) and being independent of the web host means if the web host turns sour, I can switch and not rewrite any code.

 

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

[bill5]

Thanks. The word "code" makes me leery though, as does needing to plop in outside stuff for carts or whatever.

 

Edit: I hope that didn't come off wrong; I do appreciate the feedback. I'm just old and lazy; I need a UI for Dummies! 

[rgcm]

15 hours ago, bill5 said:

Thanks. The word "code" makes me leery though, as does needing to plop in outside stuff for carts or whatever.

 

Edit: I hope that didn't come off wrong; I do appreciate the feedback. I'm just old and lazy; I need a UI for Dummies! 

I'm reading this without my glasses and I thought you said that you needed a UI for Drummers.

[Notes_Norton]

I think most web hosts have templates that you can use without having to learn code.

 

When the web was new, I bought a book called “HTML In Plain English” which got me started. As time went on, and new features were introduced, I simply 'borrowed' code from other sites, and customized them for my needs.

 

If you plan to sell, be sure you get https instead of http, it costs a bit more, but in this day and age, people don't feel safe without the s and the security it provides.

 

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

[bill5]

5 minutes ago, Notes_Norton said:

I think most web hosts have templates that you can use without having to learn code.

 

When the web was new, I bought a book called “HTML In Plain English” which got me started. As time went on, and new features were introduced, I simply 'borrowed' code from other sites, and customized them for my needs.

 

If you plan to sell, be sure you get https instead of http, it costs a bit more, but in this day and age, people don't feel safe without the s and the security it provides.

 

Thanks. Believe it or not, I used to be a developer.  And a webmaster. So coding and I.T. terminology and all that isn't unfamiliar to me, I just don't have the time or patience or interest. Really I just want a simple site, I don't need a bunch of "apps" or SEO or other bells and whistles. Just a way to show what's available and a way for people to buy it.  (Most sites offer https btw)

 

You're probably right about the UIs, but without being able to see or try them, it's impossible to know how good or how bad they are. 

[Joe Muscara]

I’m just reading this now, sorry. Also, I’ve personally tried neither of these but I’ve heard good things. 

 

Why not use something like bandcamp to sell your songs? I see a lot of musicians use it. It may not provide “your” site but it already exists to sell songs for artists. 
 

Another option is bandzoogle. They say you can sell your music and merch commission free and have a 30-day free trial. You can create your site there, unlike bandcamp.

 

If you check out or try either of these, I’m curious what you think so please keep us posted. 

[Notes_Norton]

The one thing I would advise against, is putting your site on a "members only" platform like Facebook, or anything else that needs you to join. If you are selling anything, you want anyone on the Internet to be able to get to your site.

 

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

[bill5]

10 hours ago, Joe Muscara said:

I’m just reading this now, sorry. Also, I’ve personally tried neither of these but I’ve heard good things. 

 

Why not use something like bandcamp to sell your songs? I see a lot of musicians use it. It may not provide “your” site but it already exists to sell songs for artists. 
 

Another option is bandzoogle. They say you can sell your music and merch commission free and have a 30-day free trial. You can create your site there, unlike bandcamp.

 

If you check out or try either of these, I’m curious what you think so please keep us posted. 

Thanks for that; I forgot about these. Bandzoogle is better for sure, but Bandcamp only charges a percentage of your album/track sales, while Bandzoogle is $12-16/mo (which isn't bad). I'm doing this for someone else so I'll forward along. Again thanks!

 

8 hours ago, Notes_Norton said:

The one thing I would advise against, is putting your site on a "members only" platform like Facebook, or anything else that needs you to join. If you are selling anything, you want anyone on the Internet to be able to get to your site.

 

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

I don't really do "social media," and the person I'm doing this for doesn't much either, but thanks and agree

[Notes_Norton]

I work for a club that advertises on Google only. If you click their link, Google asks you to register. I tried to tell her, but it was free.

 

So many people, myself included, when we come up to a register wall (read: voluntary spyware), we just leave the site. The only exception is if we absolutely, positively need to get in.

 

If you are going to sell or advertise, you should make it easy for anyone to access the site.

 

Notes ♫

[bill5]

Of course. I'm not about to ask anyone to register. Why? This is not IK Multimedia.

[MathOfInsects]

@bill5, do you really mean web-hosting, or do you mean a place to sell tunes (only)? 

Bandcamp is easy and acts partially like a website, particularly if you are only putting up a paragraph or two and just selling tracks. On Bandcamp Friday (first Fri of each month), they don't take their cut (though you still pay a bit to the payment company). 

They are owned by the world's largest and practically only gaming company, so if that's a deterrent, it's not a good option. 

I'm a fan of Bandzoogle, but I use all aspects of the hosting plan. I gladly fork over my 12/mo and feel they offer more than they cost.

[bill5]

Thanks, exactly my impression - yeah I think the intent for me (who I'm doing it for) is more of a web site just vs "here's where you buy my tunes," so Bandzoogle would be better, but it's not my call. Most of the other sites from what I saw are pricier (excluding the bait and switch intro price crap) and not as user friendly. 

[Mighty Motif Max]

For a straight hosting provider, I have had good experiences with DreamHost for both Wordpress and old-school HTML sites. But I'm not sure if that's exactly what you're looking for - Squarespace seems to be popular among ecommerce folks these days.

[Joe Muscara]

11 hours ago, MathOfInsects said:

They are owned by the world's largest and practically only gaming company, so if that's a deterrent, it's not a good option. 

This is no longer true. 
 

https://www.songtradr.com/blog/posts/songtradr-bandcamp-acquisition

[MathOfInsects]

9 hours ago, Joe Muscara said:

This is no longer true. 
 

https://www.songtradr.com/blog/posts/songtradr-bandcamp-acquisition

Damn.

 

Doesn't look good.

 

https://www.wired.com/story/epic-games-sale-bandcamp-music-platform-limbo/

[Joe Muscara]

4 minutes ago, MathOfInsects said:

Damn.

 

Doesn't look good.

 

https://www.wired.com/story/epic-games-sale-bandcamp-music-platform-limbo/

Oof. Thanks, I had not seen that. That sucks.  

[Joe Muscara]

Lots of unhappy people due to layoffs. 
 

https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/bandcamp-bargaining-union-layoffs-songtradr-18432047.php

[bill5]

Good to know...