Please recommend me webhosting, wordpress template, vital plugins

[bobbytoat]

Hi people,

I am planning to register my own domain and host my personal blog. I need your kind advice as to what webhosting+domain companies to use, the better but simple wordpress templates as well as the most essential WP plugins

Kindly advise, or put some links here, will read up on my own if necessary. Prefer you to list like 1-5 options of preferable companies, templates and plugins to use. Thanks a lot

[jshaffstall]

That's quite a tall order! You'll get lots of web hosting recommendations, basically any Linux/PHP based host will work. Check the host's support forums to see what sort of complaints current users are having before signing up.

For plugins, I'd recommend a Google sitemaps plugin, such as: Google (XML) Sitemaps Generator for WordPress

along with the ping optimizer (one that fixed Wordpress' bugs with respect to pings and scheduled posts). I review one here: * A Better Wordpress Ping Plugin*by*Online Opportunity

I use Google Analytics, so a plugin for that is here: http://cavemonkey50.com/code/google-analyticator/

The one-click install plugin takes the FTP out of installing all the other plugins and themes, and is highly recommended: OneClick for Wordpress at Thought Outflux | Anirudh Sanjeev

You probably won't need a caching plugin at first, but it's better to start out with one than to try and add it later: WP Super Cache - Holy Shmoly!

Jay

[Bloggeries]

For SIMPLE hosting... You can get unlimited domains at hawkhost.com for ~10$. work's great. You can get 1 for ~3.49 a month!

[bobbytoat]

Hehe, I don't want to sound frugal or anything, but I had to admit, I think I only have enough money in paypal to register a domain now. Well maybe for now I will consider domain + blogspot first.

Certainly would help if there was anyone who advertise with me (hint, hint!). Maybe will install projectwonderful also, saw the dailybid on entrecard was $5, wow imagine $150 in a month or more!

[Bloggeries]

Originally Posted by bobbytoat

Hehe, I don't want to sound frugal or anything, but I had to admit, I think I only have enough money in paypal to register a domain now. Well maybe for now I will consider domain + blogspot first.

Certainly would help if there was anyone who advertise with me (hint, hint!). Maybe will install projectwonderful also, saw the dailybid on entrecard was $5, wow imagine $150 in a month or more!

Entrecard has 6 spots so that's ~900 a month. I think his server costs more then that though lol!

Hawk Host is good; I'm actually talking with them now of maybe instead of fully dedicated going on a shared one with low load customers... Who knows!

You can access funds from bank account. I know I know you never want to but most businesses take a TINY bit of startup. If you can dedicate $50-$100 that's enough to "get going".

[thenetfool]

I have a few posts about the best ways to get your WordPress blog up and running in the most efficient manner. I would check some of them out.

Monetizing WordPress: Top WordPress Plugins | Monetize Your Blog With Ads | The Net Fool
Best Plugins: Top Five Must-Have WordPress Plugins | Dominate The Blogosphere | The Net Fool

Just make sure that you have your set-up in order and some good content before you start worrying about getting the most plugins and stuff up. Number one concern is always content!

[bobbytoat]

Thank you everyone

[Cowboytf]

A tall order indeed. At my blogging with cents, I have 3 things that might help. A top plugin list, theme links galore, and top web hosts post. They can all be found in my navigation link or in my Most Popular Posts section. Good luck!

[lossehelin]

hey don't go to blogspot... if you don't have money get a free hosting with php and my sql. But beware on the free host you choose. you need to find one that is reliable and exists for some time now...
when you have money to buy hosting then move to a paid server, and your users wont notice a bit...
as for plugins i would recommend Shylock adsense

[WhoJayBe]

I think when I make my switch to WP, I'm going to have Lunarpages host... I used them before and I really don't have any complaints.