Web Site Tools
Here are my favorite web-site related tools.
Domain Name Tools
Choosing a [tag]domain name[/tag] is a critical first step to building a web site. I use the following tools:
DomainTools.com
[tag]Domaintools[/tag] used to be whois.sc. It allows you to check is a domain name is available; if it has been used, it shows you the whois information on the domain name. It also has a [tag]suggestion tool[/tag], which offers a list of similar domain names.
The [tag]Domain Search tool[/tag] allows you to do a wildcard search of all current, deleted, and expired domain names for the last 6 years. You can enter a keyword, specify whether you want it to be first or last in the result, specify the length of the result, whether you want numbers, hyphens etc.
It’s a free service (there is a paid option which gives you more results).
MakeWords
Easy-to-use [tag]domain name generator[/tag]. You can choose prefixes and suffixes from long lists of niche-related keywords (eg. Banking, Arts, Medicine).
Domain Name Analyzer
This is a free program which lets you create a long list of domain names, and then checks their availability for you. The tool builds names automatically, by adding prefixes or suffixes to the keywords you enter. Highly recommended.
NameCheap
[tag]NameCheap[/tag] is the only domain name registrar I recommend. I’ve tried a couple of others, and none of them comes close in terms of ease of use. Domain names start at $8.88 a year for a .com domain, including [tag]WhoisGuard[/tag] [tag]privacy protection[/tag]. This is not the cheapest pricing available, but it has so far been the most hassle-free. [tag]GoDaddy[/tag] is probably the cheapest, if you buy hosting from them. However, their hosting control panel is s..l..o..w. I moved all my domains off GoDaddy earlier this year.
Web Hosting
Your [tag]web host[/tag] needs to be reliable, especially if your web site or sites generate money that you depend on. I’ve found the following web hosts to be reliable:
Hostgator
[tag]Hostgator[/tag] gives you the ability to host unlimited domains on the same account, for under $10 a month. Unlike most other inexpensive hosting packages, you don’t have to pay for a year in advance. There are no setup fees. Highly recommended.
ResellerZoom
I recently discovered [tag]ResellerZoom[/tag], which gives you a reseller account, with WHM access and a limit of 50 domain names, for under $5 a month. Like Hostgator, they bill on a monthly cycle, and there are no setup fees.
Web Site Building Tools
[tag]NVU[/tag]
This is a free WYSIWYG web design program. While it’s by no means perfect, it’s pretty darn good. Fairly easy to learn, with some powerful features, it’s quite adaquate for most Online Marketing projects.
Web Templates
Gizmos and Gadgets
This is a nifty little tool which turns ordinary text into a very realistic “[tag]handwritten[/tag]” version - perfect for adding a fake “personal” touch to your sales letters.
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