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  • #1

    A lawyer needs computer advice!

    I'm going to be opening up my own law office (I'm sort of on my own but not really right now, and need to get out of my current situation - long, uninteresting story). But due to the primary reason for my making the move, I don't have the ability to lay out a bunch of cash right now to start.

    I've got to have a website, but I'm really an idiot when it comes to doing that. One of the problems is that our bookkeeper and my partner's son have supposedly been putting together a website for our firm for two years and it's still not up. I have a bunch of content that can go on the website, but I've never handled web hosting and stuff like that. I'll need to have a website, not just for bringing potential new clients in, but also as a resource for current clients or for referrals from other sources to check me out.

    I can spend a few bucks, but not a lot on this (the little $ I have right now has to be spread pretty thin). What's the most cost-effective way to get a domain, web host, and whatever else I need to just get a decent web presence out there? I have some instructions on SEO optimization, and I tried to incorporate some of that into my content, but maybe some ideas on continuing SEO optimization on a budget would be helpful, as well.

    I don't even know who to get a domain name from.

    If any of the computer geeks here (and I use that term as an honorific rather than in disrespect) have some thoughts, I would very much appreciate them.
    If we disagree on something, it's because you're wrong.

    "Somebody needs to kill my trial attorney." — Last words of George Harris, executed in Missouri on Sept. 13, 2000.

    "Nothing is too good to be true, nothing is too good to last, nothing is too wonderful to happen." - Florence Scoville Shinn
    Tags: None
  • #2
    www.godaddy.com is where I register all my domain names. I think they're the cheapest.

    Godaddy also do web hosting, but I didn't like them as much. Now I use www.hostgator.com and I have been happy with them.

    I would probably recommend Wordpress as content management for your site. You can do quite a bit with it and I believe it isn't too difficult to do. My firm web site uses the other main CMS, Drupal, and it might be a little overwhelming. The Hostgator control panel has an option to install Wordpress for you, so you can get that set up pretty easily.
    "Seriously, is there a bigger high on the whole face of the earth than eating a salad?"--SeattleUte
    "The only Ute to cause even half the nationwide hysteria of Jimmermania was Ted Bundy."--TripletDaddy
    This is a tough, NYC broad, a doctor who deals with bleeding organs, dying people and testicles on a regular basis without crying."--oxcoug
    "I'm not impressed (and I'm even into choreography . . .)"--Donuthole
    "I too was fortunate to leave with my same balls."--byu71

    Comment

    • #3
      Originally posted by Lost_Student View Post
      www.godaddy.com is where I register all my domain names. I think they're the cheapest.

      Godaddy also do web hosting, but I didn't like them as much. Now I use www.hostgator.com and I have been happy with them.

      I would probably recommend Wordpress as content management for your site. You can do quite a bit with it and I believe it isn't too difficult to do. My firm web site uses the other main CMS, Drupal, and it might be a little overwhelming. The Hostgator control panel has an option to install Wordpress for you, so you can get that set up pretty easily.
      Do these allow for email? In other words, can I have email as myname@mydomainname.com?
      If we disagree on something, it's because you're wrong.

      "Somebody needs to kill my trial attorney." — Last words of George Harris, executed in Missouri on Sept. 13, 2000.

      "Nothing is too good to be true, nothing is too good to last, nothing is too wonderful to happen." - Florence Scoville Shinn

      Comment

      • #4
        Originally posted by SoCalCoug View Post
        Do these allow for email? In other words, can I have email as myname@mydomainname.com?
        Yes, you can set up as many email accounts as you want through HostGator. Here is basically what you will do:
        1. Search for your desired domain name on GoDaddy, pay for registration
        2. Pay for hosting through hostgator (or other host; Bluehost.com is another low-price option that is decent--and it's based in Provo or Orem)
        3. get name servers from HostGator control panel
        4. enter the HostGator name servers in your GoDaddy account for the domain name
        5. Click "QuickInstall WordPress for your Site!" on your HostGator control panel
        6. Configure your WordPress installation
        7. Click "Email Accounts" in your HostGator control panel, enter your desired email address(es)
        8. Click "More - Configure Email Client" and follow instructions for your local email client (Outlook)
        9. Profit
        Last edited by Lost Student; 10-05-2011, 11:29 AM.
        "Seriously, is there a bigger high on the whole face of the earth than eating a salad?"--SeattleUte
        "The only Ute to cause even half the nationwide hysteria of Jimmermania was Ted Bundy."--TripletDaddy
        This is a tough, NYC broad, a doctor who deals with bleeding organs, dying people and testicles on a regular basis without crying."--oxcoug
        "I'm not impressed (and I'm even into choreography . . .)"--Donuthole
        "I too was fortunate to leave with my same balls."--byu71

        Comment

        • #5
          Originally posted by SoCalCoug View Post
          Do these allow for email? In other words, can I have email as myname@mydomainname.com?
          Absolutely do not use hostgator for email. Check out google apps, it is gmail for your domain. Since this is a law firm, you will want to use postini for discoverability and automated disclaimers on your email. Google apps integrates really well with postini, and it is pretty sttaightforward to setup.

          I like drupal, since the interface, in my opinion, is the best.

          Sage advice, don't install third party apps unless you absolutely have to and KEEP your CMS code up to date. Getting your server hacked is bad form. You absolutely must read and implement the "best security practices" for your CMS.

          Other CMS that I have used include mambo, joomla, drupal, wordpress, and a vbulletin CMS.

          You may have to spend money to build the theme you want. You will likely need somebody to design it and then a programer to build it. I would be cautious about having one person do both jobs. Most other stuff you likely can do on your own.

          Initially you can use a shared host. Absolutely do not store client info on the server, since other users erotically can get access to your server via shell access if they can guess your password.

          BACKUP your server, both the files and database.
          "Don't expect I'll see you 'till after the race"

          "So where does the power come from to see the race to its end...from within"

          Comment

          • #6
            Originally posted by doctorcoug View Post
            Absolutely do not store client info on the server, since other users erotically can get access to your server via shell access if they can guess your password.
            I'm interested in this.
            Ain't it like most people, I'm no different. We love to talk on things we don't know about.

            Dig your own grave, and save!

            "The only one of us who is so significant that Jeff owes us something simply because he decided to grace us with his presence is falafel." -- All-American

            "I know that you are one of the cool and 'edgy' BYU fans" -- Wally

            GIVE 'EM HELL, BRIGHAM!

            Comment

            • #7
              Originally posted by doctorcoug View Post
              Initially you can use a shared host. Absolutely do not store client info on the server, since other users erotically can get access to your server via shell access if they can guess your password.
              I don't want to know what they are doing with those files.

              Edit: I am too slow and falafel beat me.
              "Friendship is the grand fundamental principle of Mormonism" - Joseph Smith Jr.

              Comment

              • #8
                Originally posted by Sullyute View Post
                I don't want to know what they are doing with those files.

                Edit: I am too slow and falafel beat me.
                You DON'T want to know?
                Ain't it like most people, I'm no different. We love to talk on things we don't know about.

                Dig your own grave, and save!

                "The only one of us who is so significant that Jeff owes us something simply because he decided to grace us with his presence is falafel." -- All-American

                "I know that you are one of the cool and 'edgy' BYU fans" -- Wally

                GIVE 'EM HELL, BRIGHAM!

                Comment

                • #9
                  Originally posted by falafel View Post
                  I'm interested in this.
                  Damn autocorrect. I'm in a lecture and I think those around me wondered why I started laughing out loud.
                  "Don't expect I'll see you 'till after the race"

                  "So where does the power come from to see the race to its end...from within"

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    that reminded me of this:

                    Te Occidere Possunt Sed Te Edere Non Possunt Nefas Est.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Lost_Student View Post
                      Yes, you can set up as many email accounts as you want through HostGator. Here is basically what you will do:
                      1. Search for your desired domain name on GoDaddy, pay for registration
                      2. Pay for hosting through hostgator (or other host; Bluehost.com is another low-price option that is decent--and it's based in Provo or Orem)
                      3. get name servers from HostGator control panel
                      4. enter the HostGator name servers in your GoDaddy account for the domain name
                      5. Click "QuickInstall WordPress for your Site!" on your HostGator control panel
                      6. Configure your WordPress installation
                      7. Click "Email Accounts" in your HostGator control panel, enter your desired email address(es)
                      8. Click "More - Configure Email Client" and follow instructions for your local email client (Outlook)
                      9. Profit
                      I followed your advice and got my domain through GoDaddy, and then signed up with HostGator. However, I might have screwed myself up, because when I did the GoDaddy thing, and before I went to HostGator, I did their Instant Page thing as a placeholder for the site. Now, I did the QuickInstall with Wordpress, and it looks like it's put the stuff on the site, but when I go to configure it, I only see the GoDaddy Instant Page and can't figure out how to get to the wordpress stuff. Any ideas?
                      If we disagree on something, it's because you're wrong.

                      "Somebody needs to kill my trial attorney." — Last words of George Harris, executed in Missouri on Sept. 13, 2000.

                      "Nothing is too good to be true, nothing is too good to last, nothing is too wonderful to happen." - Florence Scoville Shinn

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Originally posted by SoCalCoug View Post
                        I followed your advice and got my domain through GoDaddy, and then signed up with HostGator. However, I might have screwed myself up, because when I did the GoDaddy thing, and before I went to HostGator, I did their Instant Page thing as a placeholder for the site. Now, I did the QuickInstall with Wordpress, and it looks like it's put the stuff on the site, but when I go to configure it, I only see the GoDaddy Instant Page and can't figure out how to get to the wordpress stuff. Any ideas?
                        How far away are you from retirement?
                        τὸν ἥλιον ἀνατέλλοντα πλείονες ἢ δυόμενον προσκυνοῦσιν

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Originally posted by SoCalCoug View Post
                          I followed your advice and got my domain through GoDaddy, and then signed up with HostGator. However, I might have screwed myself up, because when I did the GoDaddy thing, and before I went to HostGator, I did their Instant Page thing as a placeholder for the site. Now, I did the QuickInstall with Wordpress, and it looks like it's put the stuff on the site, but when I go to configure it, I only see the GoDaddy Instant Page and can't figure out how to get to the wordpress stuff. Any ideas?
                          It can take a while for the dns stuff to change. How long has it been since you pointed your domain at the hostgator servers?

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Originally posted by EuropeanFootballMale View Post
                            It can take a while for the dns stuff to change. How long has it been since you pointed your domain at the hostgator servers?
                            Yeah, but it shouldn't take more than a few hours--as long as your did step 4 correctly. Were you able to figure out how to enter the HostGator name servers in your GoDaddy account?
                            "Seriously, is there a bigger high on the whole face of the earth than eating a salad?"--SeattleUte
                            "The only Ute to cause even half the nationwide hysteria of Jimmermania was Ted Bundy."--TripletDaddy
                            This is a tough, NYC broad, a doctor who deals with bleeding organs, dying people and testicles on a regular basis without crying."--oxcoug
                            "I'm not impressed (and I'm even into choreography . . .)"--Donuthole
                            "I too was fortunate to leave with my same balls."--byu71

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Originally posted by SoCalCoug View Post
                              I followed your advice and got my domain through GoDaddy, and then signed up with HostGator. However, I might have screwed myself up, because when I did the GoDaddy thing, and before I went to HostGator, I did their Instant Page thing as a placeholder for the site. Now, I did the QuickInstall with Wordpress, and it looks like it's put the stuff on the site, but when I go to configure it, I only see the GoDaddy Instant Page and can't figure out how to get to the wordpress stuff. Any ideas?
                              My idea was to go to the godaddy website and watch a few of the extended version commercials. not sure if this is helpful.
                              Fitter. Happier. More Productive.
                              sigpic

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