Hi there,

I'm a newbie and I've done a ton of research and hope someone here can help me.

I've signed up (and paid for) reseller status of a private label web building service online - that's the good news.

They host each client who signs up for my service, for a small monthly fee which I pay. Also good news.

I'm getting ready to launch the service, but I need to be able to provide:

- domain name
- up to 5 email names
- and for *other* clients - hosting

For the web builder clients, I'd like to be able to offer them (at an additional price if necessary):

- the possibility of a bit of space online to store their pdfs (for possible download from their site) and

- the possibility of maybe an sql database to create their own forum at some point.

I signed up with planetdomain as a reseller, but they can't provide the email requirements and pricing is high.

I've looked at directi, enom, resellerspanel and a whole host of other hosting-reseller companies, and now I'm getting so confused I wonder if I'm going mad. :)

I suspect I should sign up with a different hosting reseller, and just use planetdomain for my Australian clients who need to purchase .com.au.

With the requirements listed above, does anyone have any insight on a good solution for me? I'm on a tight budget, so can only spend up to $100 to get started (free would also be good :) )

Sorry if this question is in the wrong section or is very basic, but any help anyone can offer will be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks!
Teena

If you have a Reseller account for Hosting, I fail to see why you need to pay for each account you signup? Normally, one pays a flat fee for their Reseller account then signups as many accounts as their Reseller package allows -- with no extra fees.

This also allows you to create your own Hosting packages and include as much Web space, Data transfer, eMail addresses, etc., as you see fit. Some Reseller packages include a Free eNom account for Reselling Domain names. That would be your cheapest way to provide Domain names for you Cients.

Having used and provide eNom Reseller accounts for awhile now, I have found them very good. They do not try to steal your Hosting Clients which is something one has to watch for, with a lot of Registrars it seems.

Thanks for your fast feedback Website Rob,

Unfortunately the web-builder technology only allows for all my client websites to be hosted on their servers - but they cannot provide email names or domain names.

It is up to me to provide that service separately. Once I buy the domain name for client, I have to set the DNS to the web-builder server.

Probably not the best solution I could have found, but seemed like a good idea at the time, and now I've invested too much to change.

My clients will be charged for web-builder facility including hosting, and domain purchase and email will be separate (hopefully provided by me).

I can't justify another hosting fee on top of the website monthly fee - but I was wondering if I can provide domain names, and when I have to change the DNS to the web buiilder server, will email forwards or POP work, or do they need to have the DNS on the same server?

Again - thanks Rob, I will have another look at enom domains.

Cheers
Teena

Sounds like you need a real reseller account & not a turnkey solution, tell us more about your reseller plan

Teena, am I correct in thinking you went with a company that provides an online Web page Editor? If so, which one.

These type applications seem to be gaining more interest and having already looked a few, and narrowed it down to two, I'd be interested in hearing more about what you use.


It is tough to use a Registrar for Domain names and eMail, with the Web pages being hosted somewhere else. For a lot of reasons, best to have all Hosting related Services using one DNS service -- or hosting account.

Hi Website Rob!

I've been busy contacting more domain and hosting providers, and I think I've found a solution.

I know that I can point the DNS of a client domain name to the server for the web-builder server - that's the easy bit.

WildWestDomains tell me that if I use their domains, I can also provide email options through them *if* the web-builder server can change the MX record for the client.

Am just checking this out, with fingers' crossed!

In regard to the different web builder technology, I reviewed at least ten of them - which ones did you narrow it down to? I'll look up my notes and see what I wrote. I must admit, the one I *really* wanted was out of my price range at $3500, but it looked really cool - here's the link:
Reseller dot Websitedynamics dot com - I did a few test websites with it and really liked all the features.

cheers
Teena

Wow, $3,500 just to join a Reseller program? Not in my World. :D

DragDrop.com & sitezen.com are the two I like so far. Doing some Beta testing with DragDrop to see if we can help them improve their product as SiteZen looks over-all best, for us, at this point.

Which Site builder software did you finally choose?

Hi Rob,

Just had a look at dragdrop but it's a pc help page - or am I missing something? Are they also a web builder?

Checking out sitezen - now that looks cool!

I wish I had've known about forums before I started my journey with site buiders!

The one which looked good to me (compared to those other high priced ones) was Sitegaloreplus. Have you heard of them? They evidently signed up with Tucows recently to provide their technology to tucows customers.

It's $US495 joining fee + $90 per month (minimum fee depends on total client base).

I am now discovering many other site builders who don't have the same minimum requirements.

Cheers
Teena

Hey there Website Rob,

Just checking out the prices on Sitezen - pretty good value! $150 + $1 per website - wow. I've been online all day re-evaluating my product and looking at alternatives if I decide to change my mind ... Sitezen looks good but I'm not an ISP and I don't have a server. Is that something you could offer through your biz?

Teena

Teena,

Sounds to me like you do need a real reseller option. Not some run of the mill do it yourself type deal. Honestly since you are kind of new to all this as you say you're probably best off with something control panel based for reselling where you add in plans and packages on your own and aren't charged extra unless you need to upgrade down the road. Also as far as domain names go there is many domain regsitrars out there fairly priced and for basic domain registration you'd only be looking at 6.99/year (domainsite) and as you'd be hosting these on a reseller account you would not even need the registrar for dns etc as the account would have that in it (if it is in deed a full all out reseller you signup for). In any case I would definitely suggest looking into a reliable host for this. Many hosts also include frontpage extensions where you simply connect to the web server using frontpage (A well known editor included in many microsoft office packages) and edit the pages and it auto up/downloads to/from the server. As stated just my 2 cents on this but unless you're looking to have a full out page editor for the reseller package i doubt you would need to be paying over a hundred a month for it.

-Justin

Hey Justin,

thanks for your input - I must admit I was a bit surprised at the min $90/month as well as the upfront licence fee. I'm still researching online web builder solutions to offer to my clients, and I need to provide hosting and email.

I usually design sites in html but I need a fast cost-effective solution to help a lot more clients and this seemed like a great idea. I'll keep looking!

thanks Justin