Domain Name Registrars

[LD]

I may be registering a domain name or two in the near future for a small business and I was wondering as to any practical advice from people here who may have done such in the past.

From people's knowledge and experience here, why would I, or why would I not want to register a domain through wordpress, for example? Wordpress likely would be the server host for the actual content?
The other main options, I see is to register the domain through godaddy or something similar (not sure why I wouldn't just choose the lowest cost registrar) and then use a blog like wordpress as a location for the content (essentially a host) that the domain points toward. ---I do not think my needs would require me to use godaddy like services as a host for server/content.

Administratively, what are the concerns I need to be aware of? That is, if I go through a registrar in year 1, when it comes time for renewal, I can move to another registrar that buys the location from ICANN(?), correct?

[Ninja D!]

I can't answer all of your questions as any sort of expert but I have some experience here and will tell you what I can.

I once considered registering a URL through WordPress. I looked around and decided it was too limited for the price.

I now have my site (darkfuturesfiction.net) through BlueHost. I pay only slightly more but can do whatever I want with sub domains while the main site still runs WordPress. Most of my stuff is on WordPress installed on there but I also have a Simple Machines forum installed on a sub domain and there are many other options. That also comes with unlimited email addresses.

Also, if you go with a normal website registrar, avoid GoDaddy. Their politics are shady, to say the least. I think the CBG even ditched them.

[LD]

Ok, so you registered the domain elsewhere, but have it poinitng at the wordpress site?

And Blue Host is your registrar and host, if I understand correctly?

Did the simple machines forum cost extra?

Thank you.

[Ninja D!]

The domain name is registered through Blue Host. I have the WordPress software installed there, it's not on the WordPress site itself.

Simple Machines did not cost extra. It, along with WordPress, is available free and it will even automatically install it for you.

[sparkletwist]

I'd definitely recommend having as much of the site as you can under your own control as opposed to going with some site that tries to offer an all-in-one solution. It is a little more work but it gives you far more freedom and control and prevents a hosting site from jerking you around when you've already become dependent on them.

As for GoDaddy, my own personal stance is neutral with a slight trend towards negative. The big shady politics thing was that they supported SOPA, but at least they then revoked their support. I still have a domain with them because by the time I had to renew it they had long since gone back on their SOPA stance, but I also mostly stay with them because it's kind of inconvenient to change registrar. I would most likely not register any new domains with them.

[LD]

Thank you for the recommendation regarding Blue Host. https://www.bluehost.com/web-hosting/signup

GoDaddy: https://www.godaddy.com/hosting/web-hosting.aspx?ci=9009 ; https://www.godaddy.com/hosting/wordpress-hosting.aspx?ci=88548

Did the wordpress software cost extra on Blue Host? On GoDaddy it seemed to indicate that the "Managed wordpress" option cost an additional 1.00 a month? It was unclear to me if there is an "unmanaged" wordpress free option (when wordpress is not the host itself). re: GoDaddy's managed wordpress option appears to be limited to 25,000 visitors/month at the low cost option. While I do not expect extremely high visitor numbers, if those are not unique visits, then 25K would seem to be too low. Similarly, it also seems that if I integrate wordpress, that would be an extra cost for Blue Host, https://www.bluehost.com/managed-wordpress-hosting.

It seemed to me, reading just surface level information that some options on domain registrars don't actually give you the domain name... you're sort of just renting it from the registrar, so that is certainly to be avoided.

[Ninja D!]

WordPress also did not cost extra from Blue Host. They also give easy access to other kinds of forum and blog and other software with no charge.

There may be better options than Blue Host. I don't know. I know there are some that are slightly cheaper. But I have the experience with Blue Host and have had no problems.

[LD]

That's good to know that wordpress did not cost extra; it seemed that it did cost extra from reading about their "managed wordpress hosting" option. https://www.bluehost.com/managed-wordpress-hosting.


Also, one more followup
1. If someone has switched registrars or hosts; what costs, both obvious and unseen are there when a person makes the switch?