Choosing a web host

[Hepp-Kondas]

I am starting a charitable nonprofit. I have designed the web using
FrontPage 2003. How do I find a reliable web host that supports frontpage
webs? I also want to make sure it can grow with me if I am successful.
Finally, are there any providers known for setting up ecommerce for
collecting donatiions? Convio is used by Red Cross, MS, and others. They
kindly told me to look t them up when I am able to afford them.
Thanks!
If you could give me several, I can contact them and ask questions.
As always, I appreciate your help!
Nancy

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

Paypal is easy to set up and they have a non-profit deal as well...you gotta
send them copy of your 501 blah blah blah...but it's pretty easy.


--

Rob Giordano
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage





|I am starting a charitable nonprofit. I have designed the web using
| FrontPage 2003. How do I find a reliable web host that supports frontpage
| webs? I also want to make sure it can grow with me if I am successful.
| Finally, are there any providers known for setting up ecommerce for
| collecting donatiions? Convio is used by Red Cross, MS, and others. They
| kindly told me to look t them up when I am able to afford them.
| Thanks!
| If you could give me several, I can contact them and ask questions.
| As always, I appreciate your help!
| Nancy

 

[Charlee]

Hi, I'm doing practically the same thing. If you found a good host, please
let me know who it is - I need inexpensive, but reliable!

Thnx, Char

 

[Mike Mueller]

I use CrystalTech hosting. There prices are reasonable, they still have FPSE
available, and non-profits are eligible for a price reduction on most of
thier plans.

 

[Hepp-Kondas]

Rob,
Thank you. We are in the process of geting the 501 status- we are told it
could take 10-12 months! In the meantime, I could set up w/out the deal,
then transfer. Do you find Paypal is acceptable to your donors?
Thanks,
Nancy

 

[Hepp-Kondas]

Char,
Good luck, keep watching for helpful posts.
Nancy

 

[Hepp-Kondas]

Thanks Mike,
I know my ignorance is showing, but what iare FPSE, Front Page Server
Extensions? I don't know what they are and why I need them. If you could
elaborate, I would appreciate it. I will check out CrystalTech. Do allow
you to have a blog as part of your website? How about allowing visitors to
vote on an issue? Thanks!
Nancy

 

[Mike Mueller]

The Front Page Server Extensions (FPSE), for lack of a better way of
thinking are a group of pre-made mini applications for web developement.
They allow you to publish via the http protocal, there are design components
for including other pages, hit counters, and many other features
The problems with them are that the only design software that can use them
is FrontPage, and for full functionality site host also must use/support
them. The last time they were updated was 2002, and there will be no support
for them in a few years. Other problems with them is that the server side
components can be corrupted if you publish your site via FTP, and the biggie
is that they are not very flexible.
They are not required for designing a page, regardless of whatever software
you are using.

The replacement for FP; ExpressionWeb (EW), will not break the FPSE and can
use them for publishing. You just cannot add any more FPSE dependant
features.

Features such as forums, blogs, polls can be added to most sites- the host
may have software available for you or you may be able to upload your own

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

My 501 has a limited mostly local audience but haven't had any problems. I
currently have the donation page offline until i remodel the entire site.

You should ask Paypal if you can convert to non-profit status after you get
your 501 papers. I remember it took a while to get the 501 status but I
don't think it was allll that long.


--

Rob Giordano
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage





| Rob,
| Thank you. We are in the process of geting the 501 status- we are told it
| could take 10-12 months! In the meantime, I could set up w/out the deal,
| then transfer. Do you find Paypal is acceptable to your donors?
| Thanks,
| Nancy
|
| "Rob Giordano (Crash)" wrote:
|
| > Paypal is easy to set up and they have a non-profit deal as well...you
gotta
| > send them copy of your 501 blah blah blah...but it's pretty easy.
| >
| >
| > --
| >
| > Rob Giordano
| > Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
| >
| >
| >
| >
| >
| > | > |I am starting a charitable nonprofit. I have designed the web using
| > | FrontPage 2003. How do I find a reliable web host that supports
frontpage
| > | webs? I also want to make sure it can grow with me if I am
successful.
| > | Finally, are there any providers known for setting up ecommerce for
| > | collecting donatiions? Convio is used by Red Cross, MS, and others.
They
| > | kindly told me to look t them up when I am able to afford them.
| > | Thanks!
| > | If you could give me several, I can contact them and ask questions.
| > | As always, I appreciate your help!
| > | Nancy
| >
| >
| >

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

Oh...btw; I've found lots of (almost) freebies for 501 status accounts...you
may be able to find a host too. For instance I use SmugMug to sell pics of
the ballet kids for my 501 and the pro version of SmugMug Pro subscription
is almost 150 bucks a year and they gave it to us for free. So...check all
the fine print! I also found Adobe gives an incredible discount on software
for 501's...that's my next project.

--

Rob Giordano
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage





| Rob,
| Thank you. We are in the process of geting the 501 status- we are told it
| could take 10-12 months! In the meantime, I could set up w/out the deal,
| then transfer. Do you find Paypal is acceptable to your donors?
| Thanks,
| Nancy
|
| "Rob Giordano (Crash)" wrote:
|
| > Paypal is easy to set up and they have a non-profit deal as well...you
gotta
| > send them copy of your 501 blah blah blah...but it's pretty easy.
| >
| >
| > --
| >
| > Rob Giordano
| > Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
| >
| >
| >
| >
| >
| > | > |I am starting a charitable nonprofit. I have designed the web using
| > | FrontPage 2003. How do I find a reliable web host that supports
frontpage
| > | webs? I also want to make sure it can grow with me if I am
successful.
| > | Finally, are there any providers known for setting up ecommerce for
| > | collecting donatiions? Convio is used by Red Cross, MS, and others.
They
| > | kindly told me to look t them up when I am able to afford them.
| > | Thanks!
| > | If you could give me several, I can contact them and ask questions.
| > | As always, I appreciate your help!
| > | Nancy
| >
| >
| >

 

[Hepp-Kondas]

Hi Mike.
Your post leads me to a new question: Will I have a problem using FrontPage
to create my web? Is there another program I should be using? Or is it just
that there is a chance that some of my elements won't publish properly if the
web host does not use FTSE?
Thanks again!
Nancy

 

[Mike Mueller]

I failed in my quest to not confuse you.

FrontPage can create perfectly fine web pages that will work fine without
extensions.

Think of FP as a toolbox. There are a lot of tools that are perfectly fine,
but; there are some that should not be used.

 

[Hepp-Kondas]

Mike,
You were crystal clear in your response. I just began to worry that using
FrontPage would limit my choice of hosts. If I might beg one more question:
What is the difference between a host using Unix and one using Windows?
Should that matter to me? You have been a marvelous source of information.
Thank you,
Nancy

 

[Hepp-Kondas]

Hello again,
I posted my response to your first post. Look for it there, and thank you!
Nancy

 

[Hepp-Kondas]

Thanks, Rob.
I hope to have the web ready when the 501 status arrives.
Nancy

 

[Mike Mueller]

FrontPage does not limit you in anyway. FP can also publish without the
extensions via FTP, which is the industry norm. All software has extra
baggage that should not be used, and the FPSE is one of them.

The difference between Unix and Windows boils down to what server side
scripting can be used.

The 'nix servers generally are using the Apache web server, MySQL for
database, and PHP for scripting. There are versions of asp and the net
framework available for them
Windows servers typically are IIS for the web server, SQL Server for
database (possibly MS Access), with scripting done via ASP and ASP.Net. IIRC
Apache and PHP are available for Windows, but few hosts provide it.

Being an MS product, FrontPage and ExpressionWeb are both going to have alot
more gizmos for Windows hosting.

You're Welcome

 

[Hepp-Kondas]

Mike,
My goodness, you are one smart cookie! Anyway, if I can read between the
stuff I don't understand, a Windows based server would be a better choice,
but either would work. I understand the Windows server might give me more
whisltes and bells. Thanks for your time, it has really helped!
Warmly,
Nancy

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

Good luck!

That 501 stuff's a pain, ain't it? I can't wait till Dec when my wife
resigns as the treasurer so we can get rid of all these banker boxes full of
paperwork finally after 4 years.



--

Rob Giordano
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage





| Thanks, Rob.
| I hope to have the web ready when the 501 status arrives.
| Nancy
|
| "Rob Giordano (Crash)" wrote:
|
| > My 501 has a limited mostly local audience but haven't had any problems.
I
| > currently have the donation page offline until i remodel the entire
site.
| >
| > You should ask Paypal if you can convert to non-profit status after you
get
| > your 501 papers. I remember it took a while to get the 501 status but I
| > don't think it was allll that long.
| >
| >
| > --
| >
| > Rob Giordano
| > Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
| >
| >
| >
| >
| >
| > | > | Rob,
| > | Thank you. We are in the process of geting the 501 status- we are
told it
| > | could take 10-12 months! In the meantime, I could set up w/out the
deal,
| > | then transfer. Do you find Paypal is acceptable to your donors?
| > | Thanks,
| > | Nancy
| > |
| > | "Rob Giordano (Crash)" wrote:
| > |
| > | > Paypal is easy to set up and they have a non-profit deal as
well...you
| > gotta
| > | > send them copy of your 501 blah blah blah...but it's pretty easy.
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > --
| > | >
| > | > Rob Giordano
| > | > Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >
message
| > | > | > | > |I am starting a charitable nonprofit. I have designed the web
using
| > | > | FrontPage 2003. How do I find a reliable web host that supports
| > frontpage
| > | > | webs? I also want to make sure it can grow with me if I am
| > successful.
| > | > | Finally, are there any providers known for setting up ecommerce
for
| > | > | collecting donatiions? Convio is used by Red Cross, MS, and
others.
| > They
| > | > | kindly told me to look t them up when I am able to afford them.
| > | > | Thanks!
| > | > | If you could give me several, I can contact them and ask
questions.
| > | > | As always, I appreciate your help!
| > | > | Nancy
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| >
| >
| >