With domain names becoming a generic commodity more and more people actually own a domain name. However, more often these people not only own one domain name, they have several domain names registered under their name. What is missing is often the knowledge on how to host the matching websites without paying a fortune. This minhour will explain how host several websites from a single web hosting account.
Steps
To host several websites from a single web hosting account you will need to pick a web hosting package that includes so-called addon domains or domain aliases as a feature.
Pick the top level domain the web hosting account shall be running under.
This will be your main domain name you want to work with.
Sign up for a web hosting package that includes addon domains.
Once you have signed up you will receive login information as well as you will receive so-called DNS server information from your web host.
Go to the domain registry where you registered the different domain names and change the DNS server settings to the DNS servers provided by your web host
In your web hosting control panel at your web hosting account select the addon feature option.
Here you can point the additional domain names to a sub folder inside your main web hosting account. This step will register the additional domain names with the web server application. The web server will now “listen” to incoming http requests based on the host name (aka domain name). Incoming http requests for addon domain names will then be directed to the appropriate sub folders.
Create the different website files and upload them to the matching sub folders.
Tips
- If you need extra features for each domain you want to host, consider getting a so-called reseller web hosting package. These packages allow you to create separate web hosting accounts for each domain. Reseller packages can have had for cheap money
- Sign up for 12-24 month web hosting packages and save significantly on your web hosting fees.
- Pick a web host that does offer at least 50 addon domains with their web hosting packages
Warnings
- Never depend on your web host to have current backups of your websites. Make your own backups.
- Unlimited web hosting is not unlimited. However, “unlimited” web hosting packages can be a great way to save money initially until you outgrow your hosting.