setting up website

[dwtt]

Hi folks,
I have never set up a website before and don't even know where to begin. I have heard there are some domain registration companies like godaddy that can register a .com or .net website name for you, but are there companies that can provide a turnkey website for simple tasks such as email, messages, video, and photo storage? I'm thinking of setting up a website for a school reunion and want to be able to let people update what they're doing.
thanks.

[Ripon83]

godaddy.com

The other thing you can do is just research a free blog (blogger) site and for a few bucks you can add a domain name - a blog is a web site and its easy to manage without buying any software.

[ocabj]

To be honest, you may as well just setup a Facebook group and handle the reunion in that manner. It's going to provide you the ability to handle video, photos, and messaging between members of the group. It requires very little effort with no monetary cost.

While it takes no time at all to light up a website, then you have to come up with all of the backend to handle the photo and video posting you want, not to mention handle account management (usernames/passwords, profiles, etc) on this site, which can get tedious in itself because then you have to worry about securing user data.

As far as going with your own site, if you know anyone with any inkling of technical knowledge, have them help you setup a Digital Ocean VPS with a basic LAMP stack. A droplet is only $5 a month. I think they have pre-configured droplets with applications, too (e.g. Wordpress). If you really need your own domain email, it's not very difficult to setup postfix, to run the MX records on your VPS.

If you decide to go with your own site, I would definitely consider OAuth with another user store, whether it's Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc, and not store passwords on your site.

[Dnele928]

I used godaddy as a starter for my website. They can set you up with a domain name, then use their website template. You can upload photos, paste them, then add text in the text boxes. Super easy.

[lowriderryda]

I also use godaddy it works great for selling. They got some new specials

[Marauder2003]

A website and email require a domain. You need that first.

On the GoDaddy site you can search for an available domain. Best to go with a .com if you can. There are a bunch of TLDs available. .us .info etc. prices vary.

Websites and email are seperate. GoDaddy has a 5 address package. It can be 5 using the same domain or a mix with other domains you might own. The email can be POP3 or IMAP.

They have website templates to make creating one 'simple'. I have never used them.

Not sure what you are planning but I suggest getting 2 domains. One being
www.FirstNameLastName.com that use use for personal email and another for the website. They personal address is used only for friemds and trusted companies. The website domain email address can be used for all other email.

[Trghpy]

In the capital city area gimme a ring I can walk you through the whole process.

[dwtt]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and info. I thought about facebook, but many people don't use facebook, including me. Having a website would be more permanent and reliable for everyone to use, especially if folks are overseas and in a country that blocks facebook.

Trghpy, thanks for the offer, but I'm overseas on the other side of the planet. I was in Pakistan for the last month and will be in India in June, so it's not easy to call back to the US. I'll probably end up using godaddy and one of the templates they have for a simple website.
thanks.

[stonith3901]

https://sites.google.com is the turnkey solution you are looking for. From the registrar, storage, email, etc. they try to make it as easy as possible.