Author Topic: Advice on hosting for Symbiosite - I want to give it a go!! (Read 26909 times)

ShadySue · « **Reply #25 on:** October 28, 2013, 10:50 »

For clueless non-techies, I'll just share that getting symbiostock up and running is pretty difficult if you haven't a clue. I'm on JustHost already, and every time I install some other bit for Symbio, which seems to be compulsory, I lose my login and password and have to set new ones. I just downloaded and installed something called GitHub, and it nixed FF; now I've got FF back up but can't get into JustHost at all, and have totally lost access to my emails, and can't seem to now set a new password, so I'll have to get onto JustHost support, which will take a few hours.
Don't try this unless you're very tech-savvy.
NB, I have run four 'normal' websites (flat HTML) and have a simple WordPress self-hosted fun/trial blog, but this is far, far harder.
I accept that a large proportion of the problem is my non-techiness and know that other people have said it's really easy. But OTOH, it beggars my belief that some people can't tell the difference between a goose and a duck or Asian/African elephants. Also, I haven't a clue what's causing the problem with the passwords/usernames - might be a JustHost problem, but I didn't have this with my fun blog.
Funnily enough, I can get into my Symbio dashboard, but not my normal emails.
Well, I was just trying to get my toe in the water when I read about the Alamy plug-in to try to drive traffic to my port there.

Ron · « **Reply #26 on:** October 28, 2013, 10:57 »

I still beg to differ. The whole symbiostock experience for me has been a breeze. Each to their own. There is also a lot of beta testing going on, which may give the impression its a mess to set up your own site.

I am not saying you are not right Sue, its your experience, which is what it is. If you go to the official forum, there will be a lot of people more than happy to help you. Also Leo is offering service to set up your site for you. What takes days for you, takes him 10 minutes.

ShadySue · « **Reply #27 on:** October 28, 2013, 11:34 »

I do accept fully that it's my non-techiness which is the problem. You may remember that I said a while back that I didn't even understand the questions some people were asking on the forums, far less the answers.
To be honest, the main problem is constantly losing the username and passwords (which could be me, or JH, not Sym), and I now don't have the ability even to change them - probably a JH security system because I've done it so often in the past 18 hours, though I'm not getting a message to that effect, just an unspecified error message.

Anyway, I'd better get onto JH's support and I might get into my emails by bedtime, if I'm lucky.
Added: No, the auto-reply I got said to allow "at least 24 hours" :-(

KimsCreativeHub · « **Reply #28 on:** October 28, 2013, 11:42 »

Don't feel bad sue, I've had difficulty too

That said I think the concept just Rocks!! and at some point I may pay some one to set it uproar me.. Question, along with blue host, will I need to subscribe to a "premium word press account" ?

My Very Best

KimsCreativeHub.com

Shelma1 · « **Reply #29 on:** October 28, 2013, 12:05 »

I found it difficult at first because I didn't follow the instructions.

But on my second try it was much easier. I've had a relatively easy time because I haven't added many plugins or extras...just keeping things simple. I think if you want to set up a simple, clean site without a lot of changes it's doable. And I'm definitely non-techie. I haven't had trouble with bluehost, either.

ShadySue · « **Reply #30 on:** October 28, 2013, 12:30 »

I was following the instructions, but I don't want to sell directly, but just want to point to my RM files on Alamy. When I downloaded GitHub which seemed to be needed to get the templates, GitHub nixed FF and I've ground to a halt, as I can't now find the templates, (or I have found them but have no idea what to do with them) and don't know if they're what I need just for pointing to Alamy.
I've got this far http://www.lizworld.com, and have a lot of plug-ins installed (i.e. the recommended ones, although ImageSiteMap is reporting as 'unavaillable' - does that need the Premium Upgrade?), but don't know how to get any further. The step by steps, assume selling RF from your site, so I seem to have run out of relevant (for my purpose) instructions.

KimsCreativeHub · « **Reply #31 on:** October 28, 2013, 12:32 »

I went on the wordpress site:

"Custom design ability" $30yr
"No adds" $30yr
"Domain mapping" $13yr

Would I need to subscribe to the 1st and 3rd and blue host to get this started?

My Very Best

KimsCreativeHub.com

KimsCreativeHub · « **Reply #32 on:** October 28, 2013, 12:41 »

I am going to watch all the videos and then ask questions if I have any

My Very Best

KimsCreativeHub.com

luissantos84 · « **Reply #33 on:** October 28, 2013, 12:44 »

Quote from: Shelma1 on October 28, 2013, 12:05

I found it difficult at first because I didn't follow the instructions. But on my second try it was much easier. I've had a relatively easy time because I haven't added many plugins or extras...just keeping things simple. I think if you want to set up a simple, clean site without a lot of changes it's doable. And I'm definitely non-techie. I haven't had trouble with bluehost, either.

what have you picked when registering the domain? if I choose all of them its gonna be 136.36$ / year

not including hosting I guess

Photobomb · « **Reply #34 on:** October 28, 2013, 12:55 »

Quote from: ShadySue on October 28, 2013, 12:30

I was following the instructions, but I don't want to sell directly, but just want to point to my RM files on Alamy. When I downloaded GitHub which seemed to be needed to get the templates, GitHub nixed FF and I've ground to a halt, as I can't now find the templates, (or I have found them but have no idea what to do with them) and don't know if they're what I need just for pointing to Alamy.
I've got this far http://www.lizworld.com, and have a lot of plug-ins installed (i.e. the recommended ones, although ImageSiteMap is reporting as 'unavaillable' - does that need the Premium Upgrade?), but don't know how to get any further. The step by steps, assume selling RF from your site, so I seem to have run out of relevant (for my purpose) instructions.

You really should take this over to http://www.symbiostock.org
you'll get much more help over there.
I don't know why you had to download github I certainly haven't and my site is up and running just fine (bluehost).
The templates are included in the Dragonfly child theme.

Ron · « **Reply #35 on:** October 28, 2013, 12:56 »

Quote from: PhotoBomb on October 28, 2013, 12:55

Quote from: ShadySue on October 28, 2013, 12:30
I was following the instructions, but I don't want to sell directly, but just want to point to my RM files on Alamy. When I downloaded GitHub which seemed to be needed to get the templates, GitHub nixed FF and I've ground to a halt, as I can't now find the templates, (or I have found them but have no idea what to do with them) and don't know if they're what I need just for pointing to Alamy.
I've got this far http://www.lizworld.com, and have a lot of plug-ins installed (i.e. the recommended ones, although ImageSiteMap is reporting as 'unavaillable' - does that need the Premium Upgrade?), but don't know how to get any further. The step by steps, assume selling RF from your site, so I seem to have run out of relevant (for my purpose) instructions.

You really should take this over to http://www.symbiostock.org
you'll get much more help over there.
I don't know why you had to download github I certainly haven't and my site is up and running just fine (bluehost).
The templates are included in the Dragonfly child theme.

That

Shelma1 · « **Reply #36 on:** October 28, 2013, 13:36 »

Quote from: KimsCreativeHub on October 28, 2013, 12:32

I went on the wordpress site:

"Custom design ability" $30yr
"No adds" $30yr
"Domain mapping" $13yr

Would I need to subscribe to the 1st and 3rd and blue host to get this started?

My Very Best
KimsCreativeHub.com

No. Just bluehost.

cascoly · « **Reply #37 on:** October 28, 2013, 17:18 »

first, you need just the most basic wordpress support, which any host will give you - some even will install wp for you, but if not they really DO live up to thewir promise of a 5 minute install!

re sue's problems, it's worth pointing out that the login/password problems are part of wordpress, which sym uses. also, as she mentions later, from the start she was trying to do something for which sym was not designed (altho it does have a way to do what she wants, and we've also found a way to host & sell videos which is also not in its specs)

bottom line, sym is easier to set up than any other self-hosted system I've tried, and the support is there if you need it. follow the symbioguides.com tutorialsand your site will be running soon. most of the threads are about thin gs people are doing beyond the setup, but which aren't required. if you're truly not interested in doing it yourself, you can have it installed for about the price you'd pay for smugmug et al

marthamarks · « **Reply #38 on:** October 28, 2013, 17:32 »

I'm another who uses Bluehost for my Symbiostock site and has been happy with them. There have been a few problems over the last 5 months, but in every case a call to the tech service team there solved it.

ADDED: I hadn't read the entire 2nd page of this thread before posting the above. So, to repeat, yes I've been happy with Bluehost. I run 2 other sites using Dreamhost and HostGator... and I can't tell the difference.

marthamarks · « **Reply #39 on:** October 28, 2013, 17:48 »

I also am not a techie and have not found it difficult to set up my SYS site. My biggest hurdle came at the very first when I had to figure out how to create a watermark in Photoshop. Beyond that, it's been remarkably easy.

And even when I've had a problem since the watermark issue got solved, either Bluehost support or the wonderful group of Symbiostockers have given me every bit of help I've needed. I'm proud of the site I've created in the last four months... without tearing my hair out.

I'll repeat what I said several weeks ago on this forum and others have said more recently: Conversations like this would be better conducted on http://www.symbiostock.org/ That's where the bulk of the current SYS-related discussion is taking place.

cathyslife · « **Reply #40 on:** October 28, 2013, 17:57 »

Just to provide some balance...
I build web pages in my day job using html and css and I have built 3 other wordpress sites prior to SY. I just purchased a wp theme at work to use for one of our divisions and it is pretty much a breeze to use, compared to SY. But in SYs defense, all of the selling of images and licenses, etc. is way more complicated, so it stands to reason there are going to be more issues with it.

I would say that it was more time-consuming for me than it was difficult. People can help and they do, but not everyone has the same issues, so sometimes it really tries your patience.

I am holding off on upgrading to the latest, because it will be like starting all over again...fixing css, etc. Mostly it is because I just don't have the time now, too many other irons in the fire. Maybe in Dec. I will have more time to tackle it.

Unless you are very knowledgeable with wp, html, php and css, or will just have Leo or someone else set it all up for you, I would never call it easy. On the other hand, I still have hopes that it will all be worth it.

edit: I use Bluehost. I have had no issues with the setup of my site with them. In fact, when I originally installed wp, it installs in a subfolder by default (that's what bluehost told me) and I did not want that so I called tech support and they re-installed it where I wanted it (root). They were helpful on other things too. They had a mass outage a month or so ago because of server issues, but stuff happens sometimes.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #41 on:** October 28, 2013, 18:19 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on October 28, 2013, 12:44

Quote from: Shelma1 on October 28, 2013, 12:05
I found it difficult at first because I didn't follow the instructions. But on my second try it was much easier. I've had a relatively easy time because I haven't added many plugins or extras...just keeping things simple. I think if you want to set up a simple, clean site without a lot of changes it's doable. And I'm definitely non-techie. I haven't had trouble with bluehost, either.

what have you picked when registering the domain? if I choose all of them its gonna be 136.36$ / year

not including hosting I guess

bluehost options, have you guys chosen them all? cheers!

Photobomb · « **Reply #42 on:** October 28, 2013, 18:25 »

luissantos84 · « **Reply #43 on:** October 28, 2013, 18:31 »

really? that is exciting!

more thoughts?

marthamarks · « **Reply #44 on:** October 28, 2013, 18:31 »

Quote from: cathyslife stockphotos.com on October 28, 2013, 17:57

Unless you are very knowledgeable with wp, html, php and css, or will just have Leo or someone else set it all up for you, I would never call it easy. On the other hand, I still have hopes that it will all be worth it.

Cathy, I also do have some experience with WP and (less) with html. None whatsoever with php and css. And yet I've managed to set up my site mostly by myself. You and others have provided very useful help at times, but I didn't need constant attention and hand-holding.

I did not have Leo or anybody else "set it all up for [me]". Leo kindly went into the innards of my site one time for a quick upgrade when I was nervous about doing it without an upgraded version of Clean Theme. That's it.

And I'd like to point out that SYS started from scratch just a few months ago and has been growing and evolving right in front of our eyes. If you purchase other WP themes, most of the bugs had been worked out long before they went on sale to the public at large.

Nobody forced any of us to leap into this before it was fully tested and proven ready to go. We chose to do it, and the reward for each of us now is a very attractive, functional website that we will own and control for as long as we choose to do so.

Ron · « **Reply #45 on:** October 28, 2013, 18:36 »

And I will say again, its plug and play from the box. You dont need to know any CSS PHP HTML whatsoever.

Unless you want to CUSTOMISE your site.

KimsCreativeHub · « **Reply #46 on:** October 28, 2013, 18:38 »

Quote from: Shelma1 on October 28, 2013, 13:36

Quote from: KimsCreativeHub on October 28, 2013, 12:32
I went on the wordpress site:

"Custom design ability" $30yr
"No adds" $30yr
"Domain mapping" $13yr

Would I need to subscribe to the 1st and 3rd and blue host to get this started?

My Very Best
KimsCreativeHub.com

No. Just bluehost.

Ooh! Thanks

cidepix · « **Reply #47 on:** October 28, 2013, 18:54 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on October 28, 2013, 18:19

Quote from: luissantos84 on October 28, 2013, 12:44
Quote from: Shelma1 on October 28, 2013, 12:05
I found it difficult at first because I didn't follow the instructions. But on my second try it was much easier. I've had a relatively easy time because I haven't added many plugins or extras...just keeping things simple. I think if you want to set up a simple, clean site without a lot of changes it's doable. And I'm definitely non-techie. I haven't had trouble with bluehost, either.

what have you picked when registering the domain? if I choose all of them its gonna be 136.36$ / year

not including hosting I guess

bluehost options, have you guys chosen them all? cheers!

I use godaddy.. but if you are going to use bluehost, then choose "none"

hosting is enough.. all other packages are waste of money.. at least for the start..

luissantos84 · « **Reply #48 on:** October 28, 2013, 19:01 »

ok! cheers

cathyslife · « **Reply #49 on:** October 28, 2013, 19:03 »

Quote from: marthamarks on October 28, 2013, 18:31

Quote from: cathyslife stockphotos.com on October 28, 2013, 17:57
Unless you are very knowledgeable with wp, html, php and css, or will just have Leo or someone else set it all up for you, I would never call it easy. On the other hand, I still have hopes that it will all be worth it.

Cathy, I also do have some experience with WP and (less) with html. None whatsoever with php and css. And yet I've managed to set up my site mostly by myself. You and others have provided very useful help at times, but I didn't need constant attention and hand-holding.

I did not have Leo or anybody else "set it all up for [me]". Leo kindly went into the innards of my site one time for a quick upgrade when I was nervous about doing it without an upgraded version of Clean Theme. That's it.

And I'd like to point out that SYS started from scratch just a few months ago and has been growing and evolving right in front of our eyes. If you purchase other WP themes, most of the bugs had been worked out long before they went on sale to the public at large.

Nobody forced any of us to leap into this before it was fully tested and proven ready to go. We chose to do it, and the reward for each of us now is a very attractive, functional website that we will own and control for as long as we choose to do so.
[/m]

I wonder why you and Ron like to argue about this so much. I have every right to post MY feelings and experiences. You already posted yours.
Don't take it all so personal.

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Author Topic: Advice on hosting for Symbiosite - I want to give it a go!! (Read 26909 times)

ShadySue

Ron

ShadySue

KimsCreativeHub

Shelma1

ShadySue

KimsCreativeHub

KimsCreativeHub

luissantos84

Photobomb

Ron

Shelma1

cascoly

marthamarks

marthamarks

cathyslife

luissantos84

Photobomb

luissantos84

marthamarks

Ron

KimsCreativeHub

cidepix

luissantos84

cathyslife

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