Outgrowing Google

In my Exploring Internet Technology series, I've opened different blogs, websites, network in research projects, using different technologies for each. Because when I make a recommendation I want to have as much first hand experience and accurate (to me) information, as I can, for the benefit of my clients and "five" readers.

I started with my evaluation of the Google family of products, back in December. I won MegMeyer.com in an auction, when it became available. (It was previously owned by someone who only had up a few pictures, and it had sat like that for as long as I can remember. If this is YOU, let me know, I'll give you space to host your personal site.) I knew I needed more time to pick a professional host, so I opted to host the "Pre-launch" phase of the site on Google, with their "Applications for Domains."

The suite of products includes personalized Gmail, start page, calendar, IM, and webpages.

The email, start page and all were easy to set up & I've been very happy with them. I'll likely keep my email hosted with Gmail for quite some time.

Due to constraints of my registrar, however, and not exactly helpful help on the Google Group that I posed my questions to - I had quite a difficult time getting the website verified, and had an ugly web address for quite a while.

At first, I didn't mind having www.megmeyer.com-a.googlepages.com as my website name. I was still building the site, playing with page creator, and hadn't publicized it at all, except to a few close friends. But as I got ready to launch, and was able to point www.megmeyer.com to my Google hosted site, the issues started to show up. Page Creator still publishes to the longer, uglier name. Even though, my domain is verified as mine. And while we can access the site through either address, typing certain individual pages into the address bar produces 404 errors.

And since I've spent more time into researching what is out there, I've come upon my ideal solution. AN Hosting is where I'll likely move, for my web hosting. Their list of features, awards, and price are all ideal. With 25 gigs of space, 250, gigs of bandwith, I can host up to 20 sites and never reach the end of that amount. I also like that the servers are located in Chicago, IL.

I'll still utilize Google's other Apps, like gmail, calendar, docs, and Adsense, but I've outgrown them as a viable host for my businesses.

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The Center of Muse - Writing, Design, Motivation & Coaching for Entrepreneurs, Freelancers, Small & Home Based Businesses.
MegMeyer.com - My personal writing & independent contracting site. Sign up for Writers Groups here.
AN Hosting - Host up to 20 domains on 25 GIGS of space, with 250 GIGS of bandwith for only $6.95.
A Global Community - An Economic Network. Share in growing the community, share in the revenue.
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Make Money with Agloco

Agloco stands for A Global Community. And as members of Agloco's global community, as I understand it, they share the commissions they make from advertisers and search engines with it's community members.

They cite social networking megaliths like Myspace, Facebook, YouTube, Google, MSN, etc. That we, the users, helped grow, but weren't given a piece of the action, in return. It's true, think about it. How much money does Myspace make from the content we place on it? A lot, right? What do they give back?

What about joining a community that gives back a piece of that? That takes the advertising dollars, and sales commissions and shares it with the members that help grow the community? How cool would that be?

I signed up. Here's why:

I surf the internet. A lot. In my research. In my web design. In my writing, I'm always looking for sources and ideas. And while I'm not much of a shopper, if I see something interesting, I do click on the link. Even if I don't make a million bucks with Agloco, getting a bit back, to cover the broadband bill, or buy a coffee when I'm writing "on location," would be a sweet treat!

And guess what? If you sign up too, then what you surf for, and look at, and click on, will be shared with me, and our network, too. So, it's like you're buying me a cup of coffee, when you're shopping online for Chia Pets!

Now, the toolbar isn't out yet, and I'm admittedly an early adopter, but I really like the idea. Rather than being a "big brother" spying secretly, it'll know what we search for, when we put it into the Agloco toolbar, and give us a piece of the commission.

Use it for charity, use it to alleviate a bit of the cost for being a geek. Use it to buy me a coffee. ;)

If this sounds like something you're even curious about, please click this link. Read what it's all about, and sign up, if it's something for you. If it isn't, no worries, no pressure.

I, however, think it's a really cool idea!

Meg Meyer
The Center of Muse