Free Host Rescue
Men and women have been going out onto the water for thousands of years. There is something inherently adventurous about the sea, and those who make their living off-shore are a brave and daring group. Even the most seasoned mariner can get into trouble, and when they do, the Coast Guard Search and Rescue are there. Search and Rescue is the oldest and noblest Coast Guard mission.
In 1994 when GeoCities launched, having a website was not as common nor as easy as it is today. Since then, millions have jumped into the internet’s waters with GeoCities free sites. They created websites that showcased their community, shared information about their businesses and displayed their creative endeavors. By now you probably know that Yahoo is shutting these free sites down this summer.
Rescue Swimmers are in the water!
Just as the Coast Guard does, we’re going to jump into the waters to rescue your website. Here’s a step by step plan for saving your website.
Step 1. Plan
Before the call comes in the Coast Guard prepares for the worst. The rescue strategy includes knowing where they will take the people they’ll be bringing in for medical treatment. You need a place to land your website as well. There are many choices for webhosting. Choose carefully this time. Here is a chart to help.
| Company | IX Web Hosting | Yahoo | GoDaddy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year plan | $59.40 / 1 year | $111.93 / 1 year | $56.08 / 1 year |
| 2 years plan | $94.80 / 2 years | $231.33 / 2 years | 107.76 / 2 years |
| Disk Space | Unlimited | Unlimited | 10 Gb |
| Traffic | Unlimited | Unlimited | 300 Gb |
| Free Domain Registrations | Yes, up to 3 | 1 | No, $9.99/year domain registration, $6.99 domain transfer. |
| Domains | Unlimited | 1 | Unlimited |
| Subdomains | Unlimited | (I can’t find ) | 25 |
| Email Boxes | 2,500 | 1,000 | 500 |
Step 2. Register your ship
The Coast Guard provides training to mariners. Part of that training is making sure your boat can be found if trouble arises. Watercraft are registered. Boaters are instructed to have flares and beacons to help the Search and Rescue teams find you.
Registering your website name is an important step in making sure your website can be found. Registering your own website name (domain name) is something you should be able to do at the same time you set up hosting. If your site will be for your business, having your own domain will present a more professional image. You may want more than one name, make sure your hosting provider can accommodate your need today and in the future as you grow.
| Company | IX Web Hosting | Yahoo | GoDaddy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Domain Registrations | Yes, up to 3 | 1 | No, $9.99/year domain registration, $6.99 domain transfer. |
| Domains | Unlimited | 1 | Unlimited |
Step 3. Stay in the boat.
Yahoo! Just sent a waves crashing over the bow. You’re taking on water but it’s not time to abandon ship yet. While your sites are still working, copy them to your new hosting account.
Here are some detailed instructions from the Site Wizard http://www.thesitewizard.com/webhosting/move-from-geocities.shtml
If this seems challenging contact us by phone 1-800-385-0450, chat or email lifeguard@geocitiesrescue.com Rescue Swimmers are on duty 24/7.
Step 4. Radio ahead.
Everyone has been pulled from the water. The helicopter pilot radios ahead to the medical facility so they know what will be needed when the rescued mariners arrive at the emergency room. You need to radio ahead as well. Redirect traffic from your old website to your new website. Add a text link on your old website to the new one for a transition period so search engines can find it.
Step 5. Phone home.
People who have been rescued from disasters at sea have family and friends anxious to know if they are OK. It is the same for loyal fans of your website. Let them know your site is alive and well, but it has moved. Use email, forums, blogs and Twitter.
Rescue your site! You still have access to your pages/content. The earlier you move your site(s) from GeoCities the better! You can inform your visitors about move and you have time for search engines to find your new website.