Getting Started

Think: Preparation

Most names cost less than $10 each. We now offer domain names at the same or even lower prices than Godaddy with the exact same service you'd expect from Godaddy, but with shorter call-in wait times and easier menus. After you've completed your domain purchase or transfer, write down your customer number and your 4-digit PIN and put it in a safe place.  Click Here To Buy or Transfer your Domain Name. 

Call our 24-7 Support Line 1-480-624-2500.  Our staff will help you set-up your email under your own domain name. You will need your customer number and 4-digit PIN (keep in mind this is different than your Earthgrid username and password - they will NEVER ask you for your password or Earthgrid username). 

We cannot emphasize how important having YOU@yourwebsite.com is for your credibility. Please do this right away!

Using gmail, hotmail, comcast, sbcglobal, yahoo or any other service provider for your email looks extremely amateur. It is so simple to have a professional web presence with you@yourwebsite.com and it is free with your domain! If you want to continue to use those other services, you can always 'forward' your e-mail from your domain name over to your other email address. All of our domain names come with a free e-mail account that you can use with your domain name and you can access your mailbox without ads - even from your mobile phone!

1. Organize all the text of your website into a single document in your word processor.
   
2. Resize all your photos and graphics to the final size you'd like them to appear on your site. You can use a free editor such as gimp
   
3. For slideshows, make sure all your slides are exactly the same size.
   Put them in a folder and ZIP up the file.

Here are 5 easy steps to have your new website
live on your domain name in less than an hour.

• Log into your site with your Earthgrid username and password, or if you don't have an account yet, go to the Earthgrid home page and Press the Sign Up Now! button, and follow instructions.
  
  
• Choose a subscription package - If you just signed up you'll see your choice of subscription packages.  If you already have a site in Earthgrid, login and choose Control Panel>My Account>Change Plan or simply click on the Expires in X Days link, to go to your choice of subscription package. Once you have subscribed you may link your domain name to the new site.
  
  What plan should I choose? 80% of our customers start with the Annual $360/year plan, however choose a plan that fits your needs and budget. You can always change your plan later at any time.  All our plans are 100% money-back guaranteed for 60 days, so you have plenty of time to find the plan that works best for your needs.
  
  
• Add your content - Copy and paste content from your existing website replacing the sample text on the site from your word processor. You can also upload photographs, movies, YouTube videos, Shopping Cart buttons or anything else you want on your site.
  
  
• Open your "Welcome to Earthgrid Sites" email - When you create an Earthgrid site (after choosing a username, password, and a template) you are sent an automatic Welcome email message.  Please find this message in your email program (the subject line will say "Welcome to Earthgrid Sites"). Open the email and click on the link that says "Please verify the email address for your account by clicking the URL below:" Your new website will open automatically, and will be available in trial mode for 14 days.  Even after subscribing to one of the packages you will still have to verify your email address by following this link, you will be reminded every time you go to your new website until you do this. If you don't receive this email please call 1 800-557-0212 and we can verify your account for you. If you are prompted to leave a message just tell us your name, phone number and USERNAME, we'll do the rest.
  
  
• Link your domain name - by following these instructions

By default Site Statistics for your site is turned "off" - you must manually turn it on or choose the Google Analytics option.

• To turn analytics on, log into your website and go to Control Panel>Site Properties>Special Features>Site Statistics
• Choose 'Built In' for the build in analytics.
• or Choose Google Analytics - you must simply paste in the UA# which you can retrieve from your Google Analytics account
  

Here are 5 minutes of videos and one web page to get you started:

1. Editing Content of Your Website  (3 minute video)
2. Add Pages to Your Website (1 minute video)
3. Making Links (1 minute video)
4. ABC's of Building a Website (reading)