Question about Domains and Web Hosting

[FilledVoid]

Hi all,
Ive recently got the interest to try my hand at probably blogging a bit or maybe jotting down some nonsense somewhere on the web to mark my presence. Now my questions are what would be a stepwise approach to the following.

Naturally it would be
Get A domain Name
Get some Hosting plan (Not interested in free hosts)
Start Blogging

Now before I do the above what are the recommended features or steps I should have or basically would you recommend on getting for a hassle free experience for the above. (Basically the things you want or expect to get from the provider)

I liked the way wordpress blogs looked so I might try that out. Now I know that PHP is a requisite for this to work. Other than that is there anything else that I should ask for when inquiring for the domain name or hosting package? Please post me some links for guides on this process where applicable. I've been searching thinkdigit for a guide which I recall being on here which showed the process from the beginning to the end but I cant seem to find it . Any other links would be deeply appreciated.

By the way my only intention is to do something as a past time so I don't want to have to sell a kidney to get the above services either

Thanks in advance

 

[Sukhdeep Singh]

Checkout the support system, thats all i can advice as a host myself

 

[FilledVoid]

So you would rate a hosting service giving 90% weightage to their support. After hearing this it makes me kind of alarmed... Do servers frequently go down and stuff?

 

[Sukhdeep Singh]

No i dont give entire wiegthage but yes for me its most important Servers getting down.......Not often, atleast mine dont Can't say for others

 

[FilledVoid]

Do providers allow for changng their hostnig plans midway? Like for example sa I join for Plan A from Provider X can I join Plan B from the same provider (Maybe I choose to do so cause I require more space/Bandwidth) ?

 

[ravi_9793]

Few basic Things you must ask before you choose any host
1) Are you over selling.
2) Uptime guarantee......
3) Money back-->> if the host failed to provide, as stated...than will he give back money.

4) Server configuration.
5) Server IP-->> to test server location.
6) Server datacenter location.
7) Server upload speed.

 

[Sukhdeep Singh]

Do providers allow for changng their hostnig plans midway? Like for example sa I join for Plan A from Provider X can I join Plan B from the same provider (Maybe I choose to do so cause I require more space/Bandwidth) ?

Yes, almost all do Most of the times, it can even be fullt automatic