This document discusses the three types of internet hosting: domain hosting, email hosting, and web hosting. It explains that domain hosting involves directing web and email traffic to the proper locations. Email hosting provides post office services like POP accounts and auto-responders. Web hosting stores website files and provides tools for analyzing site traffic. All three types can be provided by different vendors and are important for online marketing.

1. Module 1 : Section 4
Internet Hosting
Objectives of Section 4
Upon completion of this Section, the e-PRO Candidate will be able to:
Recognize the three types of Internet hosting and how they apply to the
communication and marketing efforts of real estate professionals.
Understand the importance of the most overlooked type of Internet
hosting -- Domain Hosting -- and know the value and control a good
Domain host can bring to their marketing efforts.
Describe products and functionality offered by e-mail hosting services:
Listservs, Auto-responders, POP accounts, e-mail forwarding
and unlimited Alias addressing.
Key Concept: Hosting
Hosting is the use of storage space and resources on Internet servers.
For most people, it is less expensive to rent space on someone else's
Internet server than to own and maintain an Internet server of their
own.
When most people hear the word "hosting" in the context of the
Internet, their first thought is web site hosting. Many believe this to be
the only type of hosting. In fact, web hosting (storage space for files
retrievable through the use of the Internet) is only one of three types
of Internet hosting, all of which are essential to establishing and
maintaining a presence on the Internet. Each type of hosting has its
own value and importance. They are not necessarily tied to one
another and each can be provided by different vendors, or the same
vendor.
Consider the following:
• Your domain host does not need to be the company that hosts
your website or your e-mail.
• Your e-mail host does not need to be the company that hosts
your domain and your website.

2. • Your website host does not need to be the company that hosts
your domain or your e-mail.
In order of importance of your understanding, the three types of
hosting are:
domain hosting,
e-mail hosting, and
webhosting.
Key Concept: Domain Hosting
Your domain host should offer you the ability to point any request to
your domain to any web site you indicate, and direct your e-mail to
any POP account.
The first level of the domain name (TLD) usually indicates the type of
entity that owns the domain: (.com) commercial, (.mil) military,
(.edu) educational, (.gov) government, and more.
When a Second Level Domain is registered (YourBrand.com), the
Registry requires the Registrant (owner) to provide two Domain
Name Servers (primary and secondary) for each domain. If you don't
own your own domain name servers when you register a domain
name, you can use the services of someone who does, by providing
their DNS numbers to the Registry, as the Primary and Secondary
address for your domain.
If you own a domain you can view your own Domain Name Servers by
going to http://geektools.com/whois.php
Your domain host should make sure that web requests to your domain
locate your web site, whether or not the person attempting to find
your site typed WWW into the browser address box. It is easy for the
domain host to make the proper entry so that your site can be reached
whether or not the www is included. Other things might prevent a
"call" from reaching its desired destination, but it should not be
because the www was not typed in. You might also find this to be an
issue when trying to find a web site yourself and the web site is only
reachable when the www. is entered. A properly set up web site should
be accessed with only the domain and it should not require www.
Key Concept: Third Level Domains

3. Your domain host should offer you the ability to inexpensively create
third level domains. For example:
http://123RiverStreet.YourDomain.com
http://FeaturedProperty.YourDomain.com
http://Sold.YourName.com
http://CondoProject.YourName.com
Third level domains help you market the services and benefits you
offer, as well as market yourself at the same time.
The most famous Third Level Domain is WWW.
An adequate domain host should be able to replace the WWW with any
description or wording the holder of the Second Level Domain
requests.
Examples:
http://Listings.YourBrand.com - this could point to a page with current
listings
http://Sold.YourBrand.com - this could point to a web page of sold
listings
http://OpenHouse.YourBrand.com - this could point to a page of open
house schedules
There are many web-marketing tools available to today's real estate
professional to help you 'differentiate' yourself from your competition;
tools such as online newsletters, virtual tours and others. Most of
these tools can be used with any web site... because they offer you a
unique URL. Often that URL is so long that when embedded in an e-
mail message, it breaks the link, making the link ineffective. A way to
prevent this and brand your domain as well, is by using Third Level
Domains and a technique known as masking.
Masking and Third Level Domains
Examples:
http://internetcrusade.com/Products/EmailhostingServices.asp
This is a unique URL for InternetCrusade's Email services. This URL
would look better in an e-mail marketing piece as:
http://EmailProducts.InternetCrusade.com

4. Clicking on the URL http://EmailProducts.InternetCrusade.com would
take the visitor to the URL
(http://internetcrusade.com/Products/EmailhostingServices.asp).
The browser would indicate the proper Branded Third Level Domain in
the Address indicator of the Browser (http://
http://EmailProducts.InternetCrusade.com).
This is masking.
Key Concept: E-mail Hosting
An e-mail host is the entity that provides you with Virtual Post Office
services. Many real estate professionals are provided some of the basic
post office services, such as limited POP Accounts, as part of a
monthly ISP fee.
Nearly every hosting company will promote their services in an
offering site or an ad. Read that information carefully, looking for the
specific information noted below. In the event the information is not
detailed, or it is not clear, you must ask the company for answers.
Normally each hosting company's web site will have a section titled
"Contact Us" or some similar name. It will often give you a list of e-
mail addresses and phone numbers to call to get your answers. Don't
assume that you will get all services with all host offerings. You must
ask, to be certain.
Virtual Post Office Functionality
POP Account: While the general concept of e-mail is that it is byte
size and takes up no space, the fact is that it uses cyber resources
(servers, licenses, connectivity, etc). More and more e-mail is arriving
with attachments such as photo and WAV (audio) files, which require
server storage (albeit temporary), increasing the need for additional
"resources."
POP Account services include the physical space where e-mail resides
(on the Internet server of the e-mail host) until downloaded. E-PROs
need to know:
The size restrictions on their POP accounts and the cost for additional
space. Average POP Account limits with ISPs is 100 MB(Mega Bytes)
Size limitations on attachments. Some e-mail hosts restrict the size of

5. any given incoming or outgoing message. This can be as small as 5MB,
including attachments. Make sure that your e-mail host allows files large
enough to include pictures and data tables.
What occurs when your account goes over the limit? Does the account
reject any e-mail sent to the account if the maximum has been reached
and does it notify the sender that the message was rejected?
Are there restrictions on the number of messages you can send out at
one time? Some anti-spam measures could create obstacles for your
mass e-mail campaigns.
POP account features:
Vacation Message - can be used as an auto reply confirmation
of receipt of e-mail
Web Controls - make changes to your e-mail account on a web site,
from any computer with access to the Internet
Web Mail - allows access to your POP account mail from any
computer connected to the Internet, via a password-protected web
site
Unlimited e-mail Addressing - the ability to create e-mail addresses
on the fly, which can be used for ad tracking and SPAM control
E-mail Forwarding - Re-directing e-mail sent to your domain to
any mail box (POP account or any e-mail-enabled appliance, cellular
phone, or wireless handheld device)
Tip: One way to avoid a full e-mail box is to check e-mail at least as
frequently as voice mail. Remember to respond promptly. Every piece
of e-mail is a marketing piece.
Auto-Responders
An auto-responder is the Internet's answer to fax-on-demand. When
someone sends e-mail to the e-mail address assigned to an auto-
responder, a pre-written e-mail reply message is sent to the sending
person's computer, automatically, usually within a few seconds. Like
fax on demand, an auto-responder works 24/7/365. Unlike fax-on-
demand, an auto-responder can transmit a 75-page report in a few
seconds and can respond to thousands of simultaneous requests from
anywhere in the world.
Whenever you have a piece of content that you want to make available
to people in a speedy and convenient format, an auto-responder

6. should be a consideration. In the signature line of your e-mail you can
have a statement:
For more information about my sold listings, click here:
MailTo:SoldListings@YourName.com
or
MailTo:HomeBuyingTips@YourName.com
or
MailTo:StagingYourHomeForShowing@YourName.com
Note: The use of "MailTo" in front of an e-mail address converts your
text into a "Hot Link" and when "clicked" on, will open a new e-mail
message properly addressed to you.
When a request is made of the Auto-Responder, the e-mail address of
the requester is sent to the owner of the Auto-Responder. You will
know they are interested in the information you made available
(information based on the services you provide as seen in the
examples above). Just as important, you have their e-mail address to
follow-up and market.
You can purchase auto-responder accounts from your e-mail host or
your ISP. Some e-mail software programs such as Outlook allow you
to create auto-responders. A POP account set up within Outlook will
only send the auto-responder if your computer is turned on and
connected to the Internet.
For a sample auto-responder, click on
MenuofServices@InternetCrusade.com
Listservs
Listservs are great (and inexpensive) online community-building tools.
Some e-mail hosts can provide you with a type of e-mail account that
allows you to subscribe groups of people so that everyone gets copies
of everyone else's e-mail sent to the group address (the address of the
Listserv). This allows for an e-mail conversation to take place.
Listserv activity can also take place through a designated web site.
The web site contains the same content as the e-mail discussions but
the web platform allows for easier navigation between categories and
subjects. Web format also permits searching for certain topics and
access to previous issues. You will experience these kinds of online

7. communities with your Module Digests and your upcoming subscription
to the popular community RealTalk.
From the web, you also have a 'Watching' feature that allows you to
create a page full of links to your favorite posts or posts you'd like to
follow. This is quite useful if don't visit very frequently but want to see
the latest replies to a posting without having to search for it. You can
also request an e-mail alert of activity on your watched threads.
The online communities postings can be viewed through the
convenience of your inbox or by accessing it through a web page. It is
entirely up to subscriber to decide which format ideally fits their
lifestyle.
Key Concept: Web Hosting
Web Hosting companies "rent" storage space to others (usually
measured in megabytes(MB) or gigabytes(GB)) on their Internet
servers. Their fees are usually based on a combination of space and
bandwidth or throughput.
Web Hosting companies can provide many types of services, including
web site management tools, which will provide you with web site
statistics way beyond the counters seen on many web sites. Web
statistics software is thorough and powerful when used, and it is
inexpensive. It will help you gauge the effectiveness of your Internet
marketing efforts by providing information such as:
Page views per day, week, month, year
Number of people on the site at any point in time
Referring sites
Page where viewers enter site
Page where viewers exit site
Operating system and browser of visitors to the site
Real estate professionals have varying needs for web hosting space
and bandwidth, based on their overall marketing plan and their
marketing budget. There are many choices of services. Do not spend
any money on a web site until you have completed your Technology
Plan of Action and know what, why, where, when, how, who and how
much.
Hosting Facilities

8. Common to all three types of hosting, is the need for a secure facility
(a hardened data center).
How long could you stay in business if your web site were not visible to
the public, or probably more immediately, if your e-mail stopped
working? Because your communication and marketing are important to
you, the physical location and fail-safes of your Internet Hosts should
be a high priority. Servers accessing the Internet can be located in
office buildings and even garages. If you are using your domain, e-
mail and the web in your business, and your business is more than a
hobby to you, you will want the security and services provided by a
hardened data center. Services such as:
Security cameras
Security officers
Redundant power systems - 36-hour full power generator - important in
the era of "rolling blackouts"
24x7x365 monitoring and maintenance - servers pinged frequently
HVAC and fire protection - allowing for the smothering of a fire by forcing
the oxygen out of the room as opposed to dowsing everything (including
the servers) with high pressure blasts of water