If you're creating a community web site or a business web site, one of the first things on your agenda will be finding good, dependable, affordable web hosting for your site. In most cases, a free hosting service isn't going to work. You'll quickly discover that there's a wide range of prices in what's considered affordable, and in what services come with your web hosting package.
What to look for in an affordable web hosting package
Before you make any decisions, it's important that you know what you'll need. Sit down and plan what you'll be using your web site for, and what your server will need to provide for you in order for you to do it. As an example, if you plan to host a web-based community forum, you'll probably need a web host that provides PHP and an SQL database. If, on the other hand, you're planning on running Active Server Pages, or .NET applications, you'll need a server running Windows rather than a UNIX or Linux code base.
Know what you're looking for before you start looking. It will be far easier than having to change once you get started.
Watch Out for A La Carte Plans
Add-ons can turn an affordable web hosting package into an expensive proposition before you know it. Most hosting packages will allow you to add on a la carte items as you need them, but it can get pricey quickly. If the web host you choose charges a setup fee for the shopping cart you didn't think you'd need, it could easily be the equivalent of several month's hosting fees. Instead, you should decide what you'll need, then get more than you think you'll use.
Even the cheapest web host should provide 24/7 support.
Ideally, your web hosting provider should acknowledge any request for help within an hour with an estimated time of completion. They should provide you with a searchable knowledge base and tutorials to guide you through most common tasks you'll need to do, and support desk help should be available to you online at all times.
No matter how low cost a web host is, if it's not working, then you're paying too much. Before you sign with a web hosting provider, monitor them for a while, or ask around on forums about their record. A hosting service MUST be reliable. A hosting service that can't keep your site online and available will only lose you business and money.
To view our top recommended companies for web hosting, visit: Recommended Web Hosting Companies Online.
Carrie Reeder is the owner of eZerk, an informational website with articles and the latest news about various topics, including web hosting.
Deciding on the best web hosting company for a web... Read More
Whenever you have a technical question that needs answering, you... Read More
You're the webmaster of more than one website. You design... Read More
As a web host reseller, one of your most important... Read More
Managed Hosting Services are used primarily by companies that either... Read More
Hosting Support ? An IntroductionImagine yourself as a person running... Read More
You've already got a website, but your current hosting provider... Read More
The ProblemToo often new webmasters sign-up with the first good... Read More
What is Dedicated Web Hosting? Dedicated web hosting can alleviate... Read More
First of all, some people are worried that they will... Read More
In search of a webhosting company for personal or small... Read More
If you're creating a community web site or a business... Read More
Bandwidth in its simplest terms refers to the amount of... Read More
This article describes the technology behind multiple server hosting and... Read More
There comes a time when the internet bug hits us... Read More
These days, web hosting companies are popping up faster than... Read More
Deciding how to host your ecommerce Web site and what... Read More
AutoResponders are nifty scripts that run in your web server... Read More
"Unmanaged dedicated servers" - this is a pretty uninviting term... Read More
Why is dedicated hosting such a big hit on the... Read More
So you want to publish a web site do you?... Read More
Virtually anyone with an email address knows what Spam is,... Read More
--Company Email Addresses--Web hosting companies should provide company email accounts... Read More
John is very happy today, for the first time in... Read More
Linux web hosting is so named, based on the operating... Read More
If you are anything like me, you'd probably like to... Read More
The price of dedicated hosting services has really come down... Read More
If there's one thing that people love it is a... Read More
General rule of thumb is not to sign up for... Read More
There are literally hundreds of thousands of web hosting companies... Read More
Bandwidth explained:Bandwidth is the amount of data transfer that you... Read More
If you're looking for a hosting web package cheap there... Read More
Most Internet service providers do not give you static IP... Read More
What is web hosting you ask? Web hosting refers to... Read More
Web hosting services play a vital part in your website's... Read More
You're the webmaster of more than one website. You design... Read More
1. Does the company offer telephone support or 24/7 email... Read More
Anybody who decides to get a web hosting service or... Read More
Most web site hosting services like the one you're probably... Read More
Choosing a host or switching hosts can be an agonizing... Read More
"Unmanaged dedicated servers" - this is a pretty uninviting term... Read More
Hosting Support ? An IntroductionImagine yourself as a person running... Read More
Many people think that all web hosts offer the same... Read More
All the good ones are taken. The really good ones,... Read More
You've made your decision to move from your website from... Read More
What is a Dedicated / Virtual Dedicated server and why... Read More
The next concern for you after designing and developing web... Read More
After much Net surfing and looking at all the offers... Read More
It's time to choose! Should you spend some money to... Read More
Web Hosting is a service. Auto mechanics also provide a... Read More
Web Hosting |