So, you're done with the free web hosts. Gone through Geocities, Angelfire, Fortune City. You're exhausted with the pop- ups and banners. You want a real site. But where to go? You look around the net, and the possibilities seem endless. 20 MB of space for only $20 a month! Wow! That's fantastic!
Or is it? Way back when I bought my domain and signed up with a web host, I was the typical "the internet is so wonderful" optimist. I was thrilled to find something that sounded just about what I kind of wanted - and bam, just like that, $300 poorer and with a useless chunk of web space that wouldn't even work properly. My domain addresses wouldn't connect, my content was being warped - things weren't looking too good for me.|
A year later and much the wiser, I know better. My site is working, I have a lovely, helpful support team, and I now know what I want. But, that's all well and good for me - I have had the added advantage of working for a web hosting company. But what about the rest of you out there who don't have my experience, who see a world of opportunity and are about to jump into the cesspit of money loss and disappointment.
So, I figure, why not let you in on a useful hint, one that may save you from misfortune. What is it, you ask? Well, simply - know what you want! Sounds way too simple for me to be handing it out, right? I don't think so! Sure, you have a vague idea of what you want, but do you know what all of it means? The "mumbo jumbo", so to speak?
I didn't think so! Listen up, sit back, relax, and before you go jumping off the deep end, scroll down and read a bit.
MB of space MB? Eh? Well, MB stands for MegaByte. This is basically the amount of storage space you will have. You can figure out how much space you will need if you spend a little bit of time thinking about what is going onto your site - how graphic intensive it will be, how many pages, any multimedia or music, etc. Make an approximation in your head and then add another 50. This will allow you to add on and expand. It's always better to have too much, rather than too little.
Pricing (Monthly/Yearly) the payment plans are generally either monthly or yearly. Make sure, even if you want a year or more of hosting, to start with a monthly plan! If you give them $3/400 for a year, and then they end up being useless, I'll bet you that you won't be getting that money back. If you start with a monthly account, you can always upgrade to a yearly account. And if you can't upgrade and you're really worried, add up how much it will be for a year, and set that money aside to slowly add back onto your credit card every month.
Domain Registration do you already own a domain name? A domain name is basically the www.yourdomainname.com. Most of web hosts will provide domain name registration in their packages. If you already own your own, you will have to transfer it to their name servers. Make sure this is possible! Ask them if they will do it for you, or ask for directions on how to do it yourself. If you don't own a name already, though, how many will you need? Will the one be enough? Do you need redirects; do you want extra names attached to sub-domains?
And then you need the actual name! If you're completely stumped, have no ideas, there are some really good places online which will create a list for you.
http://www.1ststar.com/cgi-bin/fswiz/wizard.pl?show_wizard=1 & http://www.ecxmall.com/domains/
Make sure your name is relevant to what's on your site - people tend to get annoyed if your website is called "cool- cars.com" and it ends up being about cushion embroidery.
Email Accounts there are quite a variety of options in this area. You have mail servers, mailing lists, redirects, catch all. If you're going to be getting a substantial amount of mail through your website, you might want a mail server - an actual site online where you have your own personal mail box. It would usually be mail.yoursitename.com. Mailing lists are sometimes offered and sometimes not - if you're going to be sending out a newsletter, promotional info, etc to a lot of people you might want to go with this option. A mail catch all basically does what its name suggests - catches emails with typos, wrong names etc, but have your domain written properly in the address, (i.e. typo@yourdomain.com). And finally, mail redirects, which give you an email address, but redirects emails sent to it to another mailbox - for example, if you have johnny@johnnyssite.com, it could redirect to your hotmail account.
There are many other added options as well, which you need to think about. If you want to have multimedia on your page(s), Front Page support, Access/database support, cgi-bin, custom 404 error pages, search engine submission. Sit down and make a list of what you need.
But before you do anything, send the support team of the web host an email. Ask them if they provide all of your specific requirements; describe what you are looking for. Be friendly and concise, and see how they react. If they are prompt and friendly or slow and unpleasant. You are always going to end up needing some sort of support during your
hosting, and this will be a good indication of what kind of assistance you will get further down the line.
Basically what I'm telling you here is to think before you spend. So many people have tales of woe and disappointment; don't end up being one of them. There are no guarantees here, but make it as close to it as possible.
Author: M6.Net
Reprinted from
Zongoo.com Daily Press & Consumer Information
Choosing the right host is an important aspect in lowering your web hosting costs. The web hosting industry, boasting several thousand web hosts, is still young and growing at a remarkable pace; hence finding the right host is not only difficult, but very time consuming; fortunately though it is worth the time and effort. There are a few things to keep in mind when exploring; when deciding to form a partnership with the host. Below are just a few things to consider, which directly attribute to final cost.
Disk Space - Knowing how much web space your web site needs and compensating for a bit extra, for growth. For example, if your web site needs 200 MB of disk space, look for the plan which offers at least 250 to 300 MB of web space; this will prevent a large unexpected bill at the end of the month when high priced costs, charged by most web hosts for extra disk space usage, are added on to your bill. As a rule of thumb, an average web site should cost you no more than $1 per 10 MB
Bandwidth - Figure out how much bandwidth (data transfer) your web site uses. As above, ensure you get more bandwidth than your site uses. For example, if your website uses 8GB bandwidth per month, then choose a plan, which offers at least 8 or 10GB bandwidth per month. This again will prevent 'spikes' of over usage, leading to higher extra costs. As a reference, an average web site should pay no more than $3 per GB for bandwidth usage.
Block buying - Ask the web host if they have "block buying" facilities for purchasing projected extra disk space or bandwidth. But, be careful, if your web site needs only 2 GB extra bandwidth, you may have to buy an extra package in blocks of 5GB bandwidth; in this case, look for the host which will allow you to purchase extra disk space and bandwidth allowance as per your needs, this is crucial to cost savings
Note: Ensure that you know the over-usage allowance rules; you need to know what happens if your web site uses more disk space or bandwidth than you have been allocated. The web host who informs you of possible over-usage well in advance, allowing you to take measures to reduce or budget for extra usage, is 'worth their weight in gold'.
Number of web sites - if you have more than one web site, sign up an account with a web host who provides multiple domains hosted on one account; this will work out a lot cheaper than an account per website.
A good tip would be to ask your friends and colleagues if they want to host their websites with you on one account. For example at M6.net a person or persons with 4 websites can save roughly $20 per month by signing up an M6-2, multiple hosting account.
Applications and databases - Ensure that all the applications your web site uses (FrontPage, ASP pages, databases, cgi, PHP, etc.), are supported within the chosen account type. Find out if there are any extra fees for particular applications or associated database support. For example allot of hosts charge extra set-up fees to install FrontPage, which may be avoided by choosing another host offering the same features with no extra costs.
Mail Server - Emails are the lifeblood of your online business. Ensure that you get a sufficient number of email addresses with your own domain name (preferably unlimited); these are necessary for other email features like forwarders, and auto responders, etc. There is no need to pay an extra fee for use of a mail server as many hosts offer this service now for free, within the hosting plan.
Avoid long-term contracts - Many web hosts offer huge discounts on yearly or half yearly payments in advance, this may appear a good way to go, but note how long you are locked in. If possible avoid long-term contracts until you are sure about the services and reliability offered by that particular host. Paying on a monthly basis obviously has its benefits. If there are concerns with your service encouraging you to seek a new host elsewhere, you may lose out on many months of hosting fees when breaking a yearly or half-yearly contract; but, if the necessity arises, a loss of only a few days to close a troublesome account, is preferable.
Thinking ahead with reference to an established plan of action will help you avoid most surprises, and definitely help towards cutting costs, short term or long-term. Work out your growth rate and project future expansions. Keep a good record of past and present bandwidth and web space usage, this will help to project future needs.
Savings are mostly a matter of common sense, but in this industry of high technology most people forget this rule and try to look for the best, most efficient and most expensive technical programs and software to save them a buck or two. As in most businesses good cost effective groundwork is the best start to cutting costs.
http://www.m6.net
Reprinted from
Zongoo.com Daily Press & Consumer Information
Imagine having a filing system that could withstand a nuclear war. Hmm, I wouldn't like to prove it, but in theory that is what the Internet could resist with its virtual existence. If you transfer files of information around the Internet, operating in virtual space, it would be difficult to lose that information if you had a mind not to.
Possessing a website has advantages for many varieties of users; serving a range of different purposes.
For example, Net presence is of enormous benefit to businesses of all shapes and sizes. Conventional filing systems, where everything is stored as a hard copy, are cumbersome, and space consuming. With a website, all existing documents can be transferred one way or another, to the Internet and neatly organized using 'hyperlinks' (virtual pathways) for quick, easy reference. You no longer need to waste your time digging through a mile high pile of paper to find what your looking for, with your own website all it takes is the click of a 'mouse'.
A website wouldn't only save you space and time, but cost too. The Internet is worldwide and a website can be used as a powerful promotional and marketing tool, viewed by prospective clients around the world. One can see what you offer in Hong Kong and Madrid at the same time.
Imagine the money you'd save on promotional printing costs. Your website could reach the four corners of the globe and be available 24 hours a day. There is no longer a need to allocate high budgets to printing promotional material for prospective clients, they are able to access the information instantaneously, and download what they need.
Imagine, neatly organized links that move you, quickly to your destination.
A website is your identity on the Internet, kind of like an interactive 'business card'. It can be the prospective client's first point of contact, presented by a knockout, easily updated, design, your site can sell you, your products and your services.
Once you have organized your web site and patted yourself on the back, that you have made your first flight into 'cyberspace', your next step is to have somewhere to 'dock' it, a place to put your website. A place such as M6.net - http://www.m6.net a 'web host' a place to 'host' your web site.
A web hosting company provides a space for you to put your web page documents (FrontPage, Dreamweaver files), images (gifs, jpgs), and more advanced pages such as ASP's, those pages that have intelligence behind them creating such items as forms, news, bbs, chat; interaction.
If the Host is clever enough, friendly, supportful; it will offer a whole range of facilities, that you or your webmaster can take advantage of, to create an interactive, humanized, mechanized and automated business presence, on the Internet.
For businesses in the new millennium there is no future without an Internet presence. Trade costs will lower; communication will get smarter and faster. Reliability will be greater. Thus there will be a vast gap between businesses with Net presence and those without.
Every one will have a presence on the Internet some day, whether it is a corporate business, Aunty Flo's bric-a-brac stall, or the family's photo library.
Alec Ellis GloPro - www.glopro.com
Reprinted from
Zongoo.com Daily Press & Consumer Information
Hosting your web sites on your own
dedicated server may seem a little expensive in comparison to shared web hosting, but the end result is more advantageous. Shared web hosting, no matter how well managed, cannot be 100% reliable and stable. However if you have your own dedicated server you can manage to avoid most of the variables affecting the reliability and stability of a server, commonly experienced by shared hosting accounts; variables such as: overload, bad codes and scripts from other users (especially beginners); and, too many applications and components uploaded, and so on.
On a dedicated server you will install only software and applications you want to use, while on a shared hosting server you will find a host of other software and applications installed for other users.
By the very nature of the account, a dedicated server: reduces your dependency on the web host; and bypasses time delays and possible expenses incurred from these. With dedicated server hosting you can provide instant support to your own clients whenever required, which is not possible if you are on a shared server. A reliable, and fast support service is vital for your own business growth just like the stability and reliability you wish for your own website. In business, reliability is reflected through word-of-mouth as one of the most effective promotional activities.
For people with clients, such as Graphic Designers and Web Designers a dedicated server is invaluable. A
dedicated server will bring extra income into the studio, not just as a
hosting facility, but, as a designer knows only too well, for the extra 'bread and butter' income value. If you have 24hour access to your own
dedicated server then you can adjust, correct or update a clients website in minutes, allowing you to keep the dollar back in your studio and not in someone else's. Ready availability results in reduced labor costs for the client, but higher studio-income frequency for the designer. Hence you will see the return of all your regular offline clients, bringing their web work with them.
The need for a
dedicated server to your average shared server user is realized when stats tell you: how quickly people left your site because it was taking too much time to download; or how many daily visitors you are down by, because your site was not up. The true negative is the worry of how many lost visitors could have been your future paying-customers. The loss could easily equal the value of the upgrade to a Dedicated Server!
For a business, a website that is quickly downloadable and up all the time gives the visitor encouragement that your service is just as reliable, hence you will be more likely to make a sale. It will also enhance the company's image and encourage existing customers to refer your service to others. This will result in more sales for less promotion.
http://www.m6.net
Reprinted from
Zongoo.com Daily Press & Consumer Information
Below is an example of a pre-sales email you may may use as a guide for writing your own. It includes just a sampling of some of the questions you may need answers to before choosing a host.
When you write your email MAKE SURE you do NOT ask questions that are already answered on the hosts web site! This can immediately make a host fear you will not read directions and become a tech support 'nightmare' To verify info posted on their site, state the question as such... "I see on your site it says... Is this still accurate?" The majority of hosts appreciate a domain owner that will try to find the answers themselves before taxing tech support. Remember the following are not questions to be asked but rather they are answers to be found. Also note the time you send the email and the time it is responded to.
Dear [Host Name],
I am investigating virtual web hosting solutions for a [insert description of organization or site here]. I imagine [or I have] a site that would require [insert short list of site details here. Example: heavy cgi or PHP number of emails etc, if you have an existing site insert URL]. I believe your [name] Package will work for our site and would like to ask a few questions just to be sure.
Noting the package I am considering:
Do you have an nonprofit or charitable price?
Is there a discount if I pre-pay for a number of months in advance? If so what is it?
What payment methods are available? How many months in advance am I required to pay? Is there a setup fee?
Is there a trial period or money-back guarantee?
Do you have a bandwidth/transfer/hits limit? If so, what is it and is it monthly or daily? If unlimited, is it really unlimited? What restrictions are in place? Do you have this information posted?
May I visit other sites hosted by you? I would like to see the websites and email the owners.
How long will it take, from the time I submit my order, for me to have access to the site and begin developing?
May I use my own domain name? and if so, what seems to be the current average time it takes to [transfer or register] a domain name with Internic so that everyone will be able to view it? Will my domain name work with or without the http://www. part attached to it?
If you register my domain name, I require that the name belong to me, and that I be free to host it somewhere else if that is unfortunately my decision in the future. Is this the case for your service?
Will I have my own IP number or is it shared?
Is there any requirement to place anything at all on my pages, other than my own material? If so, what is it?
What type of support do you offer? Email? Phone? Public? Hours? Limit? Average Response Time?
Out of the space provided, how much is used by the base installation of the server?
What is the OS and version of the server?
What are the hardware specs of the server?
How many sites are currently running on the server? How many more sites do you think you will put on it before it is full? How do you decide what constitutes a full server?
Do you host adult sites? [if you are not planning to have an adult site hosted it's best to be on a server that does not allow them because they use a great amount of resources and tend to slow down servers]
Is there any way for us to set up a mailing list for announcements? If so, how many addresses are allowed per list and how many lists are allowed?
Will I have 24 hour FTP and Telnet access?
Will I have anonymous FTP?
I notice this package offers [number of] email accounts. With these email accounts, can I send and receive email from and to them? Will I be able to use my own domain name as their SMTP server? Is there a 'catch all' account so that anything@mydomain.com will come to it?
Can I setup, change, and delete the email accounts by myself or do I need to ask you to do it for me?
Can I change my account password at any time? Do I need your assistance to do this?
Do you provide a full, free CGI dir? Can I run CGI scripts outside of the CGI directory?
Is there a limit to how many scripts I can install?
Do you provide full shell access? For example, could I tar/gzip files up, or run a perl script to edit all the files or create some pages from data, while on the server?
Can I debug a problematic CGI script on the server?
What version of Perl do you use? Does it contain a full set of modules?
Do you offer a stats package? If so, which one? May I view an example? Will I also have access to the raw log files? Does the space used by the stats/logs count against my allotted disk space?
May I view your Terms Of Service? [if their Terms Of Service contains small print or buried rules, ask a couple questions that apply to the 'hidden areas' and see if the person who replies to you is even aware of their servers rules - this helps to assure that the staff is adequately educated about the servers they are supporting]
[add any other questions that may be specific to your web site - If it requires cron jobs to run be sure to ask if the host allows them.. if you require PHP or ASP be sure to ask if your host offers it.. If you use editors like Frontpage make sure you ask if your host supports it - are you planning to do business on-line? If so make sure you ask what e-commerce solutions the host provides and what the cost is.]
How long have you been in business under this name? Do you have goals to upgrade and expand from your current situation? If so, what steps are being taken? (a brief idea is all I am asking for)
I have found about 7 hosts that seem to offer what I need at about the same price. In your opinion, what reason is the best reason for choosing you over the others?
Please feel free to explain anything you think I might have missed. Let me know of any reason you would be suitable or unsuited for my site. [This is a great way to see how interested your host is in you, and its services!]
By Debbie Gilespi - www.futurequest.net
Reprinted from
Zongoo.com Daily Press & Consumer Information
(As Told By Web Hosting Professionals)
Annalie Drusch, Director of Corporate Communications, Rackspace Managed Hosting ( www.rackspace.com )
1. Excellent Customer Support. Your hosting provider needs to be there for you 24/7 and give you instant access to the technicians you need to solve your problem. Ask them how long it takes for them to typically respond to a customer. A good test is to call them in the middle of the night to see if you can get to a live, level 3 support tech at 2 a.m. Rackspace doesn't even use an automated attendant - a live person answers the phone 24/7. We're known in the industry for our Fanatical Support which is our philosophy that drives responsiveness and value in everything we do for our customers.
2. A Rock Solid Infrastructure. Confirm that they offer a multihomed network powered by multiple bandwidth providers to ensure redundancy. Also, investigate your hoster's Service Level Agreement to make sure it has "teeth" so you hoster will do what they promise. Rackspace offers a 100% guarantee on its network availability and has achieved 100% network uptime for the last 2 1/2 years.
3. Financial Stability. If you're running mission critical operations, you can't afford to be with a hosting company that may not be in business in a few months. What if they close down? It could be detrimental to your own business. Ask the hosting provider to show you proof of their financials and longevity of service. Rackspace has been profitable for 2 1/2 years and is net income positive. We've continued to grow through turbulent times and are committed to being here for our customers.
Tamara Field, President of Apollo Hosting ( www.apollohosting.com )
1. REAL Live Support - Call their tech support number NOT their sales number, and see if you can talk directly to a technician. Or go on their live chat and see if you are able to talk to a technician. How long did it take for you to get someone on the phone or live chat? That's very important. Just because they say they offer live support, doesn't mean they really have people there when you need them.
2. Guarantees - Money back guarantee, price freeze, uptime, and a guarantee of a refund on unused portions. There are so many hosting companies that don't offer money back on unused months if you cancel early! If you sign up for 1 year, believe it or not, many hosting companies won't give you ANY money back if you cancel 3 months later. A money back guarantee is important as is a prize freeze guarantee. But these days, look for the refund on unused hosting. Many companies don't mention it because they don't offer it.
3. Upgrade Path - If you see your business growing, and you might want more products/services in the future, then you will need an upgrade path. It is a real hassle changing hosting companies. Just getting lots of bandwidth and storage is not the answer. Many customers don't use near the amount of bandwidth and storage that many hosting companies are offering. This is really just a marketing technique for a lot of hosting companies. Look for extra products that they offer. What about ecommerce? Do they offer the best ecommerce products, SPAM/Virus filtering, Marketing tools etc. Remember that these days hosting is not just about storage and bandwidth. It's about a whole lot more. Don't settle for just space on a box . Richard Stevenson, UK Public Relations Manager at 1&1 Internet Ltd ( www.1and1.com )
Finding a no-risk Internet partner
In the UK's currently de-regulated marketplace, anyone can set themselves up as a web hosting or registration company. But how do you know they are not just operating from a shed or bedroom? More importantly, can they guarantee consistent levels of service.
This may sound obvious, but a good first step in checking out the background of a company is to look at their website. Does it look like a "bedroom project", or does it appear to be designed by professionals? Are there support mechanisms, such as email and call-back response facilities on show? Although this is no guarantee of quality and service reliability, it can give you clues to likely quality of the service you are considering.
Next, ask your friends, colleagues and associates who have their own websites if they have used the service you are contemplating and how they found the company. It is also useful to seek feedback on the company you plan to use by putting their name into an Internet Search engine and seeing the responses that result. Focus on support services, ease of use, technology and, of course, price.
Considerations when choosing a Web Hosting service
Richard Stevenson, UK PR Manager for 1&1 says, "There is a great deal of variety in the charges that companies make for domain registration and hosting services. The quality of the service you will receive is key and the level of technical support and after-sales service is a very important consideration. Secondly, it's all very well for companies to offer competitive rates, but you also need a set of software tools to develop your site. You should be sure to ask whether these will be provided free by your host, or will they be expensive extras? Finally, flexibility is important. One should check that you will not be tied into a contract which prevents you changing packages or companies".
Top 3 considerations when choosing a Web Host
Do they offer a high degree of technical support and after-sales service? What software, if any, does the company provide? Are you tied into a contract which prevents you changing packages or companies?
Brenda Sigurdson, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Compare Web Hosts ( www.comparewebhosts.com )
"In working with the industry the past 4 years and getting feedback from our users, here are the 3 most important things I think you need to look for when selecting a host provider and they should be in this order:
1. Management, Staff and Technical Support - do they offer live support? 2. Host Provider's Reputation - how long have they been in business, are they reputable, how many clients and what kind of clients do they serve now? 3. Pricing - what is the value of the hosting package, is competitively priced?"
John Zdanowski co-founder of Affinity Internet, Inc. now CFO of Marketing and Application Service Provider HouseValues ( www.housevalues.com )
"Responsiveness, awesome software and interfaces, and a comprehensive feature set are my top three" said John Zdanowski co-founder of Affinity Internet, Inc. now CFO of Marketing and application service provider HouseValues, the fastest growing company in Washington State two years in a row.
About CPU Review
CPU Review is a web hosting directory and webmaster resource site providing articles on web hosting, interviews with hosting professionals, and showcases featuring hosting companies. ( www.cpureview.com )
Reprinted from
Zongoo.com Daily Press & Consumer Information
The current count of web hosts yields just over a gazillion companies claiming to be number 1, offering the very best in what hosting can offer with prices that simply cannot be beat. Needless to say, it can take a trained eye this day and age to see through their gimmicks and get right down to whether this company has what you want. If you're confused about what to choose, read on.
Before even beginning your search, analyze what your needs are. What features would you like your site to have? What Internet programming languages do you anticipate using? Be sure to take under consideration any feedback form features, database connectivity or any other site virtue that is simply too advanced for pure HTML. Would you like e-mail addresses? Do you have a domain name? How much traffic do you expect to receive? All these questions and more help in the final decision for that one glorious hosting company.
In the midst of your search, you'll probably run across hosting services that offer 'unlimited bandwidth'. This is simply not true. The term 'bandwidth' refers to the amount of information that is past between the hosting servers and the end user. Most hosting companies are connected to high-speed Internet backbones (UUNET, Sprint, AT&T, etc) which charge the hosting company based on their monthly bandwidth from customers. Needless to say, if you rack up upwards of 25Gigs of bandwidth a month, that lacks financial prosperity for your hosting company. Be sure to read the terms of service very carefully with each hosting company that you are considering, especially if they advertise 'free' or 'unlimited' site features.
A hosting company's support services often goes untested, especially with beginners in the site design and hosting world. A skilled and prompt support staff should be one of the most important decision breakers in your mind. If you run into trouble getting a perl script to work, or perhaps your database permissions are not setup correctly on the hosting company's side. You want those problems corrected, and fast. One way to test a service's support staff is to simply send them an e-mail and see how long it takes for a response to be sent. Try to send an inquiry to support and sales and any other department you deem necessary. Ask support if they offer a web language that you like, or ask the sales department if they charge your credit card or hire another company to do it for them. If you receive a response the same day, you can probably rest assured you will receive timely help with any inquiries you have. They should not take more than one complete day to get back to you.
Perform research away from the company's web site. Ask questions through e-mail lists and other mediums to try and get some feedback. If the company lists a testimonials section, look into contacting the authors of the testimonials and start asking questions. The more comments you have, the better understanding you'll have on how that hosting service treats its customers.
Pay attention to how long they have been online. A well-established hosting company of many years will most likely yield the greatest chances of customer successes. Click on the about page if they have one and read it all; after all, you may very well be giving this company your credit card number.
Now, let's get down to the nitty gritty: Does the service offer what you want? Although you may expect your site to remain fairly small, allow yourself some room to grow, represented in megabytes (Mbs). If you're using 5Mbs, look for 10. If you're using 20Mbs, look for 30 or 40. If you are a photographer and want to use your site as a portfolio, you better opt for a more powerful account with more space and bandwidth, as images take more of both. Depending on how many images you have and how popular your site is, look for at least 50Mbs of space and 5Gigs of bandwidth. However, a regular, average size site with mostly html pages should be fine with 15 or 20Mbs and 1 or 2gigs of bandwidth and paying no more than $15 a month, depending on other features.
If you have purchased your own domain name, be sure the hosting company supports them (most do), and be sure they give you at least 1 e-mail address (you@yourdomain.com). A lot of companies offer 10 or more custom pop e-mail accounts with unlimited forwarding address at little or no additional cost, which is a nice feature.
Let's look at a few features and offerings you might find with a Windows and Linux based hosting services.
Linux
Cheaper than Windows in general
Should offer PHP and MySQL (at least and PHP)
May offer telnet accounts at little or no additional cost
Since the Linux operating system and all Linux based languages and databases are free to install and offer for the hosting company, prices are usually lower than Windows. Perl should be supported with sendmail support for any formmail scripts. SSI is nice, along with .htaccess. Linux is the choice of most budget web designers and is also much more secure than Windows. In general, more configuration options and advanced customizations are available with Linux based hosting services.
Windows
Usually more expensive than Linux
Should support ASP
Could support Cold Fusion, Access, SQL Server at an additional cost
Windows based servers are flat out expensive for the hosting company to purchase, so prices are usually a bit higher. Cold Fusion is fairly expensive and is purchased through Allaire, now merged with Macromedia. SQL Server is also purchased for a high price through Microsoft, while Access is almost free. Any important database work should be done through SQL Server. If you want the extra features through a Windows host, be prepared to pay extra. In case you are wondering, Stevesdomain.net rests on Linux based web servers.
The decision rests in your hands. If you are completely new to the design world and know next to nothing about hosting options and features, you may find a Linux based hosting service more to your liking, and for a lower price. If you are using Microsoft Access databases for the web, a Windows based hosting service with Access support would be required for you. Take your time when looking for a hosting company. Test their support services, gather comments from others and weigh your requirements to the company's features and offerings. Remember to leave yourself some room to grow and expand.
Author: Steve
Reprinted from
Zongoo.com Daily Press & Consumer Information
Congratulations! After much thought and consideration, you finally took the plunge and decided it was time to have your own web site. That's a great accomplishment in itself. However, now you're left with another daunting task - selecting a quality web host.
Selecting a good web host is of the utmost importance. However, with all of the technical mumbo jumbo, knowing what to look for can be very intimidating to say the least.
For this reason, I have devised a list of the most frequently asked web hosting questions.
Question : I'm not exactly sure what a web host is. Can you please explain?
Answer : A web host is a company that provides you with server space for your web site. This includes all of the files associated with your web site. When your web address is typed into a browser, the web host displays your pages.
Question : Is it true that a good web host will cost me a lot of money each month?
Answer : Although the old adage "you get what you pay for" still holds true, there are many quality web hosts that are reasonably priced. You can expect to pay $20 - $50 a month for up to 50MB of space depending on the company and your specific needs.
Question : I have been considering hosting my site with a free hosting company, but I'm a little concerned with their reliability. Can you shed some light?
Answer : NEVER host an ecommerce web site with a free hosting service. These services are highly unreliable and could care less if your site goes down. Their main concern is with their advertisers. As long as their ads are up and running, for the most part, they could care less about you or your site.
In addition, sites hosted with free services look very unprofessional. If you've taken the time to get your own web site designed and your own domain name, why would you risk your success and host with a free service? It's just not worth it.
Question : I'm at my wits end. I've been to so many hosting companies and am completely overwhelmed. I have no idea what company to go with. Can you please tell me what I should be looking for in a good host?
Answer : Selecting a quality hosting company can be an intimidating process. Your first consideration should be the company.
. Do they offer fast connections? . Do they have a back-up system in place to protect your data in case there is a power outage? . Do they require you to make payments in advance? . Do they require a long-term contract? . Do they charge set up fees? . How is their customer support? Test them. . Do they provide you with free access to a secure server for order processing? . Do they offer shopping cart software to process your orders? . Do they provide you with an online Web Site Manager? . Do they provide you with an online support manual?
Ask for references. Talk with some of their customers and ask them if they have been satisfied.
Here are some basic features you should look for when selecting a web host:
1) 24/7 reliable tech support 2) Your own domain name (www.yourname.com) 3) At least 10GB of monthly transfer (traffic) 4) A minimum of 20MB - 50MB of server space 5) Unlimited true POP email accounts - name@yourdomain.com 6) Unlimited email aliases 7) Email forwarding 8) Unlimited autoresponders 9) Your own unrestricted CGI-Bin 10) Access to SSL Encryption for secure transactions 11) MySQL Database 12) Perl 13) htaccess password protection 14) Server Side Includes (SSI) support 15) Design (and upload to) your site using Netscape or other HTML editing software 16) Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions for those utilizing FrontPage 17) Unlimited free access to your server via FTP/Telnet 18) Easy access to your log files 19) Statistics on visits to your site 20) Referral Program
When selecting a web host, you must look at the entire picture prior to making your decision. You may find a host that charges $5.00 - $15.00 a month to host your site, however, their technical support may be poor, or your web site may be slow or down a lot.
A lower monthly payment may look appealing, but how much is it actually going to cost you in lost sales? Most likely much more than the amount you'll save.
Although there are many web hosting companies online, there are only two that I can recommend. They are as follows:
Adgrafix - Professional web hosting starting at $19.95/mo. for a 50MB web hosting package. http://www.web-source.net/cgi-bin/t.cgi?l=wh
Host4Profit - Professional web hosting specifically designed for the Internet marketer. $24.95/mo. for 300MB http://www.web-source.net/cgi-bin/t.cgi?l=h4p
Take your time and select the host that best meets your needs. It will be well worth your time and effort in the long run.
About the Author:
Shelley Lowery is the author of Web Design Mastery - An in-depth guide to professional web design. And, Ebook Starter - A complete ebook design kit. Visit Web-Source.net to sign up for a free subscription to Etips and receive a free copy of the highly acclaimed ebook, "Killer Internet Marketing
Strategies." http://www.web-source.net/cgi-bin/t.cgi?l=bl1
Reprinted from
Zongoo.com Daily Press & Consumer Information
This topic can be found anywhere on the Internet. If you visit any web hosting provider on line they will tell you how good they really are. Some are correct and some are not. Lets get down to the basics.
Back End/Network Operations Centers This is where your accounts are actually housed. Sometimes a hosting provider will lease a part of a larger network and sometimes a hosting provider will develop their own. It is important to find out what kinds and how many fiber optic connections the NOC has. Make sure there is plenty of redundancy built in. Make sure the NOC is managed 24/7, even on holidays. Make sure there are fire suppression systems in place. Last but not least, ask about security. Make sure there are plenty of security measure in place.
Customer Service Are they friendly? Do they answer their telephones? Are you put on hold and if so, for how long? If you have to leave a message, do they respond quickly? Does the rep on the other end know what they are talking about? Look at their network page and see if they have reports of down time or issue statements about problems.
Technical Support How long does it take to get questions answered and tasks performed. Send a test support message and gauge the response times. See if they offer 800 toll free support.
Ticketing Systems Do they have a ticketing system that tracks performance times. This is key. If a hosting company has this, they are serious about improving internally.
Domain Names Do they offer domain name sales? This can help to consolidate your vendor costs. See about getting a discount on domains if you are buying in bulk on a monthly basis.
Branding You Does the hosting provider offer branded support? As you grow, you will need to expand and see if the hosting provider will set you up with your own technician in your company name. Do they offer branded control panels and name servers? You need these tools to grow. Find out how easy it is to set these features up for your own account.
Scalable Discounts If you are growing at a rapid rate, ask for better pricing and discounts. It is ok to ask. It's even better when you get it and will reduce your overhead.
Financial Overview Is that particular company in the red of black? Do they have a good cash flow? How fast is the host growing and can they handle the growth? What are they doing to grow and maintain the customer service level you expect. Are they near a buy out or planning
About the Author: Christopher Berry
THE HOST GROUP INC.
thehostgroup.com
Reprinted from
Zongoo.com Daily Press & Consumer Information
You could literally go crazy trying to compare all of the hundreds of hosting plans and providers on the market. To narrow down your options, talk to friends and business associates who have professional web sites.
Ask them which providers they use or recommend. A number of Internet sites, such as CNET and Epinions, allow users to share their thoughts about web hosting companies, so their input could be valuable in your search also.
Once you've found a manageable number of potential providers, you can begin to compare plans. Here are a few things you should focus on:
* Money Back Guarantee - Many providers offer a 30-Day money back guarantee so that you can try their service risk free. Always look for this option so you don't get stuck with a service you're unhappy with.
* Storage Space - This is the amount of room you will have for your site. Of course, you don't want to pay for room you don't need, but you also want room to grow. If you've a small site in mind 10-15 MB should be sufficient to begin with.
* Bandwidth/Data Transfer - Data transfer (bandwidth usage) refers to how much data/information is sent to or received from your hosting account on the server over a specified period of time. Usually it is measured monthly.
More the visitors to your site, more bandwidth you'll require. Small sites usually suffice with 1 GB/month.
* Site Speed - This is very important factor while considering a hosting service. This will decide how fast your site loads when some one visits your site. Online surfers are extremely busy, so you need a fast server. Or else they will leave your site even before it gets loaded!
You may ask your hosting provider to provide you with a list of their client's sites (if they can) for checking their speed. Here's a good tool to check a site's speed: http://www.hostpulse.com/app/networktools/ping.asp
* Customer Service - You strive to provide exceptional service and you should expect nothing less from your web hosting company. Look for multiple methods of receiving service, such as a toll-free phone number or live chat. You may also want to consider testing their response time in advance.
* Uptime Guarantee - Your web site is like your store. If your store is closed, you aren't making any money. The same is true if your web site is down. You should only choose a plan that provides at least a 99% uptime guarantee.
* Cost - Price should also be a deciding factor. Cheaper is not always better, but there are reasonable rates for quality hosting available if you do your research. by Vishal P. Rao
Never pay for a full year of service upfront, though you are likely to pay less in the long run. You have to take into consideration their after sales service too.
Also, as far as possible, try to choose a hosting company that allows easy upgrade/downgrade between plans. This way you can trim down your costs to the maximum.
About the Author:
Vishal P. Rao is the editor of Home Based Business Opportunities - A website dedicated to opportunities, ideas and resources to help you start a home based business. Visit him at: http://www.home-based-business-opportunities.com
Reprinted from
Zongoo.com Daily Press & Consumer Information
