1. Website Hosting: How To Choose Who To Work With
The easiest way to have a website online is through the use of a web host. Before you shell you
money on a hosting service, there are a few things you should look into to make sure that the service
you select is a good one. The following article contains tips that you should heed when choosing a
website hosting service.
Many web page hosting companies offer add-ons to their services, but the number and type of
features varies from one company to another. You should also make note of availability for each
feature you are interested in, especially when you are narrowing down your choices. One company
may offer lower prices, but you might have to pay extra to get the features another host gives as part
of their package.
It is important to register the domain name of your site in an area other than that of your host. This
ensures that, in the case of downtime or legal problems, you are able to preserve ownership of your
domain. If you register your domain through the same company that provides your web hosting, you
may lose control of the name in such circumstances.
Make a hard copy backup of your website data, whether your web host requires it or not. Having
your own backup is a good idea for a number of reasons, but the most central reason is that you
want to safeguard your data. Doing so will help ensure you still have your site, in the event
something happens.
Your web host should provide you with live statistics on your visitors. Independently add a traffic
counter somewhere on your website, then compare its results to those that are provided by your
host. This type of data allows business owners such as yourself to fine-tune a site to suit the target
audience.
Free web host services are something to consider only if you have a simple, non-profit website. Free
hosting sites have certain drawbacks. You usually have to put up with ads on the top of your web
pages, and usually have very limited storage space. While this will save you money, if you really
want a professional looking site, you do not want to use this kind of web hosting.
Free is good, but a free web hosting provider isn't always the best choice. These services often
require you to have banners and ads on your site. You have no control over what type of ads will be
displayed. Also, these random ads placed on your site give it an unprofessional look and feel.
In fact, many web hosting providers are middle men that rely upon someone else's hosting capacity.
Those companies buy large quantities of server space, and then rent it out at a premium to small
sites. Find out if your host has their own servers and where they are located. If your host relies on
another company, perhaps you can find the exact same kind of hosting at a lower price from another
company.
If you are just starting out with your web design efforts, then get a web host which offers good
customer support as opposed to anything else. As your experience develops, you'll find yourself with
a lot of questions that a good host can help you answer. It's better to have a simple web host with
competent technical support than a web host with flashy applications and poor technical support.
2. Find a way, such as message boards or forums, to discuss a potential web host with its current
customers. By asking questions you can rule out any company that does not satisfy your needs. After
you engage others through these channels, it will become easier to choose the right provider.
Getting feedback from current clients may be the smartest way to distinguish among firms.
You will want to check on the reputation of a web page
hosting company. This is important. Read articles and
reviews on web hosts to see which ones garner the
most trust and which will give you the most for your
money. Any companies with bad customer service will
be obvious based on complaints.
Web hosts are a necessity in the Internet world. Knowing what you need to ask when seeking out a
web host is key in ensuring your website remains available all day, every day. Make good use of the
web host selection tips here, and protect the future of your website.
