Choose Web Hosting Service
OK. You've built your website with great contents ready to attract many visitors.
But it still on your hard drive. You need to upload it to a server so anyone can access/visit it. Running your own web server will be too expensive for most people. This way, then, you need to hire a web hosting.
A host is a company who rent space in their server for you to store your website. There are thousands of this company around the net. Choosing a web hosting service isn't an easy process. You don't want to waste your good work only because you chose the wrong hosting service.
With all the hosting companies and options out there for you it's tough to know which one is for you. Follow this tips before making any decisions.
How to Choose Web Hosting Service
Several important factors to consider when comparing web hosting services
1. Quick human response
Make sure that the hosting company offers technical support to you so that you will get help anytime you have a problem. You can make a test by sending them a question by email. Is there really anybody there? How fast they responds?
Some web hosting services offer 24-hour support. Quick customer service responds is rare and indicates a superior service.
2. Server performance
You need a reliable web hosting server. How often a server goes down means lost business and lost sales and no one needs that. You also need a fast web server. Don't make your visitors wait forever.
3. Compare traffic allowances/bandwidth
It is the amount of data transfer you get with your account. It means, amount of data transferred to visitors as they view your web site. Usually, it is in gigabytes data transfer. 1 gigabyte equals 1000 megabytes.
Fact, most web sites use far less then the located amount.
Perhaps you need less than a hundred MB/month now, but why put yourself
in a position where you have to move when your traffic takes off?
Plan ahead, allow for growth.
4. Space
How much space do you expect to eventually want for your web site? Planning ahead can save you time later. You will need enough server space to host your entire site.
Most basic websites only need 2-3 megabytes of web space. Since you expect to grow, look for sites of 20 MB or more. This will let you grow your site without worrying the space limits.
5. Features.
Consider what features you want to simplify development of your web site. Perhaps you will need these two features:
Control Panel
The Control Panel where you control all aspects of your account, such as managing email accounts, reading statistics, and configuring autoresponders. Make sure your hosting company has a centralized control panel for your management needs.
CGI Scripts
CGI stands for the "Common Gateway Interface" and is a protocol through which web pages interact with scripts on a server. You have to be able to run CGI or Perl scripts on your hosting account. Most will give you this ability, but make it sure before you buy the service. The scripts is needed on any interactive web elements such as forms, shopping carts, affiliate programs, click tracking, etc.
Web Stats
Most hosting services provide a website statistics program. This will provide you these following information:
- Unique Visitors. How many individual visitor come within a specific period of time.
- Referrers. Where do your visitors come from?
If they come from other sites, what sites are they?
If they come from search engines, what keywords they use to find your site?
- Page Views. Total page views gives you snapshot of the overall activity on your site.
6. Guarantee
With so many web hosting services to choose from, why not choose one that offers a guarantee? If you are unhappy with your hosting site, you'll want assurances that you'll get your money back. Services that offer a money back guarantee are confident that you'll be delighted with their service.
7. Price
You have many offers to choose. Of course price equals with the quality. Don't waste more money for the same quality. Are there any hidden cost? Check your credit card statements to ensure that you are not being overcharged or billed at an incorrect frequency.
But it still on your hard drive. You need to upload it to a server so anyone can access/visit it. Running your own web server will be too expensive for most people. This way, then, you need to hire a web hosting.
A host is a company who rent space in their server for you to store your website. There are thousands of this company around the net. Choosing a web hosting service isn't an easy process. You don't want to waste your good work only because you chose the wrong hosting service.
With all the hosting companies and options out there for you it's tough to know which one is for you. Follow this tips before making any decisions.
How to Choose Web Hosting Service
Several important factors to consider when comparing web hosting services
1. Quick human response
Make sure that the hosting company offers technical support to you so that you will get help anytime you have a problem. You can make a test by sending them a question by email. Is there really anybody there? How fast they responds?
Some web hosting services offer 24-hour support. Quick customer service responds is rare and indicates a superior service.
2. Server performance
You need a reliable web hosting server. How often a server goes down means lost business and lost sales and no one needs that. You also need a fast web server. Don't make your visitors wait forever.
3. Compare traffic allowances/bandwidth
It is the amount of data transfer you get with your account. It means, amount of data transferred to visitors as they view your web site. Usually, it is in gigabytes data transfer. 1 gigabyte equals 1000 megabytes.
Fact, most web sites use far less then the located amount.
Perhaps you need less than a hundred MB/month now, but why put yourself
in a position where you have to move when your traffic takes off?
Plan ahead, allow for growth.
4. Space
How much space do you expect to eventually want for your web site? Planning ahead can save you time later. You will need enough server space to host your entire site.
Most basic websites only need 2-3 megabytes of web space. Since you expect to grow, look for sites of 20 MB or more. This will let you grow your site without worrying the space limits.
5. Features.
Consider what features you want to simplify development of your web site. Perhaps you will need these two features:
Control Panel
The Control Panel where you control all aspects of your account, such as managing email accounts, reading statistics, and configuring autoresponders. Make sure your hosting company has a centralized control panel for your management needs.
CGI Scripts
CGI stands for the "Common Gateway Interface" and is a protocol through which web pages interact with scripts on a server. You have to be able to run CGI or Perl scripts on your hosting account. Most will give you this ability, but make it sure before you buy the service. The scripts is needed on any interactive web elements such as forms, shopping carts, affiliate programs, click tracking, etc.
Web Stats
Most hosting services provide a website statistics program. This will provide you these following information:
- Unique Visitors. How many individual visitor come within a specific period of time.
- Referrers. Where do your visitors come from?
If they come from other sites, what sites are they?
If they come from search engines, what keywords they use to find your site?
- Page Views. Total page views gives you snapshot of the overall activity on your site.
6. Guarantee
With so many web hosting services to choose from, why not choose one that offers a guarantee? If you are unhappy with your hosting site, you'll want assurances that you'll get your money back. Services that offer a money back guarantee are confident that you'll be delighted with their service.
7. Price
You have many offers to choose. Of course price equals with the quality. Don't waste more money for the same quality. Are there any hidden cost? Check your credit card statements to ensure that you are not being overcharged or billed at an incorrect frequency.
posted by lemon tea at 1:21 AM
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