digitalMAMMOTH


Choosing the Right Web Host


So you've decided about your website design and now you are ready to have your website hosted!

When choosing the right web host, they are several factors to consider:

I. How often is the web server up?
II. Does the server provide SSL?
III. Does the server provide for server side scripting? (e.g PHP, ASP?)
IV. Free or paid?
V. What is the upload limit? What is the file limit?
VI. Customer support?
VII. Suggestions

Appendix A - Web host provider reviews

-----------------------------------------------------------------

I - How often is the web server up?

Once you've signed up with a web host provider, you don't want your website to be down or taking forever to load. This can have a serious dent in traffic as it could turn off potential returning visitors.

Search engines also do not rank web pages that are always down well, so you should expect next to nothing traffic from Search Engines if your website is down most of the time or takes forever to load.

A good way to find out if a web server is up usually is to check out reviews by different persons who have already used the web host. I've included a link to a web host review website at the end of this article in Appendix A.

II - Does the Server provide SSL?

If your website is a hobby website, and you won't be doing any transactions on your website, SSL protection is not needed.

However, if you plan to do any transactions in the future; its important that you choose a webhost which provides SSL protection upfront.

SSL is an encryption method which helps to encrypt any sensitive information like credit card info, names, etc

If you signed up with a web host who does not offer SSL protection; it's usually more costly if you then decide to get it installed than if you signed up with a web host provider who already provides SSL protection for transactions.

Examples of web host providers who provide Automatic SSL do this are www.powweb.com and www.ipowerweb.com

III - Does the server provide for server side scripting? (e.g PHP, ASP?)

Most web host providers provide for server side scripting but it's still important to make sure that they do.

Server side scripting allows the webmaster to create pages which change in realtime.

For example, if you are running a business, and you have all of your products stored in a database, a server side script will generate the pages that the customer sees according to which category/product the customer chooses.

If a web host provide does n provide functionality for server side scripting, it's dated and you should stay far away from it :) www.powweb.com, www.ipowerweb.com and www.lunarpages.com all provide functionality for Server Side Scripting.

IV - Free? Paid? Which one?

Another important factor to consider is whether you want to sign up with for Free or Paid web hosting. Companies such as www.geocities.com, www.tripod.com, www.freeservers.com offer free hosting.

The main disadvantage with free hosting is that the hosters usually run ads on your home page; some like in this example http://www.pac-dodger.tripod.com (see near the top)

I suggest a free hosting website if you budget is very tight and you don't mind ads running on your website.

The paid option for website usually offers better customer support that free web hosting. Some packages are next to nothing. I've found www.powweb.com to be exceptionally reasonable($7.77 a month last time I checked). Both www.ipowerweb.com and www.lunarpages.com are also top web host providers at great prices.

Lunarpages has a reputation of reliability and great customer service. Powweb has the reputation of being the largest and offering the best of every (most web space, most bandwith, etc). Ipowerweb is generally good.

V - What is the upload/bandwith limit? What is the file limit?

Upload and bandwidth limits are important if you are going to be hosting large image files or if you want to provide downloads to your users. If you are just making a simple hobby or business website, www.powweb.com, www.ipowerweb.com, and www.lunarpages.com can all handle your bandwidth requirements.

If you are looking for more space; I suggest www.powweb.com.

VI - Customer Support

Customer support is very important when signing up for a web host provider.

I'm an experienced webmaster, and on signing up with a web host provider I usually still have questions which need to be addressed.

Some web host providers even provide forums where customers like yourself can log in and post questions to other customers and web host staff.

I find this very valuable; the only place I've found this so far was www.powweb.com

VII - Suggestions

There are thousands of options to choose from but my top three are below:

I would suggest www.lunarpages.com if you are looking for great customer support. If you need lots of webspace; consider www.powweb.com If you want general all around good service, sign up with www.ipowerweb.com

Other GREAT solutions are:

Apollo hosting - www.apollohosting.com
ValueWeb - www.valueweb.com
Globat - globat.com

Appendix A

Great website for web host reviews. Reviews all web host providers listed in the article above http://www.thehostplanet.com/reviews/reviews.html

Kevin Allman is a webmaster with over ten years Internet experience. He runs a Search Engine Optimization website at http://www.pzeta.org/seo_global/ which contains many articles on how to optimize your website.


MORE RESOURCES:

Smallbusiness-Domain Announces Launch of Domain and Web Hosting ...
PR.com (press release), NY - 11 minutes ago
San Francisco, CA, November 22, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Today, Smallbusiness-Domain.com, a leading website focused on domains, domains names, and web hosting, ...


Web Hosting by Alentus, to be Provided for London Internet Exchange
TheHostingNews.com (press release), OR - 16 hours ago
Aliso Viejo , California - (The Hosting News) - November 21, 2008 - Shared and dedicated web hosting services firm, Alentus Corporation, has been chosen to ...


Web Hosting Solutions Provider, Attenda, Joins Microsoft BizSpark
WebSite Host Directory (press release), OR - 15 hours ago
London, United Kingdom - (Website Hosting Directory) - November 21, 2008 - Web hosting company, Attenda Limited, has been selected to join the Microsoft ...


PAC Web Hosting a Nominet Domain Registrar and Member
webhostdir.com, UK - 17 hours ago
PAC Web Hosting Ltd have announced that they are now a Nominet domain registrar and member. Shared web hosting and domain registrar PAC Web Hosting Ltd ...


DotNetNuke 4.9 is available in all WebhostforASP.NET web hosting plans
PRLog.Org (press release), Romania - 51 minutes ago
NET Web hosting. WebhostforASP.NET have been participating in ASP.NET since its beta version (version 1) and continuously upgrading the team skills in ASP. ...


Natuba(TM) Chooses ServerBeach As Dedicated Web Hosting Partner
MarketWatch - Nov 18, 2008
... 1 company specializing in dedicated hosting, has been chosen by Natuba(TM) to provide web hosting and IT infrastructure for the rapidly growing site. ...


Web Hosting
TheStorygroup.com, GA - Nov 20, 2008
Professional web hosting services featuring premium performance and 24/7 phone support. Plans include an extremely rich feature set and start at just ...


Hosting Sales and Promos Roundup
Web Host Industry Review - 13 hours ago
At least one hosting provider, Globat.com, has vowed to give its hard working web hosting affiliates Christmas bonuses. Other special presents include Host ...


NetFirms Hosts Pixlr Image Editor
Web Host Industry Review - 12 hours ago
Netfirms, which has offices in the US and Canada, says it provides web hosting solutions and web 2.0 technology to small and medium-sized businesses, ...


UK Web Hosting Site Studyhost Goes Live
Press Release 365 (press release), FL - Nov 20, 2008
HULL, UK -- New UK Based Web Hosting Company Studyhost opened its doors today and went live on the internet. The people behind Studyhost have over 7 years ...

Web-Hosting - Google News

home | site map
© 2006