It’s quite possible that you’ve heard people use the phrase “website hosting” in the past, but maybe you have no idea what that actually means. Website hosting is simply providing others a server for creating their very own site. Keep reading to find out how you can select a good website hosting service.
Your domain name should be registered with an outside company. If you register it with your web host and the company goes under, you could end up losing your name. This leaves you with no domain control, only your host will have it.
Will monthly payments or a one-time payment best suit your budget? The fact is that even supposedly reliable hosts may be ill-suited to your needs later on. It is best to avoid the headache by ensuring you can cancel at any time. Should your web host decline, your business outgrows the host or even if your account is closed, you would lose any paid monies, unless otherwise stated by the host.
Carefully screen the companies you are interested in. You can purchase web hosting from anywhere from $2-$60 monthly. Higher prices do not always translate into more reliable service, either. Look at the plans on offer and choose the one which offers you only as much as you need, or what you will need in the near future.
Does the company offer a portion of your money back if you want to end your contract early? During the first 30 days of service, you should be afforded the right to cancellation and a refund based upon your relative satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Be sure to read the fine print and speak with other users to be sure the company is true to their word.
Do not go with a free web host just because the service is free. They typically require you to advertise on your site. You have no say in the type and amount of ads that will be shown. Additionally, ads that have no bearing on your services or product will appear odd and unprofessional.
It’s often the case that web hosting services are actually a middle step provider getting their services from a larger host. These companies can buy large server spaces at discounts, and rent them for profit to small sites. Find out who the main host is, if possible, and then see if you can get a better deal by buying directly.
Web Host
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. You’ll likely have many questions about designing your site. It’s better to have a simple web host with competent technical support than a web host with flashy applications and poor technical support.
It is important to go with a web host with a good reputation. Make sure you read all the articles you can about the web host to learn what kind of reputation they have and what services they will provide reliably. You will quickly spot unreliable companies which do not perform as advertised.
You should have any services you need provided by your web host, so ensure they can meet your planned needs now and in the future. Without the proper support for currently used languages, you will not be able to successfully launch your website. You may run into the same problem if you use an unsupported language down the road. Switching web hosts is a long and involved process you don’t want to have to deal with in the future!
If you have a computer that operates on a dial up connection, you need to avoid doing your own website hosting. Back up your material on a reliable and fast connection to make sure your site stays online and updated all the time. You don’t want any lag time or downtime, as this is detrimental to your business.
As you have learned, website hosting is a service which allows anyone to create a website and have it readable online. After reading this article, you now should understand how web hosting works and be able to purchase a host and use its features properly.