Any company, at any given point in time, cannot function better than its weakest link, which is often their web server or third-party hosting company. If you have limited experience with programming, you will soon find yourself overwhelmed with the technical jargon. When options get too confusing, purchasing at random can be the result. This article will help you to identify your real hosting necessities.
Check the hosting site to find out what kind of sites they can offer. Some free hosts only allow you to upload HTML, and not other scripting languages. If you need to be able to do dynamic scripting, you may have to pay a web host for that service.
Dedicated or shared hosting, which one is right for you? Shared servers are not ideal for websites that enjoy high traffic levels, design-driven layouts and sensitive customer and payment information. It’s a wise idea to find a dedicated host.
If you are considering a free hosting service, be careful. Free hosts won’t usually back up your website, so it’ll be up to you to ensure that everything you upload is also backed up on your computer. This means that if something disappears, its gone for good.
Choose a web page hosting service that will accommodate your site’s eventual growth. A simple HTML page doesn’t require much space, but adding videos and pictures quickly causes you to be in need of much more space. For most websites, 100MB of space is adequate for the future growth of the site.
Use caution when considering hosting packages that offer unlimited services. For example, a claim of unlimited space may also contain restrictions on what types of files you can host. In addition, sometimes payment plans are tiered when unlimited options are involved, meaning you might end up spending more than you had hoped to. Ensure that your information regarding each plan is complete, and never assume that “unlimited” services come without strings attached.
Does the company offer a portion of your money back if you want to end your contract early? If you find the service isn’t working as well as you hoped, you should be able to get a refund. The time frame for this is generally 30 days. Many web hosts seem good but don’t live up to the hype.
It’s often the case that 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. Check out where your website will actually be hosted, and verify that you have gotten the lowest cost and are not paying a middle-man markup.
You should now be able to refer to previous hosting literature, and have an ability to make sense of confusing terms and services are offered. If you have signed a contract for a hosting plan already, you can use your new-found knowledge at a later date.