| The best deal isn't always the cheapest. | | | | its most basic level, the WWW is composed of |
| Shopping for the best website hosting can be | | | | "HTML" pages, which work on any browser on |
| an easier experience if you think about what | | | | any kind of computer, be it a "PC", "Mac", or |
| kind of resources your website will actually | | | | run by a different operating system. Novices |
| need.Shopping for website hosting can quickly | | | | out there can be assured that HTML pages they |
| turn from a careful, measured affair to a | | | | create on a PC can be read by someone |
| frenzied "how low can you go" price hunt. | | | | browsing the web using a Mac.If your site |
| Recent years have seen the concept of a | | | | goes beyond rudimentary HTML, then you will |
| "budget hosting" sphere melt away as many | | | | need to pay attention to a host's feature |
| large hosts bring prices down to compete. | | | | set. Sites requiring databases and active |
| This does benefit the consumer, as they are | | | | scripting have to be coded using languages |
| more likely to get better service for their | | | | your prospective hosting company's servers |
| dollar. This article will discuss one of | | | | understand. There is a variety of options out |
| perhaps many sets of considerations to make | | | | there, and it is beyond the scope of this |
| in choosing a website hosting company. To | | | | article to go into them, simply be aware of |
| those very serious about their hosting needs, | | | | what kind of active scripting you plan to use |
| "price" will not be a major factor.Determine | | | | and make sure your host supports it. Common |
| Your NeedsThis is the first and most | | | | alternatives are PHP, ASP.net, and |
| important step. Judging what you need will | | | | ColdFusion. Some of the options will vary |
| determine where to look for hosting services | | | | depending on the type of server your host |
| and give you a baseline idea of how much you | | | | uses, most commonly Linux or |
| should be willing to pay. This very basic | | | | Windows.Additional features may also be |
| step is where the process will break down if | | | | required. Mailing lists, forum software, and |
| your first instinct is to simply jump online | | | | ecommerce software are common features most |
| and hunt for the "best bargain". There are | | | | hosts support. If you plan on setting up an |
| more than enough sites out there that seek to | | | | online store, find out what kind of shopping |
| accommodate the bargain hunters. Perhaps your | | | | cart, if any, a host provides and be prepared |
| site is suited to a bargain host, perhaps | | | | to learn how to use it. Advanced statistics |
| not. Knowing the difference is | | | | packages like Urchin are also valuable for |
| important.Start with the 2 core attributes of | | | | ecommerce sites. Map out the kind of features |
| website hosting, space and transfer. Simply, | | | | you plan to deploy with your site and make |
| how large do you expect your site to be and | | | | sure your choice in host makes them easily |
| how many people will visit it over a monthly | | | | available to you.Support OptionsThis final |
| period. If you're completely new to hosting, | | | | component is important, because it is usually |
| you may not be able to accurately gauge | | | | the dividing line between quality hosting and |
| either. That's where you might want to | | | | less reputable options. One of the first |
| consider actually creating the site, or as | | | | causalities of cut-rate hosting is support. |
| much of it as you can, prior to shopping for | | | | Poor support means that low cost you pay each |
| hosting. Knowing the size of the files you | | | | month isn't worth much because your site is |
| plan to upload will give you a basic idea of | | | | rarely up. Always check your prospective web |
| the amount of space you need. This will vary | | | | host's site support options. Ideally, they |
| wildly depending on the nature of the site. | | | | will have phone hours where you can call up |
| Small, "hobby" sites won't need a lot of | | | | and speak directly to first level support. |
| space, sometimes they may not even use 10 or | | | | Another "direct contact" option that is |
| 20 megs of space. Online stores and sites | | | | popular these days is "chat." This still |
| hosting downloads or media files will require | | | | allows direct contact with a live person, |
| much more space."Transfer", or "Traffic", or | | | | only through a chat window on your home |
| sometimes "Bandwidth" on some sites, all | | | | computer. Ideally a combination of both is |
| generally equates to the amount of | | | | one sign a host has invested some money in |
| information transmitted to the unique | | | | support.Bare minimum support options should |
| individuals who view your site over, usually, | | | | always include a "help desk" or support |
| a monthly period. Some hosts are moving a | | | | ticketing system. This allows customers to |
| daily meter, but most still use a monthly | | | | send information about their issue and have |
| figure. In order to estimate your transfer, a | | | | that issue, and all the responses to it, |
| very simple method is to take the total size | | | | tracked in a central location, so your |
| of your site files in kilobytes or megabytes | | | | support history is always available. Beware |
| and multiply by the number of visitors you | | | | any host that only offers an untracked |
| expect. For a number of reasons, this is not | | | | "email" support. Having all 3, phone, chat, |
| going to be highly accurate, and in many | | | | and helpdesk, is a reasonably good sign a |
| cases will provide a higher number than your | | | | host pays attention to customer support. You |
| traffic in practice will turn out to be. | | | | can always "test" these systems prior to |
| Overestimating traffic is always better than | | | | signing up by calling or chatting, but, in |
| underestimating, since you will always need | | | | the interest of a host's current customers, |
| room to grow with whatever website hosting | | | | please keep any conversation brief, as the |
| plan you choose.What if you have absolutely | | | | intent of a support staff is not, directly, |
| no idea what size your site will be or how | | | | to answer sales questions. Your test, however |
| many people will visit? Well, then start | | | | brief, has delayed the technician from |
| small. Though your dreams of domination the | | | | handling a request from an existing |
| web might be strong, you will probably not do | | | | customer.ConclusionsChoosing a host is not |
| so immediately. Popularity and traffic that | | | | something to enter into lightly. We've |
| come with it generally occur over time. | | | | reviewed 3 key concepts that should be |
| Choose a host with a clear upgrade path, and | | | | addressed when looking for a web host. |
| start with a small plan. You can always | | | | "Price" was not one of them, and, though |
| upgrade as you get a better idea of monthly | | | | certainly important for a number of reasons, |
| traffic. Pretty much all webmasters hope | | | | should never be the final deciding factor. If |
| their traffic will grow, and a host with a | | | | your website is important to you, or mission |
| variety of increasingly larger plans is best | | | | critical to your business, you want to find a |
| suited to handle such growth.Determine | | | | host with an excellent reputation and |
| Required FeaturesThough space and transfer | | | | high-uptime. Cut-rate or budget hosts rarely |
| are your core attributes, assessing what kind | | | | obtain either one of these things. Today, |
| of features you need is also important. This | | | | even highly reputable hosts will have "budget |
| may vary with your familiarity with the web | | | | offerings" that can provide stable hosting at |
| and websites in general. Those who only wish | | | | reasonable rates. Do your homework and don't |
| to publish static web pages with content they | | | | rush to the first "unbelievable deal" you |
| intend to update personally do not need any | | | | come across. You'll be happier with your |
| kind of exceptionally complex feature set. At | | | | service in the long run. |