Lunarpages Web Hosting was created in 2000 from Add2Net, and has grown over the years to include more and more services - like reseller hosting, dedicated server hosting and more. They currently have data centers around the county - in Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada.
With over 150,000 customers, they pride themselves on their dedication to service with a staff of more than 100 people. Their website describes the company as a family. As we all know, there are good and bad family members. Smile. Lunarpages comes from the good side of the family, though, and likes to 'adopt' new people into the family all the time.
Lunarpages offers great web hosting deals through coupon codes to attract new customers and sometimes treat their current customers to an extra special deal or promotion. As the web hosting market battles it out in competition for your business, the offers and coupons fly fast and loose, benefiting you, the consumer.
Whether you're new to the Internet in general, or new to publishing on the Internet, or you want to try to supplement your income with making money online, saving money when buying server space is part of the new smart way of doing business - spending less than you make, which is really just common sense. Web hosting coupons might not seem like a big thing, but every dollar you save can be used to accomplish something else.
Lunarpages' dedication to helping out their customers, their family, is apparent in the way they pay attention to small things like saving a little money here or there. While they're likely to take a small loss in revenue by giving you a discount, if you become a loyal customer, they'll gain money in the long run. Web hosting coupons might not seem like a good way for companies to make money, but if you think about the big picture, they make sense.
That they make sense to consumers is rather obvious. In today's economic climate, every dollar a company saves is a dollar that can be directed toward some other aspect of the business. Whether you're new to doing business online or have been doing it for years, saving a buck or a hundred by going with a new web hosting company (a trusted leader) is something that's good for business.
Unlike holding up other customers in line at a shopping center using clipped out coupons for food, using a web hosting coupon with a company like Lunarpages is a seamless process that requires you to type in a coupon code: that’s it! Your website visitors never have to know you saved money by using a web hosting coupon. There's no embarrassment in using a web hosting coupon to get a great deal on hosting. No matter what server package you go with, you'll get great service on top of the savings in cost - as long as you have the right web hosting coupon code.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Web Hosting - How to Get Cheap Web Hosting
To advance on the internet with more domains and more hosting accounts has been a stumbling block for many because of the expense; hosting being the bigger expenses. But if you plan to operate with more sites in the future then perhaps this article will help you bring your plans forward. The sooner you own more of the internet the sooner your profits will increase.
As you progress your own understanding of the internet you'll come across the need to have more than one website for each project or niche. You may find a need to have explore that niche further and have a different website for each sub-niche. Rather than sit back and wait for just one website to do the business, you'll need perhaps six other websites that each try and dominate their sub niche to get traffic. If necessary they can send the traffic to the main website. Understanding this principle will increase you traffic ten-fold.
Many people and I have been guilty of the same thought, set up a different web hosting accounts for each new domain name they purchase. The only real advantage of this is if you plan on having say 60 sites and want to spread them over 6 hosting accounts. Otherwise you'll save huge amounts of your online budget by hosting new domains within your own current hosting account.
Some of the smaller hosting providers can confuse you to believe that each new domain needs a new hosting account. This is not true... and as such you should explore the internet further if I cannot explain the simplicity within this article.
Many so called bigger 'providers' have realized that to compete in the bigger market place they need to offer good deals. Such deals will include up to hosting 10 domains on one account, to hosting 25 domains on one account; and the more sophisticated businesses are now offering unlimited domains on one account.
It would seem prudent then to pool your resources and instead of having more than one account, use one provider and pay just the one fee. Furthermore you will find that these providers will give you one free domain for just signing up with them.
As you progress your own understanding of the internet you'll come across the need to have more than one website for each project or niche. You may find a need to have explore that niche further and have a different website for each sub-niche. Rather than sit back and wait for just one website to do the business, you'll need perhaps six other websites that each try and dominate their sub niche to get traffic. If necessary they can send the traffic to the main website. Understanding this principle will increase you traffic ten-fold.
Many people and I have been guilty of the same thought, set up a different web hosting accounts for each new domain name they purchase. The only real advantage of this is if you plan on having say 60 sites and want to spread them over 6 hosting accounts. Otherwise you'll save huge amounts of your online budget by hosting new domains within your own current hosting account.
Some of the smaller hosting providers can confuse you to believe that each new domain needs a new hosting account. This is not true... and as such you should explore the internet further if I cannot explain the simplicity within this article.
Many so called bigger 'providers' have realized that to compete in the bigger market place they need to offer good deals. Such deals will include up to hosting 10 domains on one account, to hosting 25 domains on one account; and the more sophisticated businesses are now offering unlimited domains on one account.
It would seem prudent then to pool your resources and instead of having more than one account, use one provider and pay just the one fee. Furthermore you will find that these providers will give you one free domain for just signing up with them.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Windows Hosting versus Linux Hosting
Mainly you can choose between web hosting based on Windows, Linux or Unix operating systems. A brief description and analysis of the different systems will narrow the list of options to only two.
Microsoft’s Windows server operating systems (NT/2000/2003) have a rather friendly and familiar user interface, making IT teams to easier in this aspect. Another plus is given by it’s excellent integration capabilities with other applications developed by Microsoft and let’s face it their range is absolutely impressive. The main key point of Windows based hosting is its support for .ASP (Active Server Pages) or the advanced ASP.NET. This language for web development was created by Microsoft to facilitate the creation of dynamic web pages linked to SQL databases. It also provides capabilities for integration with other systems.
It can be said that Unix is the OS that powered the beginning of the Internet era and due to his qualities is still used today. Linux OS was developed having Unix as starting point and this is how the two share many features. Today the Linux version of the Unix system is more common on web servers and this has to do with the higher licensing costs and with the rather specific hardware requirements for Unix. This is why we will continue with Linux only, but Unix is taken into account as well. Linux hosting has its strong points in fulfilling one’s requirements for a good web server and Web serving, file serving, mailing, and streaming are only a few. It proves itself is a very cost-effective choice from using hardware efficiently, and allowing an increased web sites per server ratio, this ultimately resulting in a decreasing the cost of hosting per account.
So here are our two choices Windows and Linux:
Reliability
In the past Linux OS were seen as more reliable over Windows. However with the release of Windows 2003 server Microsoft has gone a long way and closed the gap in this area.Linux servers are compatible with certain Microsoft extensions and applications and the same is true for Windows.
Web Programming
Even if trying to host a simple personal web site, your might want add some simple scripts to spice up your pages. The issue gets bigger when you are looking to host an e-commerce site supported by some serious server-side programming. So how are our two contenders doing in this aspect?
Supporting java scripts is not a topic to be argued upon as they are executed on the client side (the user’s web browser) and both Linux and Windows have no problem feeding this content to your visitors.
It is a whole different matter when discussing server side scripting. For web site owners trying to implement forms on their site it is common knowledge that ASP is supported by Windows and PHP is the tool to do just that under Linux. However both developed solutions to support each other’s programming language for web development. This support is not perfect and its limitations recommend Linux for a good PHP support and Windows for ASP, especially when it comes to hosting web sites that require the full use the advantages offered by PHP or ASP.
Linux offers a support for FrontPage extensions. Windows has a weak point in offering only limited CGI/Perl support, so if Perl is the scripting language of your choice, you should opt for Linux.
Databases
Dynamically driven web sites require some sort of databases. Beyond sites employing databases, most frequently you will encounter mySQL or MSAccess. If your web site is relying on mySQL, then you’ll have no problems hosting it on either Windows or Linux. For MSAccess databases, look your only option is Windows.
Price
Linux web hosting is cheaper. The reason must be searched in licensing costs, that are lower that for Windows, and in the ability of Linux web servers to support a higher web sites per server ratio without compromising the quality of service.
Although Windows hosting cost a bit more, you will get something for your money. It’s reduced development time and functionality.
As the option of one over another depends basically of your actual needs and of the plans you have made for the future of your web site. For example will it move from a rather static web site to one relying heavily on server side scripting? And if it is so what would be the programming language used: PHP or ASP? Consequently your web site will be set up on a Linux or on a Windows web server.
Almost all serious web-hosting providers will offer you the choice between Linux and Windows.
There is no winner of this contest, at least not yet. In today’s terms
, your preference of one system over another should be given only by your requirements and the needs of your visitors.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Selection Tips For Web Hosting Package
til the Finding an inexpensive scheme place hosting organisation is a must for newborn businesses or established businesses that are on a budget. Of course, as with most things, this is much easier said than done.
There are tons of hosting companies out there that verify to offer liberated or inexpensive scheme place hosting, but many of them hit hidden fees or low quality services. A supposedly inexpensive scheme place hosting organisation crapper apace turn into a costly nightmare if you aren't careful. This is ground it is essential that you do your homework and research a sort of hosting companies before making any final decisions.
Comparing Costs
If you are looking for inexpensive scheme place hosting, then you module obviously requirement to study the costs that are charged by assorted hosting companies. Specific costs to countenance at when intelligent for an inexpensive scheme place hosting organisation allow place ordered up fees, monthly or annual maintenance fees, and any other fees that haw be associated with the plan.
It should be noted that whatever hosting companies offer liberated set-up. If you crapper encounter a scheme host who is substance this in constituent to low monthly hosting fees, you module of instruction be much better with this host versus another who makes you pay for the same service.
Features
Things to study in constituent to the cost when looking for inexpensive scheme place hosting services allow the turn of storage space conventional with the plan, the programming languages based by the scheme host, and the turn of client hold offered. Some hosting companies module offer every of these features in their basic or most inexpensive scheme place hosting plan, and others module not.
You module also want to take a countenance at the other services offered by the scheme hosting companies that you are considering. Some inexpensive scheme place hosting companies provide additional services such as field study registration and scheme antiquity tools. If you haven't purchased a field study ease or if you requirement hold antiquity your website, you haw want to check to see if these services crapper be compounded with the company's most inexpensive scheme hosting plan. This could spend you an large turn of money.
Other Considerations
If you hit institute a inexpensive scheme place hosting organisation that has every of the features you requirement to build your scheme site, there are ease a few other things that module requirement to be condemned into kindness before you sign on the speckled line—the most essential existence reliability.
Some hosting companies who offer an inexpensive scheme hosting organisation hit digit field downfall: they aren't ever reliable. Because you requirement the scheme place to work when people try to access it, reliability is feat to be a must. This is ground you should ever ask hosting companies about downtime before signing up for inexpensive scheme place hosting. Last, but not least, you requirement to make sure that you module hit every of the hold you requirement if you choose the most inexpensive scheme hosting organisation that is existence offered to you. Specific things to ask about allow theoretical hold response instance and client assist allegoric availability.
There are tons of hosting companies out there that verify to offer liberated or inexpensive scheme place hosting, but many of them hit hidden fees or low quality services. A supposedly inexpensive scheme place hosting organisation crapper apace turn into a costly nightmare if you aren't careful. This is ground it is essential that you do your homework and research a sort of hosting companies before making any final decisions.
Comparing Costs
If you are looking for inexpensive scheme place hosting, then you module obviously requirement to study the costs that are charged by assorted hosting companies. Specific costs to countenance at when intelligent for an inexpensive scheme place hosting organisation allow place ordered up fees, monthly or annual maintenance fees, and any other fees that haw be associated with the plan.
It should be noted that whatever hosting companies offer liberated set-up. If you crapper encounter a scheme host who is substance this in constituent to low monthly hosting fees, you module of instruction be much better with this host versus another who makes you pay for the same service.
Features
Things to study in constituent to the cost when looking for inexpensive scheme place hosting services allow the turn of storage space conventional with the plan, the programming languages based by the scheme host, and the turn of client hold offered. Some hosting companies module offer every of these features in their basic or most inexpensive scheme place hosting plan, and others module not.
You module also want to take a countenance at the other services offered by the scheme hosting companies that you are considering. Some inexpensive scheme place hosting companies provide additional services such as field study registration and scheme antiquity tools. If you haven't purchased a field study ease or if you requirement hold antiquity your website, you haw want to check to see if these services crapper be compounded with the company's most inexpensive scheme hosting plan. This could spend you an large turn of money.
Other Considerations
If you hit institute a inexpensive scheme place hosting organisation that has every of the features you requirement to build your scheme site, there are ease a few other things that module requirement to be condemned into kindness before you sign on the speckled line—the most essential existence reliability.
Some hosting companies who offer an inexpensive scheme hosting organisation hit digit field downfall: they aren't ever reliable. Because you requirement the scheme place to work when people try to access it, reliability is feat to be a must. This is ground you should ever ask hosting companies about downtime before signing up for inexpensive scheme place hosting. Last, but not least, you requirement to make sure that you module hit every of the hold you requirement if you choose the most inexpensive scheme hosting organisation that is existence offered to you. Specific things to ask about allow theoretical hold response instance and client assist allegoric availability.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Why Are You Still Searching For Your Dedicated Server?
If you have been looking around a while now for a dedicated server, then you are starting to realize there is hundreds to pick from. Prices range from cheap to out of site.
You need to give some serious thought to why the big differences in prices? Hopefully you have now come to understand the differences between shared and dedicated hosting. You also know that the dedicated hosting is considerable more expensive than the shared.
So what is the reason for such big differences in the cost of the dedicated versus the shared hosting? The dedicated server will be hosting your website only. Therefore the shared server will host many sites, thus the term shared server.
With the dedicated server, you have complete or almost complete control, as this server has only one website, yours. Ok, with the this server you are able to control the bandwidth , the space and, the security of the server. You can count on having the equipment you need as long as you stay with the host and their service.
So something eels to consider is how you are going to pay for the server? Quite possibly you will be able to get a much better deal on your dedicated server if you pay the rental on an annual or yearly basis.
The big problem with that is what happens if you pay the host company annually and a couple months later your server stops working because the provider becomes insolvent and goes out of business?
What if all of a sudden the equipment becomes old and outdated? This is the inherent dangers of paying an annual fee, but there is no getting around this. If you pay monthly it is going to cost you a lot more than if you pay annually.
What will you do if you become unhappy with the service the provider is giving? If you are on a monthly deal, you can get away from it quickly .
What happens if his customer service goes sour? You will quite probably find yourself stuck with them for close to a year. Not good, but such are the chances. Pay monthly and pay a lot more.
In order to find the very best dedicated server, you need to do a lot of shopping around, and you will find the caliber of service given should be your number one consideration.
Does the servers customer service department provide prompt and fast service in the event your server goes down? This is a must, the longer your server is out of whack and not working the more it is going to cost you in sales. As everything stops when the server goes down.
Many of the budget providers will offer very attractive deasls. No start up costs and other stuff, in order to get your website up and running. Your website will have to be uploaded to the server. Most of the providers are going to charge a substantial fee for this service.
The amount to get your website up and running can also be costly. Some people may decide not to make the changes when they see akk these charges. You should keep in mind that these fees will only be onetime charge. Once you have got it all running you should only have the monthly or annual costs.
Maybe you might feel that it is better to keep your costs down as low as possible when just starting out with a new dedicated server, however, it is for sure this is one area you certainly will want to avoid and do not want to sacrifice good customer service in order to save costs. All of your better servers are very reliable.
They also have excellent customer service departments as well as large bandwidth and space. Just be very cautious as you may get a cheap deal with one of these budget servers and then discover that you have less space and bandwidth than you had with your shared server. Some offer a very low monthly rate and not much space. If this is the case you need to keep searching.
In conclusion, you will need to shop around on the internet. Talk with friends and other website owners that you know and see what they might be able to recommend. Just bear in mind that one of the most important things is to have good customer service.
You will find this to be one of, if not the most crucial aspects of the maintenance of your business, just as much so as the increased space and bandwidth offered by a dedicated server.
You need to give some serious thought to why the big differences in prices? Hopefully you have now come to understand the differences between shared and dedicated hosting. You also know that the dedicated hosting is considerable more expensive than the shared.
So what is the reason for such big differences in the cost of the dedicated versus the shared hosting? The dedicated server will be hosting your website only. Therefore the shared server will host many sites, thus the term shared server.
With the dedicated server, you have complete or almost complete control, as this server has only one website, yours. Ok, with the this server you are able to control the bandwidth , the space and, the security of the server. You can count on having the equipment you need as long as you stay with the host and their service.
So something eels to consider is how you are going to pay for the server? Quite possibly you will be able to get a much better deal on your dedicated server if you pay the rental on an annual or yearly basis.
The big problem with that is what happens if you pay the host company annually and a couple months later your server stops working because the provider becomes insolvent and goes out of business?
What if all of a sudden the equipment becomes old and outdated? This is the inherent dangers of paying an annual fee, but there is no getting around this. If you pay monthly it is going to cost you a lot more than if you pay annually.
What will you do if you become unhappy with the service the provider is giving? If you are on a monthly deal, you can get away from it quickly .
What happens if his customer service goes sour? You will quite probably find yourself stuck with them for close to a year. Not good, but such are the chances. Pay monthly and pay a lot more.
In order to find the very best dedicated server, you need to do a lot of shopping around, and you will find the caliber of service given should be your number one consideration.
Does the servers customer service department provide prompt and fast service in the event your server goes down? This is a must, the longer your server is out of whack and not working the more it is going to cost you in sales. As everything stops when the server goes down.
Many of the budget providers will offer very attractive deasls. No start up costs and other stuff, in order to get your website up and running. Your website will have to be uploaded to the server. Most of the providers are going to charge a substantial fee for this service.
The amount to get your website up and running can also be costly. Some people may decide not to make the changes when they see akk these charges. You should keep in mind that these fees will only be onetime charge. Once you have got it all running you should only have the monthly or annual costs.
Maybe you might feel that it is better to keep your costs down as low as possible when just starting out with a new dedicated server, however, it is for sure this is one area you certainly will want to avoid and do not want to sacrifice good customer service in order to save costs. All of your better servers are very reliable.
They also have excellent customer service departments as well as large bandwidth and space. Just be very cautious as you may get a cheap deal with one of these budget servers and then discover that you have less space and bandwidth than you had with your shared server. Some offer a very low monthly rate and not much space. If this is the case you need to keep searching.
In conclusion, you will need to shop around on the internet. Talk with friends and other website owners that you know and see what they might be able to recommend. Just bear in mind that one of the most important things is to have good customer service.
You will find this to be one of, if not the most crucial aspects of the maintenance of your business, just as much so as the increased space and bandwidth offered by a dedicated server.
Beginners, Make Your Own Website For Under $400
Many beginners have no idea what needs to be done to get a website up and running but they know they want one because everyone else has one.
So, if you're a beginner to website design and want to get a website created from scratch I'll go into some detail here to map out exactly what to do step-by-step, as well as the potential prices involved. I will also give you a suggestion of the best place online that is both beginner friendly and completely robust - filled with everything you'll ever need and more to create the best website possible for you and your readers.
The very first thing you need to do before you make a website is to decide what you want your website to be about. Sounds simple doesn't it but you'll be surprised by just how many people skip this first important step. "And how do I do this", you ask. Make a list of things you like. What are you interested in? What are your hobbies? What kind of things do you like to read about? Talk about? Think about? Put them on your list.
It 's not necessary that you be an expert in the topic that you create your website about but I would suggest it be something that you're really interested in otherwise you'll lose interest in it quickly and your website will die. For your website to prosper, you'll have to write content and make revisions and changes fairly frequently and if you're not really a fan of the topic you've chosen you'll never follow through. So, look at the list you've made and chose the best topic for you.
It is also a good idea to be completely sure of the type of audience your website will be geared toward since this will have a lot to do with the type of website you'll ultimately build. Is your website just for your family and friends? Is it going to be geared toward a certain readership - such as purebred Akita lovers, people interested in vintage Camaro 's , trout fishermen, etc? Or do you want to build a website business to make money online? Cost - $0, but some of your time.
For this article, I will assume that you are building a website geared toward one of the types of audiences as listed above. Now that you've decided what your website is about and who you plan to build the site for, it 's time to start building the actual website. What I would encourage you to do first is to find a web host and buy a domain name. You can do these two things separately or you can do them at the same time, it 's up to you. What I would suggest beginners do would be to get both at the same place to cut down on a few steps down the road.
"What are domain names and web hosts and why do I need them?" Good question. This is a very important step in the website building process. In answer to your question you can think of it this way: a web host rents you space on their computers to put all your websites files. It 's kind of like renting an apartment or house to put all your stuff - you pay them a monthly fee to keep your website files safe and your website up and running all day long.
Even if you didn't know it, you do know what examples of domain names are. Have you ever heard of "ebay" or "apple"? How about "Google" or "Yahoo"? I thought so. Your domain name is a name that is unique to you and your website - kind of like a phone number, but in name form since most people can remember names better than a long list of numbers. This name is what visitors type into their browser windows to find your actual website.
If you don't have a website host or a domain name you can't have a website. It 's that simple. You can get a free website but I would not recommend you ever going that route if you want to be taken seriously online. This boils down to an issue of credibility.
So, with that in mind, I suggest you go the paid route. Charges vary from host to host and among domain name registrars. If you shop around you can often find a reputable web host that will offer you a free domain name as a part of their plan. If you decide to buy them separately prices typically run anywhere from $8 to $30+ for domain names per year, while web hosting prices can vary from $6 to $20+ a month for a basic website, depending on which you choose.
Cheaper is not always better. Let me repeat that: cheaper is not always better, so research a few web hosts before deciding on a plan. Compare plans, email the host to ask questions ahead of time and see what kinds of responses you get. Good customer service and technical help is tremendously important and you want to pick a company that you can have a good and long lasting relationship with right from the start.
It 's a real pain to have to switch around later if you don't make the right choice the first time out. It costs you time, effort, and can cost you money if you have a business website - so choose very, very carefully.
One company you might want to check out that is absolutely excellent in all respects of web site hosting is SiteBuildIt (SBI). SBI offers an all-in-one package that is fantastic for the website designer - whether you are a beginner or not.
They have it all - colorful website templates, the ability to create newsletters, blog functionality, brainstorming and research tools, domain name, unlimited great customer support, webmail account, point and click site-building, a form builder, a money back guarantee and much much more.
So, if you're a beginner to website design and want to get a website created from scratch I'll go into some detail here to map out exactly what to do step-by-step, as well as the potential prices involved. I will also give you a suggestion of the best place online that is both beginner friendly and completely robust - filled with everything you'll ever need and more to create the best website possible for you and your readers.
The very first thing you need to do before you make a website is to decide what you want your website to be about. Sounds simple doesn't it but you'll be surprised by just how many people skip this first important step. "And how do I do this", you ask. Make a list of things you like. What are you interested in? What are your hobbies? What kind of things do you like to read about? Talk about? Think about? Put them on your list.
It 's not necessary that you be an expert in the topic that you create your website about but I would suggest it be something that you're really interested in otherwise you'll lose interest in it quickly and your website will die. For your website to prosper, you'll have to write content and make revisions and changes fairly frequently and if you're not really a fan of the topic you've chosen you'll never follow through. So, look at the list you've made and chose the best topic for you.
It is also a good idea to be completely sure of the type of audience your website will be geared toward since this will have a lot to do with the type of website you'll ultimately build. Is your website just for your family and friends? Is it going to be geared toward a certain readership - such as purebred Akita lovers, people interested in vintage Camaro 's , trout fishermen, etc? Or do you want to build a website business to make money online? Cost - $0, but some of your time.
For this article, I will assume that you are building a website geared toward one of the types of audiences as listed above. Now that you've decided what your website is about and who you plan to build the site for, it 's time to start building the actual website. What I would encourage you to do first is to find a web host and buy a domain name. You can do these two things separately or you can do them at the same time, it 's up to you. What I would suggest beginners do would be to get both at the same place to cut down on a few steps down the road.
"What are domain names and web hosts and why do I need them?" Good question. This is a very important step in the website building process. In answer to your question you can think of it this way: a web host rents you space on their computers to put all your websites files. It 's kind of like renting an apartment or house to put all your stuff - you pay them a monthly fee to keep your website files safe and your website up and running all day long.
Even if you didn't know it, you do know what examples of domain names are. Have you ever heard of "ebay" or "apple"? How about "Google" or "Yahoo"? I thought so. Your domain name is a name that is unique to you and your website - kind of like a phone number, but in name form since most people can remember names better than a long list of numbers. This name is what visitors type into their browser windows to find your actual website.
If you don't have a website host or a domain name you can't have a website. It 's that simple. You can get a free website but I would not recommend you ever going that route if you want to be taken seriously online. This boils down to an issue of credibility.
So, with that in mind, I suggest you go the paid route. Charges vary from host to host and among domain name registrars. If you shop around you can often find a reputable web host that will offer you a free domain name as a part of their plan. If you decide to buy them separately prices typically run anywhere from $8 to $30+ for domain names per year, while web hosting prices can vary from $6 to $20+ a month for a basic website, depending on which you choose.
Cheaper is not always better. Let me repeat that: cheaper is not always better, so research a few web hosts before deciding on a plan. Compare plans, email the host to ask questions ahead of time and see what kinds of responses you get. Good customer service and technical help is tremendously important and you want to pick a company that you can have a good and long lasting relationship with right from the start.
It 's a real pain to have to switch around later if you don't make the right choice the first time out. It costs you time, effort, and can cost you money if you have a business website - so choose very, very carefully.
One company you might want to check out that is absolutely excellent in all respects of web site hosting is SiteBuildIt (SBI). SBI offers an all-in-one package that is fantastic for the website designer - whether you are a beginner or not.
They have it all - colorful website templates, the ability to create newsletters, blog functionality, brainstorming and research tools, domain name, unlimited great customer support, webmail account, point and click site-building, a form builder, a money back guarantee and much much more.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Website Hosting - How to Select a Good Company
Trying to select a hosting package is much like purchasing a new car—there are many different types and ways to go, but in the end it really boils down to how you are going to get where you want to be and the features you’ll need to get there. You certainly would not buy a Honda Civic to make an off-road journey across the Mohave Desert. Nor would it make sense to buy a Hummer to just drive around town.
So in considering the type of hosting package and company to host your website, you should first assess where you want your website to go and what you’ll need to get there.
But first, let’s understand what web hosting is exactly, and the many different features that need to be considered.
The Internet is a vast network of interconnected computer servers which house or host various pages of information, called websites. Hosting a website means to store and maintain a computer folder of various web pages. Hosting companies offer this service by providing computer hardware and software services. These services vary as much as cars do.
Some very important hosting features that should be a must for your hosting package, much like the importance of having a car with a motor and wheels, are the following:
* Security – Protection from Internet hackers.
* Space – Ability to grow my site without size constraints.
* Speed – How fast my website will load onto visitors computers.
* Up Time – Dependability of the hosting servers from crashing.
* Back Up – Protection from loss of data from my website.
* Support – 24 hours support to handle problems.
* Administrative Tools – For making changes to your site.
* Email – The number and size of email accounts.
* Hosting Company – History and track record for support.
* Search Engine Submissions – Submitting to the major search engines.
Now, let’s consider where you want your website to go and what you’ll need to get there. Some questions to ask:
* Do I want my customers to be able to look up information on my website? If so, you’ll need a database driven website with a hosting company that supports it.
* Do I want movement on my website? If so, you’ll need a web design company that can program flash for your site, as well as the ability to host the flash program.
* What type and how much email traffic will I anticipate? This helps to determine the size and amount of storage you’ll need for your hosted website.
* How many web pages will I need? This also helps to determine the size of space needed for your hosting package.
* Will I want to make ongoing custom changes to my website? If so, you’ll need a hosting company that supports ongoing custom design changes.
* Will my website have a lot of images and movement? If so, you’ll need additional space for larger web files for these functions.
* Do I want Internet Traffic to my Website? In order to receive traffic to your website, your hosting company needs to offer this service, or you’ll need to hire a third party for this service.
* Will I need Internet marketing help and consultation? In this fast-changing Internet world, it is important to have professional help and consultation.
The Better Business Bureau offers this advice:
“Choosing a Web Hosting Service for your Business Web Site. Is your business web site down again? Does it seem to have more downtime than uptime? You may want to consider changing your web hosting service. One of the most important decisions you will make for your business web site is selecting which web hosting service will display your web pages to the Internet. Choosing the right Internet Service Provider (ISP) to host your business's web site may feel like finding the right day-care center for your kids these days: Are they reliable? Will they be there next month? Do they know what they are doing? What services do they provide?"
Basically, it is important to find the right hosting company that will partner with you for all your hosting, design and consultation needs. The cheapest hosting is typically not the best route to go. It’s cheap because it is a bare bones package, with little, if any support. That is a sure way to online business failure.
So in considering the type of hosting package and company to host your website, you should first assess where you want your website to go and what you’ll need to get there.
But first, let’s understand what web hosting is exactly, and the many different features that need to be considered.
The Internet is a vast network of interconnected computer servers which house or host various pages of information, called websites. Hosting a website means to store and maintain a computer folder of various web pages. Hosting companies offer this service by providing computer hardware and software services. These services vary as much as cars do.
Some very important hosting features that should be a must for your hosting package, much like the importance of having a car with a motor and wheels, are the following:
* Security – Protection from Internet hackers.
* Space – Ability to grow my site without size constraints.
* Speed – How fast my website will load onto visitors computers.
* Up Time – Dependability of the hosting servers from crashing.
* Back Up – Protection from loss of data from my website.
* Support – 24 hours support to handle problems.
* Administrative Tools – For making changes to your site.
* Email – The number and size of email accounts.
* Hosting Company – History and track record for support.
* Search Engine Submissions – Submitting to the major search engines.
Now, let’s consider where you want your website to go and what you’ll need to get there. Some questions to ask:
* Do I want my customers to be able to look up information on my website? If so, you’ll need a database driven website with a hosting company that supports it.
* Do I want movement on my website? If so, you’ll need a web design company that can program flash for your site, as well as the ability to host the flash program.
* What type and how much email traffic will I anticipate? This helps to determine the size and amount of storage you’ll need for your hosted website.
* How many web pages will I need? This also helps to determine the size of space needed for your hosting package.
* Will I want to make ongoing custom changes to my website? If so, you’ll need a hosting company that supports ongoing custom design changes.
* Will my website have a lot of images and movement? If so, you’ll need additional space for larger web files for these functions.
* Do I want Internet Traffic to my Website? In order to receive traffic to your website, your hosting company needs to offer this service, or you’ll need to hire a third party for this service.
* Will I need Internet marketing help and consultation? In this fast-changing Internet world, it is important to have professional help and consultation.
The Better Business Bureau offers this advice:
“Choosing a Web Hosting Service for your Business Web Site. Is your business web site down again? Does it seem to have more downtime than uptime? You may want to consider changing your web hosting service. One of the most important decisions you will make for your business web site is selecting which web hosting service will display your web pages to the Internet. Choosing the right Internet Service Provider (ISP) to host your business's web site may feel like finding the right day-care center for your kids these days: Are they reliable? Will they be there next month? Do they know what they are doing? What services do they provide?"
Basically, it is important to find the right hosting company that will partner with you for all your hosting, design and consultation needs. The cheapest hosting is typically not the best route to go. It’s cheap because it is a bare bones package, with little, if any support. That is a sure way to online business failure.
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