SolveYourProblem
Article Series: Web Hosting
Teach Me Web Hosting Essentials
Choose
an Affordable Web Host with Great Service
Choosing
an affordable web host that provides great service can
be an incredible challenge but is well worth
your research to choose well. First of all consider how much
money you have to work with. A web host does not have to be
really expensive therefore even if you have a small budget;
you should be able to find one that is within your price range.
After you have determined the money you have to spend then
take into consideration what your individual needs are in regards
to your website. The answers you come up with should point
you in the right direction.
If you plan to sell items on your website then for your specific
e-commerce needs you require SSL Layer which allows you to
safely and securely process credit card payments at your site
and gateways (such as for example, CGI or Common Gateway Interface)
which involves shopping carts and allows the credit card payments
to process in real-time.
Make the call as to whether a dedicated
server or virtual server is what you need. Some online companies offer options
that are called “semi-dedicated” which is basically a combination
of the two. However this can be pricey and is not always very
reliable so if you were considering this option then it would
be in your best interests to go with a dedicated server.
Two things, besides affordability that are the most important
in choosing an appropriate web host are the speed it offers
and its reliability. Visiting the prospective web host’s website
and asking as many questions as you need to (and paying close
attention to the answers you get) is a gauge for which web
host you should choose for service.
What type of connection does the web host in question have?
Is it an ISDN T1, T3, etc.? The answer is a very simple one-
find a company that possesses at least a T3 connection. If
the host doesn’t have that, then your search is not over.
Take a cryptic look at the company as a whole. How long have
they been around for and are they thriving? While this may
not seem to be high on the web host priority list a company’s
track record could very well play a role in your decision making
process. The longer a company has been around the more established
it is and that could mean that they are worthy of your business.
A more established company might also be more inclined to have
affordable deal for first time business clients.
Another thing to inquire about is whether the company has
in place any kind of money back guarantee in the event that
you are not happy with their web host service. The more reputable
and reliable companies generally provide a month’s time where
clients can try out their services before making a further
commitment. This is an excellent “safety net” so you don’t
get roped into purchasing an unwanted service or in case you
find a web host service that suits your needs better.
What
is the web host’s down time? This is a very important
question as down time can be detrimental to any website. A
service that is reliable and worth your money will have an
“up time” in the area of 98 to 99 percent. Your web site will
not survive (especially if you are selling things on it) if
it is down at crucial moments. Customers will visit, become
frustrated and not return for a long while (if ever). Don’t
allow this to happen to you. Find out this essential piece
of information before you sign on the dotted line.
How much technical
support a web host can provide the client
with is a matter of importance. Test it out beforehand by e-mailing
them with a particular question and then taking note of how
long it takes them to respond to your inquiry. Another thing
you can try is to call their telephone number and see if a
real person answers or if a machine picks up. If it’s the machine
then leave a message and see how long it takes for you to get
a response. The response time should tell you something about
what could lie ahead in the future if you choose this particular
web host. Of problems arise you want help sooner as opposed
to later.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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