Selecting A Web Host
How to Choose a Reliable Web Host
The first thing you should do before beginning your search
for a
reliable web host is to make a list of your specific web hosting needs.
How much space will you need?
How much transfer allowance?
How many emails?
Will you need a database?
Will you need a shopping cart?
Will you need a merchant account?
Are you going to set up a forum?
Would you like to a Chat Feature to your web site?
A Reliable Web host will be a web host that can meet your specific needs. But there are some things that every web host should have in order for you to consider using there services, and they are listed below.
Up Time and Reliability.
You'll want to make sure that your website is accessible.
Your web host should be able to guarantee a certain percentage of uptime.
Many web hosts will guarantee your web site to be available 99.5% of
the time.
Ask about the hardware used, the connection, and what safe guards are
in place
to minimize downtimes. Most of these questions will be answered in
the F&Q section of the web host main site.
Reasonable Price.
Your web hosting company should offer you a reasonable price for services
and flexibility in payment methods and schedules. The cheapest hosting
that you can find is not usually the way you want to go here. Expect
to pay a fair market value for services rendered.
Bandwidth.
Some Web hosts have a limit on the amount of material that
can be downloaded from your site each month and charge you
when that limit is exceeded. Some offer huge traffic allowances
for the same price. You may not need more than a 100 MB a
month now, but why put yourself in a position where you have
to move when your business takes off? Plan ahead and allow
for growth. Make sure you have at least 1 GB of data transfer.
Always stay away from web hosts that say that they offer
Unlimited Bandwidth. There is NO SUCH animal as unlimited
bandwidth.
Disk Storage Space.
Look for a web host that offers sites of 100 MB or more.
This may sound like a lot, but will give you room to grow.
Server Speed.
You want a server that is reliable and fast.
Basic Features.
Lots of features is another measure of a good web
host. Some web hosts will offer only minimal features and
then charge a monthly fee to add on any new features.
Multiple Domain Names.
If you own more than one domain name, you may be able to
host them using one web hosting account. The Web Hosting
Company may have an extra charge for this service.
Mail Forwarding.
Make sure that the Web hosting company allows you to set up
mail forwarding – the ability to forward you email somewhere else.
If you have more than one or two e-mail addresses, having the capability
to forward all of your email to one ISP would be nice.
Autoresponders.
An autoresponder is a program that automatically sends your
pre-written message to people who email you. This is a very
useful tool in marketing your business as people are sent
information immediately.
Mailing Lists.
A mailing list is a discussion group that is email-based.
They are useful as a promotional tool. You can also
use a mailing-list program to distribute your ezine.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol).
It allows you to transfer files to and from your Web site quickly and
easily.
This service will usually be provided. Only some free web hosting services
Do not offer FTP.
Anonymous FTP Accounts.
This function allows you to set up an FTP
site that people can access to download files. If you are
distributing software or giving away free e-books, this is a
great tool.
A Secure Server. (Secured Socket Layer)
Commonly referred To as SSL Server. This is mandatory if
you plan to take orders online or transfer sensitive
information. The secure server allows credit-card information
typed into a form to be encrypted before being sent from the
user's Web browser to the server. You may have to pay an
additional fee to use the secure server. You don't have to have
a secure server to take orders online.
CGI Scripts.
A good Web Hosting service will have a library of CGI scripts
you can use. You should also be able to add your own
CGI scripts.
Advanced Features.
Does the Web Host Provide Advanced Features
Such As Database Access, Java Applets, RealAudio/Video,
PHP, Password Protection...etc.
Backups.
A good Web Host will backup your web directory daily.
This is standard throughout the industry. If the Web Host
doesn't provide this service, don't even consider using them.
A Guarantee.
With so many web hosting services out there, make
sure you choose one that offers a guarantee. Services that offer
a money back guarantee are confident that you'll be satisfied
with their service. Look for at least a basic 30 day money back
guarantee.
Flexibility.
The ideal Web Hosting service will have lots of
options and upgrades to accommodate future growth of your web
site. You may need to add ecommerce to your web site (shopping
cart, storefront, merchant account), or more web space, a forum,
or you might just need to have your own dedicated server. A good
Web Hosting company will have all these resources available to
you if you need them.
Here is a List of some of the more reputable Hosting Companies.
