Hosting 101: All You Need To Know
You have probably heard of the term web hosting before, but you have no clue on what it means. It involves providing a site server so companies can build their own websites. Could website hosting benefit you?
Look up backup host sites if you don’t like particular aspects of your current hosting company. This makes it so you can quickly switch hosting providers without a lot of downtime if the problems persist or become too much of a burden.
Target Audience
Before you go out looking for a new web host, make a list of the attributes that you are seeking. Figure out your wants and needs beforehand and see how the potential hosts meet them. Having a list of priorities means you won’t just pick a host because it offers the cheapest service, but because it genuinely meets your needs.
When trying to choose a web host, choose a provider that is located where your target audience lives. If your target audience is Americans, stick with a hosting provider that’s located in America.
Choose a web hosting company that provides the space you need for your website to grow. Will you have the storage space to expand your website if needed? You’ll want to have at least 100 megabytes of space allotted to your account with the ability to add more at a reasonable price.
Ask any potential web host what type of security system they have in place to protect your website. Multiple threats are discovered every day on the Internet, making your site a target. Ensure that the host you choose has clear procedures for handling threats like DDoS attacks. Always find out what risks your website faces, should your web host come under attack.
Consider using a free host to help you save money. A free web host will place ads that are out of your control on the site, and you will not have as much space as you might want. While this will save you money, if you really want a professional looking site, you do not want to use this kind of web hosting.
Choose a hosting service that can offer you enough space for your website to grow. An HTML page takes very little space, but adding pictures or videos will need a lot more space. In most cases, 100 megabytes is sufficient to allow for extensive development of your website.
Find out how good your host’s reputation is. Look over reviews and other articles on different hosts. Soon, you’ll discover that certain hosts have a good reputation within their niche. This can provide you some security in choosing them. Any companies with bad customer service will be obvious based on complaints.
The amount of traffic you receive on your site can affect your hosting charges. Have an idea just how a web company will charge you. Some hosts bill you a flat fee until your site picks up more traffic, while another may charge you a completely different amount each month depending on your traffic.
If you have more than one email for your site, see what format your hosting service offers. It is likely that you will discover the need to stick with POP 3. This will allow you to have an email address using your domain name, which is accessible from any computer you use.
If security is important for your website, look for secure server certificates. You can add this button to your website so customers feel it is a more trustworthy website to visit.
Examine the website of each web host you are considering. A poorly designed website is a definite red flag for a web hosting company. Will yours likely be any better? A good web design shows that this company possess attention to detail, along with web design and HTML experience.
Many website hosting services rely on the services of larger companies. These types of companies buy huge blocks of web server capacity at a bulk discount, then re-sell it in smaller chunks to individual web site owners. Find out where your site is going to be hosted and make sure you are getting the lowest price between two services relying on the same servers.
Before making a final decision on a hosting site, make sure that you check out their security and safety features. You want to be sure that your site will be secured from hackers, and other dangerous security breeches too. A solid web host constantly backs its servers up.
Try to find a hosting company which offers a cPanel. A cPanel will allow you to easily add applications to your site. These apps are very easy to use and are very helpful. Not only that, but your website management will be more efficient.
Ask your host how many Internet connections they have. If your host runs on a single internet connection, the risk of downtime is greatly increased because there is no redundancy. Verify that there are redundant connections, and make sure that each of the connections are capable of providing a sufficient amount of bandwidth for your website.
You will want to check on the reputation of a website hosting company. This is important. Reading the reviews and the articles about web hosts will help you quickly realize that with different hosts come different types of reputations. Find one that you feel you can trust to do business with. A company that does not offer quality customer service and innovative services will be easy to recognize as well.
Make sure that it is easy to contact your web host should any type of problem arise. Web host that offer a variety of contact options are your best bet for getting good customer support. This will be a lifesaver should anything go wrong.
Does your computer have a dial-up connection? If so, don’t host your own site. Your site must be online 24/7 to be effective, so use the services of a professional web host. Any downtime or lagging can cause your site to go offline.
You should never select a web host solely because it provides the cheapest service. Finding the best deal is a common practice, but choosing a web host solely because of affordability is a mistake. It’s not worth saving money if you end up with a service that doesn’t meet your needs in terms of support, service or quality.
Know that many web hosts use Linux, but Windows is used extensively as well. If you are using features that differ from what you have been accustomed to, it may be an adjustment for you. Linux, generally less costly to run than Windows, may lower your site’s monthly bills.
Make sure you know what the control panel of your web host will look like. The host should provide documentation which is publicly available before you become a customer. If the control panel they offer is confusing, go elsewhere.
Research the history of any possible web host before choosing them to be your provider. Confirm that the provider is well-established and has a favorable track record of good performance and customer satisfaction. If possible, choose a host that has been in business for 12 months or more. What would you do, after all, if your hosting company went out of business?
Make sure you research what your hosting service provides when it comes to server access. Some offer a friendly html-based interface or control panel, while others have a more complicated FTP access. More complex web sites will need the flexibility of ftp access, but if your site is fairly basic or smaller, you can save time and effort by choosing web hosting that provides web-based services through a control panel.
Make sure you stay weary of inexpensive web hosts. A low price may be tempting; however, you must understand that there is a reason a company is so cheap. They might be a risk to customers, or they do not offer the best customer service.
There are many different choices that you can make when it comes to web hosting. Don’t let these numbers overwhelm you. There are some hosts that offer free or cheap hosting, but this is not always optimal for every person. Keep your head and don’t fall for the hype. Go with your gut and narrow your list to a few good middle-of-the road options, then compare their services.
How will you contact your hosting provider in times of crisis? If you can call, email or chat with customer service anytime, you have found a good web page hosting service. If something goes wrong, this can prevent a significant amount of frustration.
Your prospective web host should have a history of as little downtime as possible. When there is always a lot of downtime, this can hurt your website as it won’t be up to make sales. If there is downtime, you can’t access your account.
Web Host
Give more thought to choosing a web hosting provider than just because they offer free hosting. The price may be good, but it might not be what you need. If your site is growing, you might be stuck with a web host that can’t grow with you. Switching web providers can be a hassle, so going with a free host in the beginning can cost you a lot of problems in the end.
Go with a web host who’s been around for while. Try to avoid ones that have only recently started. Also, an experienced company will no doubt be better prepared for a wide array of issues. For common problems, there will be standardized procedures in place. Choosing a web host that has been around the block will prevent the hassle of dealing with the inexperienced tech support teams found at new companies.
Look at reviews on the various hosting services that you are considering before signing a contract. Customers are quick to report either very good or very bad experiences. Go over lots of reviews and select a firm with a solid history and impressive track record.
As you have learned, hosting is a service that allows you to create your own website and put it online. Use the tips you learned in this article to make better decisions concerning your web host, and the services it offers.
Check out the web hosts maintenance schedule. The best situation is when the routine maintenance is only scheduled once a month. This limits the downtime your website will suffer, thereby diminishing the overall effect on your bottom line.
