February 8, 2011

The Top Three

When you want to put up a blog you have two basic choices for how you want to host it, the first is a blogging service website that will set up everything for you for free and host for free. The other choice is getting your own domain, or URL, and signing up with a hosting company. There are pros and cons to each of these but let's talk about some of the better hosting sites that fall into the second option.

These are rankings based on the Consumer Rankings website.

1) Justhost.com: This company charges only $3.95 per month for hosting packages and offers a free for life option on your domain. Customer rankings on this site are all 4.5 and 5 on a scale of 5 and this is a very well known company for web hosting. Their technical support normally responds in less than an hour via email.

2) Fatcow: This company charges $5.50 a month for their hosting services and they also have a free domain registration service however it is not free for life. They use an icon-based interface in their very easy to use and learn control panel and have earned very high rankings with their customers.

3) Inmotion Hosting: The monthly charge for their services is $6.95 and they offer free domain registration services as well. This company was awarded the "Top Web Hosting Provider" by CNET and they host over 30,000 websites at the time of these ranking. The control panel used here is the very popular cPanel system, which is used by many hosting companies.

No matter what company you choose to go with when hosting your own blog you will need to download and install the blogging software yourself. Some of these hosts will offer this as a service that comes with the package so you may want to check that out as well.

The advantages to having your own domain and host includes a customized URL and you will not have to run any ads from the service provider at all, unless you want to. This means less clutter on the site for you and your readers.

Mark

PS
I did not include us in the top 3 as I will let you make your own mind up on that one :)

June 7, 2010

Web Hosting Options

To get your site live on the Web, you have to have web hosting. A server owned by a web hosting company allows the site to be connected to the internet, taking your site live for all to see. The first step in setting up a website is usually buying the domain name followed by choosing the web hosting. Some companies do, both providing you with a central location to buy your domain and set up its hosting.

The multitude of websites that have sprung up in the last decade has lead to a multitude of web hosting companies. This allows consumers a wide range of options when it comes to web hosting. The best way to choose a hosting company is to evaluate what you want your site to do and come up with a list of what your web host will need to provide. If you want a large site, the host should allow its customers a lot of space. If you want one that makes web design simple, you should choose one that provides templates and items you will need to build your site.

There are ways to host your site on your own, but doing this is a less effective method than going with a web hosting company. Because the internet connection you have at a home or an office is usually not enough to support hosting, it can result in complications and a lot of additional expense to upgrade.

Because web hosting varies wildly in pricing, once you know what features you will need you can look for the best price. Most hosts will offer lower monthly or yearly prices if you sign up for several years of service. If you need nothing more than a basic place to park some company information, there is free web hosting available. Free web hosts typically offer very little space, and sometimes limit the number of pages you are allowed. The services will probably be the bare minimum and will likely not support all of the functions you want. There are some free web hosts that put their own ads on your site to support their service, which keeps many people from being interested in their services.

Because web hosting is so important, the host you choose should have a high percentage of uptime as well as effective customer service. Nearly everyone wants their website available to the public at all times, so the uptime should be as high as possible. Most people at one time or another will have questions about their hosting or how to configure their website, so good customer service is equally important. If the web hosting company offers customer service with a quick turnaround, you can be assured that any problems you have can be resolved quickly with their help.

Mark

April 25, 2010

Affordable Web Hosting for Small Business

You know finding affordable web hosting for a small business is possible, it just takes some time to find the right fit. Not only is it possible to find affordable web hosting, in many instances the type of hosting is vital to success online. On hearing the term affordable web hosting for small business one may be inclined to think 'cheap', but affordable web hosting for small business means that the business can afford to host their website on that plan.

Affordable web hosting is especially important since small businesses have to minimize expenses in the early stages of operation. Once you have decided on affordable web hosting for small business, you need to consider the following:

• What type of server will your business need? Will it be a dedicated server or a shared server? In the first phase, affordable web hosting for small business on a shared server may be the best option.

• Whether you plan on hosting locally or not. Some persons looking for affordable web hosting for small business may find it necessary to choose a local host. Often affordable web hosting for small business from a local host has better technical support.

Web hosting for small business is also dependent of the type of business. The web hosting that will be ideal for an online writing company may not work for a used-book business. These issues should be weighed carefully when looking for affordable web hosting for small business.

A company that offers affordable web hosting for small business may not be the right fit for you. To determine if you are getting the right affordable web hosting for small business, consider:

• If a hosting provider claims to offer affordable web hosting for small business, it doesn't help if they cannot provide the right amount of web space. Affordable web hosting for small business does not mean taking what is immediately available.

• Even with affordable web hosting for small business plans, speed of download should not be compromised. Any host who cannot guarantee top speed should be taken off your list of potential affordable web hosting for small business candidates.

• Choose an affordable web hosting for small business company that can guarantee your hosting plan needs will be met.

• The web site should be able to grow as the business grows. Affordable web hosting for small business should not mean that every time your needs change you have to change hosts. A good affordable web hosting for small business provider will have the bandwidth and know-how for a growing web site.

Things to look out for in affordable web hosting for small business include reliable back up, promptness of response to queries or problems. The length of time a host has been in operation should be considered when deciding on an affordable web hosting for small business plan.

Finding the right affordable web hosting for small business plan can make or break a web-based business. Affordable web hosting for small business from companies that are off-line more than one percent of the time, could be risky. Potential customers will not be able to access your web site when they need to, making that affordable web hosting for small business a costly headache.

Since the success of your online business is dependent on the type of affordable web hosting for small business plan, research is important. Web hosting, in whatever form, including affordable web hosting for small business is highly competitive. This means that there are lots of services competing to provide affordable web hosting for small business.

Mark

August 25, 2009

So what about Hosting

Small business web hosting helps you get the most from your advertising dollars. If your business doesn't have a website and a small business web hosting service yet, you're missing out on an extremely effective advertising strategy. Small business web hosting and design don't cost an arm and a leg anymore. Small business web hosting has advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years. The smart small business uses a great site to spread its message. Small business web hosting makes this message accessible to all your potential customers. Use a great site and small business web hosting to effectively target the audience you seek to serve. Why wait when you could be raking in more business than you ever imagined possible through the World Wide Web?

Small business web hosting allows all businesses the chance to reach out to prospects on the internet. There are hundreds of small business web hosting companies to choose from. The services small business web hosting companies offer provide you with an excellent opportunity to reach your target audience. You can find small business web hosting server space for your website easily by doing a little research on the subject of small business web hosting. Use pay-per-click ads and search engine optimization so your advertisement can reach millions of people daily. Using small business web hosting is one of the most intelligent decisions a company can make in the area of advertisement and getting the word out to the public.

Mark

October 28, 2008

What Is Web Hosting?

A company usually performs web hosting with multiple servers in which to hold all of the website's information. This is true of every website you go to, someone, somewhere is hosting the site's information you visit.

A server is a special type of computer that only handles data transfer of some fashion and is not connected to a monitor with a keyboard and mouse. Normally they are linked together with other servers, which is called a cluster.

If you want to put up your own website you need a few things in order to do it:
1. A URL - this is the web address of your site and no two are alike
2. A Host - this is the company who hosts your website on a server
3. A Website - this is self explanatory

Now many web hosting companies will also allow you to register your domain through them for a small fee and sometimes for no extra cost at all if you are choosing them to be your host. Once you have gotten your domain name registered, this is the URL mentioned earlier, you will need to choose a hosting package from the website hosting company.
There are normally a number of packages you can choose from and they are all a little different. For the most part, especially if this is a small family website used to host a blog or some pictures, you can go with the cheapest package. There are some packages that run as low as $4.99 a month for hosting.

Normally these packages will include:

1. Your own URL
2. Multiple email addresses
3. MySQL Servers - this is a database area you may or may not need
4. And other features

In reality, you really only need the first three and everything else is just icing on the cake.
So, a web hosting company is someone who will, for a small fee, allow you to upload your own website to their servers and they will make sure people are able to get to your website. The longer the site is up without interruption is called uptime. You want to go with a company that can report 99% uptime and most do report this.

Mark

September 21, 2008

What To Look For in a Web Hosting Service

Knowing what to look for in a web hosting service is almost as important as knowing what you want to put on your website. The first thing most people look for is a cheap price but, be warned, you sometimes get exactly what you pay for so this little guide is here to help you make sure you are getting a good bang for your buck.

Web Space - This dictates exactly how much hard drive space the hosting service is going to give you for the package you are looking at. If you are only planning to host a blog with some family pictures on it, going with 1 to 2 Gigs of space is plenty. If you are planning on hosting more multimedia, such as movies and music, you may want to look for 5-10 Gigs of storage space.

Bandwidth - Bandwidth is how much data can be transferred to and from your website from people visiting your site and downloading what you have on there. The more you have the better especially if you plan on having a very busy website or if you are hosting movies and music. If this is a small site with a very small audience, you don't need as much bandwidth.

Database (MySQL) - MySQL is a database used to store information for websites such as blogs and galleries. All of the added information, such as users, settings and the like are stored in your MySQL database. Most sites have these standard as a part of their service. The more databases available to you the more websites you can put up that need a database.

E-Mail (PoP3) - When you sign up for a web hosting service, you will have the ability to make your own e-mail addresses. The addresses would look like this: yourname@yourwebsite.com and you can also give out email addresses to your friends and family if you want. The upside of this is you don't have to use something like Yahoo to get your mail and your email address is completely customizable.

There are many more options available, but these are the main ones you will need for a web hosting service.

Mark

December 20, 2007

Web Hosting: Web Hosting Options

To get your site live on the Web, you have to have web hosting. A server owned by a web hosting company allows the site to be connected to the internet, taking your site live for all to see. The first step in setting up a website is usually buying the domain name followed by choosing the web hosting. Some companies do, both providing you with a central location to buy your domain and set up its hosting.

The multitude of websites that have sprung up in the last decade has lead to a multitude of web hosting companies. This allows consumers a wide range of options when it comes to web hosting. The best way to choose a hosting company is to evaluate what you want your site to do and come up with a list of what your web host will need to provide. If you want a large site, the host should allow its customers a lot of space. If you want one that makes web design simple, you should choose one that provides templates and items you will need to build your site.

There are ways to host your site on your own, but doing this is a less effective method than going with a web hosting company. Because the internet connection you have at a home or an office is usually not enough to support hosting, it can result in complications and a lot of additional expense to upgrade.

Because web hosting varies wildly in pricing, once you know what features you will need you can look for the best price. Most hosts will offer lower monthly or yearly prices if you sign up for several years of service. If you need nothing more than a basic place to park some company information, there is free web hosting available. Free web hosts typically offer very little space, and sometimes limit the number of pages you are allowed. The services will probably be the bare minimum and will likely not support all of the functions you want. There are some free web hosts that put their own ads on your site to support their service, which keeps many people from being interested in their services.

Because web hosting is so important, the host you choose should have a high percentage of uptime as well as effective customer service. Nearly everyone wants their website available to the public at all times, so the uptime should be as high as possible. Most people at one time or another will have questions about their hosting or how to configure their website, so good customer service is equally important. If the web hosting company offers customer service with a quick turnaround, you can be assured that any problems you have can be resolved quickly with their help.

Mark

PS
I am giving 90% discount to my blog readers on ALL our web hosting packages for 12 months as an early xmas present! Contact me using the general enquiry form with your requirements.