Finding a Host with the Most
By Cheryline Lawson
Posted Friday, October 1, 2004
Are you getting the most from your Web Host?
A web hosting service is a very important factor to your online success. You might not have thought too much about this but give me a few moments of your time and I will prove it to you.
A web hosting service is the equivalent of a "landlord" in the real world. If you have lived long enough, you may have had a landlord or know someone who does and you know that sometimes you can end up with a landlord from "hell." When you choose a home to rent, you should be careful that you select a landlord that cares about your needs. Do some investigating and look for references from people who have had contact with your "landlord." It is the same concept with a web host.
A web host is someone or a company who rents you space on a Web server that connects to the Internet and equipped with software that makes your web page visible to people who connect to them using a web browser.
The process of finding a Web Host service equates to that of finding a good landlord as well as an acceptable place to live. You must shop around to get the best deal and the best location and amenities all at the same time. As soon as you close your deal, you can begin to give your new address to family and friends and it makes you proud to finally own a place of your own.
The new address is now your "new domain." However, your location must be accessible to anyone who wants to find you and this is where your web host can assist you.
A web host may provide:
1. A means to create your web pages with a web page editor.
2. A means to upload pages and images that you have already created using a FTP program.
3. A means to promote and market your site.
4. An email address and/or autoresponder
5. Multimedia/CGI Scripts.
6. Shopping Cart Software
7. Tracking Software
8. Site Statistics
9. Automatic Data Back Up
Choosing a Web Host is important because it has a bearing on which software you will use to create your web pages and upload them to view online. It also affects the way your site looks and if you choose a free web host, it may determine the complexity of your web address. Depending on which service you choose, you have varying degrees of control over how your site ultimately looks.
If you want a simple basic Web site and not a lot of choices, then you might go for one of those free services like geocities.com or hometown.aol.com. However, your site might take on a generic look but the set up is easy, especially if you are not familiar with web design.
If you are the independent type and are seriously thinking of expanding your business and making money online, then I would suggest selecting a host that will give you a lot of room to grow and be part of the technology trend.
Other Possibilities
The sky is the limit as far as the new possibilities that are beginning to emerge from the Internet. "Host4Profit" offers a means to host your page while earning a profit every time someone signs up from your page. This new concept is "Get Paid to Host Your Site." A "Control Panel" also provides you with full capabilities to operate your business on a wide scale. Sooner or later everyone realizes that they must have their own domain name. However, whom you get to host that domain makes all the difference in the world. Most hosts simply provide you with space and that's that. You're on your own when it comes to making your new site profitable. Do your research and choose what is best for you.
Turning to your ISP for web hosting is another good possibility. The advantage is that you will not have to pay any additional fees for web hosting. Your monthly ISP charge will, in most cases, cover web-hosting fees.
Competition is fierce among hosting services. Some hosting services may promise you the moon in order to get your business. Be sure to read the fine print and get everything in writing before you sign that contract. Ask questions like:
How long have you been in business?
Can you suggest customers who will give you a reference?
Choose a "Host" that will give you the most with the best rates and the most reliable service. Visit some sites that they host and email the webmasters or owners of these sites for their opinion of the hosting service you are interested in.
About the Author
This article is written by Cheryline Lawson, webmaster and owner of "Startbiz" at (http://startbiz.hypermart.net/) and "Internet Home Employment" at (http://internet-home-employment.net/) as well as newsletter publisher of Homebiz4U and Freejobs4U. To subscribe to the newsletters and receive 7 free gifts, you may send a blank email to homebiz4u-subscribe@topica.com and freejobs4u-subscribe@topica.com
