| There are currently over a billion websites on the | | | | means your site won't crash 99.99% of the time and |
| Internet. Are you ready to join the ranks? If you | | | | almost every host can match that guarantee. So if |
| answered in the affirmative, then you've got a few | | | | you don't see it, move along. There are some other |
| decisions in front of you. Ok, you've got a ton of | | | | major issues you'll need to look at in your web |
| decisions and you won't want to make the wrong | | | | hosting company. |
| ones because it can cost you money and time. In this | | | | Spot Checking. |
| day and age, those commodities are just too | | | | First is the refund policy. If you don't see it, look for |
| valuable, so let's look at what's in store for you | | | | it. If you can't find it, ask them about it, especially if |
| about web hosting. | | | | you like everything else you see or if what they |
| The first thing is your domain name. How will you | | | | offer sounds too good to be true. You should have |
| choose it? It's 2006; the Internet has existed for | | | | 30 days to decide. |
| about 10 years now as a mainstream rendezvous. | | | | You should also see some offer of technical support. |
| That means that most of the basic words are taken. | | | | Again, it's 2006. Consumers are more in control today |
| Your best bet is to combine words, use hyphens or | | | | than ever. They can find out the competitor's price |
| make up your own word like google, wikipedia and | | | | by spending 5 minutes on the phone or 2 minutes |
| half-a-million others. You can search on a web host's | | | | online. So if you don't see an offer of technical |
| page to find your domain name. | | | | support, just say 'no'. You may want to call the |
| You can try any name you think up about 5 times | | | | number or write them before you sign up and ask |
| per day. Some people would otherwise sit there all | | | | them a few questions. It's a great way to test their |
| day, trying names and buying up anything they could | | | | customer service. |
| think of. Then, when you come knocking on their | | | | The last basic thing you should remember to look for |
| door to buy the name you came up with, the price | | | | is that you own your domain name, not the web |
| has doubled, tripled or worse. You should be able to | | | | hosting company. Your domain name is yours. There |
| get your name for free as part of a package from a | | | | usually isn't a problem with this, but if there is a |
| web host or sometimes sites like Yahoo! offer $2.99 | | | | problem, it can be a big problem. Imagine the |
| for a year or about $19.99 from a domain registry | | | | web-hosting company saying they own your domain |
| company. | | | | name. that's a mess you wouldn't want to get |
| Where Will You Live? | | | | involved in. |
| So you've got your name and now you need a place | | | | All it really takes is some mild effort on your part. |
| to park it. A web hosting company is basically like a | | | | There are unbiased places where you can compare a |
| landlord. They say, we've got this much space, these | | | | few different web hosting companies. Ask them |
| utilities are included and you can hang your sign | | | | questions. Find out who treats you the best and who |
| (domain name) out front. You're probably going to | | | | is an established provider. You'll save yourself a lot of |
| have to do some research as to who has the best | | | | headaches in the future if you put in a bit of work |
| offers, but no matter who you decide on, the one | | | | now. Good Luck. |
| thing that should be included is 99.99% up-time. That | | | | |