| hosting company is like the gateway to having your | | | | viable, whether it is data or pictures. |
| website published on the Internet. Without a hosting | | | | Another thing that you will need from a web hosting |
| company, it would be very costly and nearly | | | | company is an address. Just like a conventional |
| impossible to have a website. There are many | | | | business, you will need a way for your customers to |
| reasons people want to have a website of their own. | | | | find you. These addresses are known as domain |
| Some of these reasons include wanting a business, | | | | names and always begin with www. The important |
| showcasing and teaching hobbies or wanting to share | | | | thing to remember about a domain name is that, if |
| information with those in the worldwide community. | | | | you don't pay a yearly fee on it, it could get sold to |
| More and more traditional businesses are realizing that | | | | someone else. |
| it is important to have a website to complement their | | | | Web-hosting companies also provide their customers |
| business. Many customers turn to the web for | | | | with email access from their website, a lot like having |
| information before they will visit a traditional shop. | | | | your own fax machine or message bank in a |
| Websites and traditional businesses are a lot alike in | | | | traditional business setting. Email servers will allow you |
| the way they are set up. Once you understand the | | | | to communicate and receive information or requests |
| basics of business, then you will understand how | | | | from customers or people interested in getting more |
| web-hosting works. | | | | information about your website. |
| When you think of a web-hosting company, it is a lot | | | | For businesses, web-hosting companies can also |
| like a real-estate agent. When you want to open a | | | | provide Eftpos facilities or a place for your customers |
| shop in the traditional sense, you see a real-estate | | | | to order goods or services from your website. |
| agent, find a suitable shop, sign some forms that say | | | | Customers can pay on the spot and the website |
| you agree to the rental terms and conditions, then | | | | owner can have the goods or service delivered to |
| you are given the key to your shop. Once you have | | | | them. |
| the key to your shop, you can begin setting up your | | | | If you were planning to rent a building for your |
| business just the way you like it. | | | | business, you would want to shop around and not |
| Web-hosting companies are a lot like that. They | | | | take the first place that you saw or go with the first |
| require you to sign up and agree to terms and | | | | real estate agent you spoke with. Web-hosting |
| conditions. Once you have signed up, you are | | | | companies are the same. There are thousands of |
| provided with your "keys" or login information to | | | | different companies out there and each one varies in |
| access your own piece of cyber space. With the | | | | price and in the services that they provide. The |
| login information, you can then begin to upload or | | | | cheapest hosting company is not always best for |
| transfer the things you need to make your website | | | | your business. |