| Trying to select a hosting package is much like | | | | information on my website? If so, you'll need a |
| purchasing a new car--there are many different | | | | database driven website with a hosting company |
| types and ways to go, but in the end it really boils | | | | that supports it. |
| down to how you are going to get where you want | | | | - Do I want movement on my website? If so, you'll |
| to be and the features you'll need to get there. You | | | | need a web design company that can program flash |
| certainly would not buy a Honda Civic to make an | | | | for your site, as well as the ability to host the flash |
| off-road journey across the Mohave Desert. Nor | | | | program. |
| would it make sense to buy a Hummer to just drive | | | | - What type and how much email traffic will I |
| around town. | | | | anticipate? This helps to determine the size and |
| So in considering the type of hosting package and | | | | amount of storage you'll need for your hosted |
| company to host your website, you should first | | | | website. |
| assess where you want your website to go and | | | | - How many web pages will I need? This also helps |
| what you'll need to get there. | | | | to determine the size of space needed for your |
| But first, let's understand what web hosting is | | | | hosting package. |
| exactly, and the many different features that need | | | | - Will I want to make ongoing custom changes to my |
| to be considered. | | | | website? If so, you'll need a hosting company that |
| The Internet is a vast network of interconnected | | | | supports ongoing custom design changes. |
| computer servers which house or host various pages | | | | - Will my website have a lot of images and |
| of information, called websites. Hosting a website | | | | movement? If so, you'll need additional space for |
| means to store and maintain a computer folder of | | | | larger web files for these functions. |
| various web pages. Hosting companies offer this | | | | - Do I want Internet Traffic to my Website? In |
| service by providing computer hardware and | | | | order to receive traffic to your website, your hosting |
| software services. These services vary as much as | | | | company needs to offer this service, or you'll need |
| cars do. | | | | to hire a third party for this service. |
| Some very important hosting features that should be | | | | - Will I need Internet marketing help and consultation? |
| a must for your hosting package, much like the | | | | In this fast-changing Internet world, it is important to |
| importance of having a car with a motor and wheels, | | | | have professional help and consultation. |
| are the following: | | | | The Better Business Bureau offers this advice: |
| - Security - Protection from Internet hackers. | | | | "Choosing a Web Hosting Service for your Business |
| - Space - Ability to grow my site without size | | | | Web Site. Is your business web site down again? |
| constraints. | | | | Does it seem to have more downtime than uptime? |
| - Speed - How fast my website will load onto visitors | | | | You may want to consider changing your web |
| computers. | | | | hosting service. One of the most important decisions |
| - Up Time - Dependability of the hosting servers | | | | you will make for your business web site is selecting |
| from crashing. | | | | which web hosting service will display your web |
| - Back Up - Protection from loss of data from my | | | | pages to the Internet. Choosing the right Internet |
| website. | | | | Service Provider (ISP) to host your business's web |
| - Support - 24 hours support to handle problems. | | | | site may feel like finding the right day-care center for |
| - Administrative Tools - For making changes to your | | | | your kids these days: Are they reliable? Will they be |
| site. | | | | there next month? Do they know what they are |
| - Email - The number and size of email accounts. | | | | doing? What services do they provide?" |
| - Hosting Company - History and track record for | | | | Basically, it is important to find the right hosting |
| support. | | | | company that will partner with you for all your |
| - Search Engine Submissions - Submitting to the | | | | hosting, design and consultation needs. The cheapest |
| major search engines. Now, let's consider where you | | | | hosting is typically not the best route to go. It's |
| want your website to go and what you'll need to get | | | | cheap because it is a bare bones package, with little, |
| there. Some questions to ask: | | | | if any support. That is a sure way to online business |
| - Do I want my customers to be able to look up | | | | failure. |