Web Hosting Basics: Learn More Before You Buy
If you want to get a website online, you need to know how the process works before you dive right in. That means educating yourself on the field of web hosting so that you can make the right decision on which company to use for your own site. Before you sign on the dotted line, read this article to learn all you can.
A web host is a company which has a server computer available for your use. You can share that server with other websites, if yours is small, or you can have your own server when you run a larger website. This is an important decision to make, which type to use, when you buy a hosting account. If you run an estore, then your own server will be important, but if you just have a small business account, go for a shared server instead.
As far as your involvement, some hosts won’t expect you to do much. You will upload your website and alter it as necessary, but you won’t have any input into the hardware which runs it. If you need to make changes, such as upgrades, you can request them, but the host will take care of the hard work for you. You will have to pay extra for this service, of course, and you will pay an additional sum monthly to continue running the upgrade.
There are literally thousands of web hosts to choose from today, so you have to be specific about what you need up front. Look for a host which offers the programming language of your choice, such as PHP or ASP. Also choose a host which caters to your niche, such as a blog, if possible. This should allow you to reduce the number of options on your list so that you can find a company which meets your needs more easily.
The pricing of hosting accounts varies from company to company. When you find a price which is very low, you often don’t get much with it and you may have to put the host’s ads on your site. High priced plans may offer you way more than you need and should be avoided. Try to choose a plan which provides you with the features you require without costing you an arm and a leg.
The best way to find a web host is by asking people you know who have a website. They will have first-hand experience in dealing with the company they use. Their advice will be trustworthy, honest and reliable, so note down the firms they say are good and avoid those they don’t recommend.
Now that you understand what web hosting is and what it has to offer, you are better able to move forward and select a company. Read other articles on the topic of selecting a great host so you can choose between your options appropriately. A site which is hosted with a good company will be available 24 hours a day.
