| Here are the 9 key features to assess before going | | | | Sub domains allow your website to be divided into |
| with any web host: | | | | sections. If you want and images.yourname.com, you'll |
| Price | | | | need subdomains. You'll probably do just as well if |
| First, determine how much you're going to spend on | | | | you use subfolders like yourname.com/videos so |
| web hosting per year. Then, look for the price for a | | | | there is no need to worry if your hosting company |
| whole year or two. If you can afford to purchase a | | | | does not allow it. |
| longer term, do so! This ends up cheaper in the long | | | | Email Accounts |
| run for you. If you can't, pick an alternative package | | | | This is self explanatory. Usually, you will only need |
| with a lower price. | | | | one email account () but web site hosting companies |
| Disk Space | | | | can give you as many as you like depending on what |
| Any hosting service will indicate how much space | | | | plan you choose with them. |
| they can allocate to you. Usually they will indicated | | | | FTP Accounts |
| the amount in gigabytes (GB). You have probably | | | | You will need a method to get your files onto the |
| encountered "megabytes" in other areas, like your | | | | host's servers. The way to do this is thought a "File |
| music. A gigabyte, however, is one thousand (1000) | | | | Transfer Protocol" (FTP). With FTP, you can connect |
| megabytes. A typical web page is no more than a | | | | to your account through an FTP program and directly |
| few kilobytes large though, so in other words, you | | | | add as many files as you like of any size. Usage of |
| do not need a great amount of gigabytes to run a | | | | the FTP client may seem daunting at first, but there |
| standard sized website. If you find your website | | | | are countless helpful individuals and helpful articles for |
| growing exponentially, or anticipate it to, then it | | | | your benefit. One FTP account should be enough for |
| would be a good idea to find a host that offers a | | | | your entire site. |
| high amount of GB. | | | | MYSQL Databases |
| Bandwidth | | | | For a personal website that is often static, you aren't |
| For the most part, a typical user to a typical site | | | | going to need a database. However, if you're running |
| simply has to download your web page (or pages) | | | | a business, forum, blog, or would like to add any |
| into their temporary internet files folder on their | | | | major function to your website, you will need a |
| computer. This uses very little bandwidth, so a simple | | | | database. |
| website can accommodate a relatively large amount | | | | Programming |
| of traffic. That number decreases with the addition | | | | Large-scale websites are written in programming |
| of large files such as pictures or other downloads. | | | | languages such as PHP and ASP (for windows). Often |
| Bandwidth allocation is usually given in gigabytes. If | | | | these sites also run programs written in Perl, Java, |
| your website contains nothing but information and | | | | C# or C++. However, if the host does not support |
| small images, consider the lowest amount of | | | | such languages, they your site will either not display |
| bandwidth possible, as that will be all you will need. | | | | properly (if at all) or your program applications will not |
| However, for business and other large scale sites | | | | run. Be sure your potential web host can support |
| that draw a lot of traffic to the site, more bandwidth | | | | your site before signing up. |
| is needed. This also goes for websites that contain | | | | Additional Information You Will Find Helpful |
| large-sized images such as wallpapers and websites | | | | - If you can't find the web host's "Terms of Service" |
| that contain videos. | | | | on their site, or you need to spend hours looking for |
| Addon Domains | | | | it, don't bother studying their offers. TOS is your |
| If you want to host more than one website on the | | | | protection! If they're hiding it, they don't care for |
| same hosting plan, you'll need what's called an addon | | | | your site and your business. |
| domains service. Some hosts allow unlimited domains | | | | - Make sure the web host has a money-back |
| without paying any extra fees. It is always better to | | | | guarantee. If you realize the host you have chosen is |
| go for web hosts have more than one addon domain | | | | not right for you it is good to know there is a way |
| available in case you decide to create a new website | | | | out, however most hosts only allow this window to |
| later on, rather than to pick a web host that only | | | | be open for about 30 days so make sure you know |
| allows one domain and thus forcing you to either | | | | by then if you are sticking with your host or not. |
| upgrade or sign up to another web host. | | | | You're good to go! |
| Sub Domains | | | | |