| Finding the right web hosting package for your | | | | A good web host, even if providing a budget service, |
| website can be an extremelychallenging exercise. If | | | | should provide afterhours technical support. If your |
| you're just starting out with your website, | | | | site goes down at 19h00, but your host provideronly |
| youprobably want to keep costs down and are | | | | provides technical support during normal working |
| searching for a budget web hostingsolution. Beware, | | | | hours, you would lose over |
| there are many fly-by-night web hosting companies | | | | 12 hours of potential business. The huge advantage |
| out therethat are eager to take your hard-earned | | | | of having a web business isthat you can trade 24 |
| cash and disappear. Here are a fewpractical tips when | | | | hours. Don't lose out on this advantage by not |
| looking for budget web hosting. | | | | havingappropriate after hours technical back-up. |
| Check The Stability Of The Web Host's Server | | | | Get Into The Habit Of Checking Your Site Routinely: |
| System: | | | | It's absolutely vital that you take set aside time to |
| It is vital to any web business that a website is up | | | | check your sitesregularly. Even if you are extremely |
| and accessible tocustomers all the time. . It is | | | | busy, this is definitely a worthwhile task. |
| pointless spending valuable time and | | | | Your website is your store front or reception area. |
| moneyconstructing a good site and then ending up in | | | | First impressions arecritical. If your site is not working |
| a situation where visitors cannotaccess your site. | | | | properly, a visitor will simply leave andclick on another |
| 'Downtime' is a major consideration when choosing | | | | site. That's a potential customer lost forever! Don't |
| budgetweb hosting. If your website is down, a large | | | | justtest your site's accessibility, but also regularly test |
| chunk of your business is | | | | everything on yoursite to make sure that it works. |
| 'down' since your site won't be earning you any | | | | Take the time to make sure that your site isnot only |
| money. There are a fewfactors to look at when | | | | up all the time, but also that it functions correctly so |
| choosing a budget web host in order to minimise | | | | that valuablevisitors are not lost. Once your business |
| 'downtime'. For more advice on webhosting and | | | | grows, you can employ somebody to dothis. |
| domains, visit | | | | Bandwidth And Web Storage Space: |
| Do some basic research. Find out how many | | | | It's critical to find out how much bandwidth and |
| customers are using that particularweb host and how | | | | storage space you'regetting from your budget web |
| long that company has been in business. Be cautious | | | | host. If unlimited hosting is offered at aridiculously low |
| ofcompanies which have only recently started up and | | | | price, be wary. Check to see what other reputable |
| who have only a few clients. | | | | companies arecharging for comparable bandwidths to |
| A reputable web hosting company should post | | | | gauge if the price is realistic or not. |
| specifications of their webservers on their sites. The | | | | Your budget web hosting company should also offer |
| more stable the server system is, the less | | | | the facility to increaseyour bandwidth at short notice. |
| chancethere is of frequent downtimes. Analyzing | | | | If your site suddenly becomes popular andreceives a |
| these server specifications will giveyou an idea of | | | | flood of traffic, you will require more bandwidth |
| how stable the web host's server system is. If you | | | | quickly. If youcannot increase your bandwidth, you |
| are nottechnically minded, find somebody who can | | | | risk having extended periods of |
| help you understand the technicaljargon at the web | | | | 'downtime'. To retain a sudden influx of traffic, it |
| hosts' site. | | | | makes sense beforehandto determine what your |
| A reputable web hosting company should offer you | | | | options are if you suddenly need significantly |
| some sort of 'uptime'guarantee. Find out what | | | | morebandwidth. |
| percentage of time they guarantee that your site | | | | There are budget web hosting companies out there |
| willbe up and accessible. If they fail to meet that | | | | providing a decent service. |
| percentage of uptime guaranteed,you may be | | | | It's just a matter of you doing some research and |
| entitled to compensation. Ask them to give to you in | | | | finding the right web hostfor your business. |
| writing their | | | | Consulting a web host directory may prove to be |
| 'uptime' guarantee and the exact amount of | | | | invaluable inyour investigations. Choose wisely and |
| compensation they will pay you ifthis is not met. | | | | prosper! |
| Technical Support: | | | | |