| I have been creating websites for several years now | | | | and features. There are a couple of areas that I |
| and started out with very basic needs. Initially I was | | | | suggest you look at very carefully. These may well |
| satisfied with a very basic free package that did | | | | be the most important differences in the offerings. |
| everything I thought I needed at that time. This was | | | | One important feature you should understand on |
| a simple package that was included for free with my | | | | signup is the term bandwidth. Many applications such |
| high speed internet access. | | | | as the very popular blogging can ultimately generate |
| With these types of packages, the number of | | | | considerable traffic and resources demands on your |
| features is extremely limited but it will introduce you | | | | hosting package. This is where you will sort out the |
| to the basic processes. Although they might appear | | | | wheat from the chaff. Some packages simply do not |
| totally unacceptable to the experienced webmaster, | | | | permit the resource load (bandwidth) that many |
| they are not all that bad. This is a way to learn the | | | | common applications require. This could be cause for |
| basics at no cost. | | | | them to suspend website activity at any time with |
| More serious involvement and desire for a better | | | | no notification. This will be very frustrating for you. |
| website lead me through another progression. This | | | | I have left another issue to the very last because |
| was still in the free webhosting realm though. I began | | | | from my experienced point of view it is the very |
| experimenting with the other types of free websites | | | | most important and possibly misrepresented by some |
| offered by places such as Yahoo and Geocities. This | | | | webhosting providers. |
| seemed like a great progression for me at the time | | | | I don't care how good you are or how experienced |
| and I was quite proud of the achievement. | | | | you are in building and uploading websites; there are |
| Again, although these hosting packages are looked | | | | times when you are going to require support from |
| down on by the experienced webmasters, they filled | | | | your website hosting provider. Now some of these |
| a need. I learned more about creating websites for | | | | people go to great lengths to proclaim that is a |
| free while on a gentle learning curve. | | | | priority. Unfortunately that is not always the truth. |
| I then made the big move to paid website hosting. | | | | Nothing is more frustrating than having a website |
| At this point I created websites in which I had much | | | | that is not functioning properly and not permitting |
| greater control over the appearance and functionality. | | | | potential viewers to access it. |
| The learning curve has been steeper since then. The | | | | You will be pulling your hair out if you have an issue |
| hosting packages today permit anyone to create | | | | and you can't get anyone to respond to your pleas |
| professional looking websites that permit interaction | | | | for help. I strongly suggest you research customer |
| of all sorts with the viewers. Most packages have | | | | testimonials or forums to confirm there record of |
| server side web creation software to build very nice | | | | satisfaction. Remember that if you have good |
| looking websites that will serve most basic | | | | support, you will work through any issue in putting up |
| requirements. | | | | and maintaining your website. |
| Most of the offerings today are very similar in pricing | | | | |