| Today you can go online and find over 263 million | | | | word you would like in front of your domain name |
| links to web hosting related sites. With all of those | | | | and have it directed to a different webpage. For |
| links, how do you pick one? Which company is right | | | | example, if you had pictures located on your site at |
| for you? What do you need and what can you skimp | | | | you could add a sub domain and rearrange that link |
| on? This article will go through every option of a | | | | to look like Sub domains are used most often by |
| typical web host and not only explain what they are, | | | | more experienced users. Most people do not need |
| but tell you if you need them or not. | | | | them, so don't pick a host based on these. |
| Before you go looking for a host you need to know | | | | My SQL Databases are necessary for things like |
| some basic things. First off every hosting plan will | | | | most photo galleries, calendars, shopping carts, etc. |
| come with a set amount of bandwidth (sometimes | | | | Simple sites do not need these databases, but |
| referred to as transfer). Bandwidth is how much | | | | someone looking to place a photo gallery, support |
| information is passed between the web hosting | | | | system, etc. on their site should get a hosting plan |
| server and a visitor's computer. You will get a | | | | with these included. Each item that requires My SQL |
| monthly allowance of bandwidth and it will most likely | | | | will use one database, so pick a plan with enough |
| be a number in Megabytes (MB) or Gigabytes (GB). | | | | databases for your specific situation. Only factor |
| When someone visits your website (referred to as a | | | | databases into a decision if you think you may use |
| visitor) their computer pulls information from the | | | | them at some point. Be aware of hosts that charge |
| server you website is located on and transfers it to | | | | extra if you decide later on that you want My SQL |
| their computer. This transfer of information uses | | | | databases. You should try to find a host that is |
| some of your allocated bandwidth. In general, the | | | | flexible and will allow you to add on to your package |
| more intricate your web page is, the more bandwidth | | | | at anytime. |
| it uses per visitor. Pages with many photos, music, | | | | The absolute most important thing when considering |
| etc use more bandwidth than pages with all text. | | | | web hosts is support! A web host that does not |
| You only need a lot of bandwidth if you are planning | | | | have great support should not even be considered. |
| on having a large number of visitors to your site and | | | | You will run into problem with your website. Unless |
| have an intricate site. | | | | you are a seasoned webmaster, you will find |
| The second thing all hosting planes must include is | | | | something you don't know how to do or fix, and |
| space. Space is simply the amount of storage | | | | great support is critical then. You will need a host |
| allocated for you to place your website in. This | | | | that can reply to your support requests quickly, and |
| number will be in Megabytes (MB) or Gigabytes (GB). | | | | correctly. Pick a host that has been highly rated, or |
| The more space you have the more stuff you can | | | | that you know puts more emphasis on support than |
| put online. If you plan on putting pictures or big files | | | | things like marketing or flashy site designs. Beware of |
| online, make sure you go with a hosting plan with a | | | | hosts that will say anything to get you signed up, and |
| large amount of space. If you plan on hosting a small | | | | beware of sites that charge for support. A good |
| site with just a few pages, then pick a plan with less | | | | web host included great support with all of their |
| storage. A typical plan would include 500 MB of | | | | plans. |
| storage and 1 GB of transfer. This is often more than | | | | There are other features of web hosting not |
| enough for a small website. | | | | discussed here, but the most important and most |
| So far we have talked about bandwidth and storage | | | | widespread are. The last two issues that arise with |
| space. Both of these are required to even have a | | | | web hosting are what server operating system to |
| website. Now we move to the extras. Some may | | | | pick, and what type of hosting to pick. 90% of |
| not consider email an extra, but in terms of what | | | | people should be on a shared server (a server with |
| you have to have for a site to function it is only an | | | | many different hosting clients on it), but some may |
| extra. Email accounts are almost universally | | | | want a dedicated server. A dedicated server is what |
| considered a must for website owners. If you have a | | | | big businesses or high traffic sites need, but they are |
| website you should have an email address for that | | | | not cheap. Dedicated servers host you and you alone |
| site. Most sites need only one email address per | | | | (hence the term dedicated). As for operating |
| person. Find the number of people who are "behind | | | | systems, I highly recommend Linux servers. They are |
| the scenes" of a site, and give each of them one | | | | more stable and often cheaper than windows |
| email address. For example, if you are planning on | | | | servers. Do not worry about not being able to find |
| having a family website, give one email address to | | | | scripts that will work with Linux servers. Linux has a |
| each family member. Business sites are required to | | | | huge following and most scripts are designed to work |
| have multiple email addresses (addresses like , , etc), | | | | on Linux servers. In fact, many great scripts are only |
| so people seeking to start a business website should | | | | available for Linux. |
| find a hosting plan with many email addresses. POP3 | | | | So in conclusion, focus on service and support of a |
| email allows you to use outlook, thunderbird, and | | | | web hosting company. Figure out an estimate of |
| other email programs like that. I would not look at a | | | | what you need (in terms of space and transfer) then |
| hosting plan that does not offer POP3. A typical | | | | search for a reputable host that can provide you |
| website needs about 3 email addresses. | | | | with your needs, great support, and good prices. Find |
| Another extra that is very useful is FTP. FTP (File | | | | a good price, but don't go with a free host. These |
| Transfer Protocol) allows you to transfer files | | | | are almost always terrible hosting plans, bad service, |
| between your computer and your website quickly | | | | and older (often slower) servers. You can even ask |
| and easily. FTP is not required, and not necessary for | | | | around to see if anyone you know has a website |
| small sites or sites that don't change often. I would | | | | and can recommend a good host to you. Don't be |
| suggest picking a plan with FTP access if you are | | | | afraid to ask a host a question. In fact it's |
| creating a website for business or one that needs | | | | recommended that you talk to your host before you |
| constant changes and/or updates. | | | | join. After all, this is the only way to evaluate their |
| Sub domains are a great extra that some people like. | | | | support before you join. |
| A Sub domain is simply You can place whatever | | | | |