| Having a web site makes you the owner of a | | | | when it comes to storage space for files. These are |
| potentially valuable piece of intellectual property. | | | | usually best suited for small sites with only a few |
| Properly managed and maintained, it can be a great | | | | pages and require you to have knowledge of |
| source of income and value from the traffic it | | | | constructing your own pages or having someone |
| attracts. Which is one reason you should start by | | | | who can do it for you. These are lower in cost than |
| evaluating your web site host and knowing them | | | | their full service counterparts and can be great for |
| extremely well. | | | | simple hosting solutions. A lot of people use these to |
| Hosting matters because it affects your image to | | | | redirect to another hosted page, for niche sites or |
| your web site visitors. Cost is the main factor in the | | | | even as lead capture pages to build lists. The sites |
| equation because it is the base line of management | | | | can be assembled quickly, uploaded, and working in a |
| costs for your site. Another critical item is up time. If | | | | short period of time. |
| your host can't keep your site up and running, it | | | | So what should you look out for and avoid? Some |
| becomes a big problem for you and can give your | | | | tips: |
| site the image of being totally unreliable. You should | | | | 1. Price. You should play the part of being a good |
| also have a relationship with your host as they will be | | | | consumer and comparing prices. Know that having |
| one of the consultants in managing your site. A good | | | | extra features do affect price and you should only |
| host should be able to converse with you about | | | | pay for features you need for your web site. |
| products to enhance site value and all of the features | | | | 2. Poorly managed hosting. Can you check up time |
| available with your hosting plan. Which leads to the | | | | stats for this host? Do they have a list of complaints |
| last critical factor: customer service. A good host | | | | or are you able to verify that their servers and |
| should have a great track record and you should be | | | | software are reliable? Ask these questions up front. |
| able to confirm this with others who have used or | | | | 3. Long term hosting arrangements. Avoid these like |
| are using their service. | | | | the plague. Most of the best companies offer price |
| A full service hosting provider is just what it says. | | | | breaks for longer service terms but these are best |
| These are hosting companies that are able to offer | | | | to stay away from until you have had a chance to |
| all the bells and whistles you need to make your site | | | | know how the host is going to perform for you. |
| sing and shout. Cpanel hosting sites are one I look for | | | | 4. Reliable contacts. It should be easy to contact |
| as it is easy for the web site owner who is managing | | | | someone if there is a problem with your site. The |
| their own site to use. A good hosting site will also | | | | best full service hosting providers will have a phone |
| offer add ons like site blogs, a forum option, | | | | number to call or technical service that takes no |
| calendars, stat reports and so forth. Fantastico is one | | | | longer than 24 hours to resolve an issue. |
| great service I use frequently with my site and is a | | | | 5. Limits and restrictions. These are more common |
| good tool to use. Full service hosts are also quicker | | | | with basic host sites but you should check things like |
| to resolve problems for you as they must maintain a | | | | maximum size requirements for uploaded files, |
| good reputation to retain clients. The best full service | | | | storage requirements and allowable bandwidth for |
| hosting providers also offer "how to" info on how to | | | | your site. Knowing this up front and the costs if you |
| set your site up and some even offer video tutorials. | | | | need extra room for storage and bandwidth are |
| You can also get extras with some like traffic | | | | important. |
| builders, search engine submission services, pay per | | | | Knowing your web site host can mean the difference |
| click deals and template set ups to make starting out | | | | between having your site up and running or being |
| easier. | | | | dead in the water. Take the time to compare, size |
| At the other end of the spectrum are basic hosts. | | | | up what you need, and pick a host that is going to |
| As you might have guessed, these are basically | | | | give your site the service you need. Remember that |
| places to upload files for a site and are very limited | | | | your site is your reputation. |