Whether you're an established online business owner or a budding entrepreneur planning to launch a digital venture, the choice of a web hosting service is a critical decision that you'll inevitably face. While it may seem straightforward, there are numerous factors to consider beyond just the cost. The adage "you get what you pay for" holds particularly true in this context. This article will delve into the key aspects to consider when selecting a web hosting service.
The two most popular hosting platforms are UNIX and NT. UNIX, being the original choice during the early days of the internet, is a favorite among many due to its ease of configuration, flexibility, and support for scripting languages like Perl and PHP3. It's also the platform for most of the free scripts available for download.
On the other hand, NT is Microsoft's offering. However, it has been observed that NT servers lack readily available scripts that work on this platform. Moreover, unlike UNIX, many NT users require assistance from their Web Host Administrators to set file permissions. NT supports MS applications such as ASP, Access, FP, and scripting languages such as Perl, Cold Fusion, and ASP.
When you need help, you'll want to ensure that you can get it. Some web hosts offer phone support or even live chat. It's crucial to ensure that they have robust tech support in place, as there's nothing more frustrating than needing assistance with your site and not being able to get it.
Some hosts charge an initial setup fee to get your site up and running on their server. It's important to factor this in when comparing prices. Monthly fees can range from $9.99 to $39.99, depending on the plan and services offered. It's advisable to avoid the extremes of the pricing scale and opt for a mid-range plan. A reliable web host should cost between $20 to $25 per month.
The amount of space a host is willing to provide is a crucial factor to consider. You need to keep in mind the size of your site when deciding how much space you need. Generally, 20 to 30 MB is sufficient for a small site. However, it's worth asking if you can pay for more space should your site outgrow its current size.
Even if you plan on using Frontpage to manage your site, you'll still need FTP access. It's usually standard, but it never hurts to ask. FTP is used to set file permissions and to upload your files to the web server.
Telnet can be very useful for troubleshooting CGI scripts and changing server configurations. However, some servers do not grant telnet access.
CGI-BIN is a crucial component if you're planning on adding any sort of interactivity to your site like forms, shopping carts, etc. While it usually comes as standard equipment, some of the cheaper hosts leave it out entirely.
The ability to use different aliases with your domain name is very important. For example, if your domain is ezineadauction.com, you may want to set up separate addresses to sort your mail like service@ezineadauction.com or support@ezineadauction.com. They may all funnel into the same mailbox, but you can set up filters at your end, making customer service a whole lot easier.
If you have a "wildcard" account, you can set up as many aliases as you like. If you have other employees who will need their own private box, check with the web host to see how many boxes they will allow.
Once you start getting traffic, you'll want to know where it's coming from and what pages of your site are being visited. Some web hosts include stats tracking in their standard package or at least give you access to your log files, which you can then use with third-party software to run reports on the traffic your site is receiving.
Choosing a web host is a critical decision that can significantly impact the success and reliability of your online business. Therefore, it's essential to do your homework and choose the one that's right for you. For a list of potential hosts, you can visit WebIspList. For a comparison of hosts, you can visit HostCompare or to search for a host by the features you need, you can go to HostSearch.
De-Spam Your Inbox: "How to Fight the Spam War and Win!"
Spam, Spam ... what's a person to do? If you'rean online ... odds are your mailbox is ... daily with Spam. The longer you've been ... theNet and the more visible you've
Website Updates are a SNAP With Server Side Includes
If you ever had to make a change to your website that neededto be carried onto every page, you know what a tedious job ... have I got news for you. It doesn't have to be. ... the world of
"How's Your Sense of Style?"
No, I'm not ... to your wardrobe here, but to ... style sheets, also known as CSS. ... by the World Wide Web ... it allows ... to separate site layout from the design.
