What is a Web Host?
A web
host stores the web site you create
on their servers and transmits it to
the internet so that when someone
types in your domain name, your web
site appears. A server is just
a fancy computer that "serves up"
your web site to the internet.
How to Choose a Good Web Host
Again, I can't
stress how important it is that you
choose a good web host. But,
let's face it - how do you know if a
web host is good or not? They
all look pretty much the same and
they seem like they know what they
are doing, right? Well, there
is one thing you can check on before
you sign up and luckily it's one of
the most important things.
When you
choose a web host,
make sure they have excellent
support. If you have a
problem with your web site you want
help now, not in a day or two.
Personally, I refuse to choose a web
host that I can't get on the phone
in an emergency. Some web
hosts are sneaky and they put a
phone number on their web site, but
it's just for show. They don't
always answer or they advertise 24/7
support but are actually only around
Monday-Friday. When I first
started out, my site went down on a
Friday afternoon and I called ALL
weekend and all I got was hold
music. They put me on hold,
but no one was there! Needless
to say that was it for that web
host.
So,
how can you tell how responsive the
web host you are considering
actually is? You test them.
If they have a phone number (and
they should) call them late at night
or on weekends to see if they are
really there.
Also,
send an e-mail to their support
e-mail address (not their sales
e-mail) and ask them a basic
question like "How many e-mail
addresses am I allowed?" or "Is
there a limit on the number of
autoresponders I'm allowed?" and see
how long it takes them to get back
to you. For a non-emergency
email like that I think up to 12
hours is acceptable. If you
send the e-mail on Saturday and they
don't get back to you until Monday,
that isn't good. If they take
more than 12 hours and either don't
have phone support or aren't
answering, choose another web host.
Web Host Do's and Don'ts
Once you choose a
web host, then you will have to
decide what plan you want.
Most web hosts offer you several
different plans and obviously want
you to buy the more expensive one.
1.
Do get the
least expensive plan.
Most people buy the larger plans
because they aren't sure how much
space they need and the space in the
smaller plans just doesn't sound
like much. 10 mb is plenty for
most first web sites. If you
want to be sure, then choose a plan
around 50 mb. 50 mb is a HUGE
amount of space. If you get
that you will be fine.
2.
Don't
transfer control of your domain name
to a web host.
Always
keep your domain name with your
domain registrar. Let me
repeat that - always keep your
domain name with your domain
registrar. Yes, it's that
important. If you are unhappy
with your web host's service and
want to go to another web host, you
will need to get them to release
your name to the new host.
They have no incentive to do this.
Some web hosts, not all, have been
known to drag their feet and take
weeks to release a name.
Note:
if you choose
to get your web hosting
from any
of the places I recommend below
it's
okay. They are also domain
registrars and you retain control of
your domain.
Another
reason not to transfer control to
someone else is that if you do, it
almost always will end up costing
you more. Web hosts make their
money through domain name renewals.
Some charge as much as $70 for this.
3.
Website
Design: Domain Name
