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Hosting Guide Your Guide to
Finding the Perfect Web Host
Welcome to an industry that comparatively
speaking is still in it's infancy but has evolved enormously in the past several years. An
industry where competition is fierce and barrier to entry is almost non-existent. An
industry where the average consumer can easily be overwhelmed by technology and industry
jargon. Welcome to the Webhosting industry.
The first thing you must do is relax and take a deep breath, this is not going to hurt :).
Once you understand a few key concepts and industry terms, you are well on your way to
making an informed decision on choosing a Webhosting provider that will meet your needs
and help your organization prosper.
What is Webhosting?
Webhosting is like commercial real estate where you are leasing space for your business.
You would not buy an office building or mall just so you can have an office or
store, you would lease the space you need and pay for just your share of the costs. In the
Webhosting industry, in order for your Website to be available for anyone with an Internet
connection and a computer to view there are many things that must be in place:
- server (computer) and hosting software (web server,
mail server, ftp server, etc.)
- hubs, switches, routers
- high speed connection with static IP addresses
- backup hardware
- technical staff to keep things running smoothly 24
hours a day, everyday
- the technical and financial means to put everything
together
Add the costs for everything above and, if you
were to do everything yourself, it could easily cost six figures just to have your Website
online. This is where hosting providers come in. Hosting providers are like
landlords that lease space either in their datacenter (colocation), lease an entire server
(dedicated hosting), or lease space on a server (shared hosting). By leasing this
space you need not worry about building your own network.
What to Look For
When looking for a Webhosting company you should not just be looking for what you
need, but rather look at what providers have to offer and see if these offerings can help
your business succeed on the Internet. The average hosting customer is not always up
to speed on the rapidly changing industry, and he or she should depend on the hosting
provider to introduce and offer THE new technology that will help his or her business stay
ahead of the competition.
Here are some things to consider when looking for a Webhosting provider.
- Dedicated or Shared? Does your organization
require its own physical server? Dedicated servers often offer more space, higher
bandwidth, root access, more control, and better security.
- History / Track Record. Determine that the
company you will entrust with your Website is staffed by competent management and support
personnel with a track record in Website hosting and support. Look for information on the
executives and people ultimately responsible for your Website. Be sure that there
are real people that publicly stand behind their service.
- E-commerce. Do you plan on conducting
business where you receive payments online? If so, you will need to be sure your host
provider can provide you with a secure server, e-commerce software, and a resource for
establishing your own merchant account.
- Control. Almost all hosting providers give
users some kind of control over their sites like FTP access or FrontPage. However look for
providers who offer a user-friendly "control panel" or website management tool
that will not only give you easy access to your files, but also allow you instant access
to your own e-mail management and domain management. There is nothing worse that
having to send in support tickets and wait days to have e-mail accounts created or
changed.
- Support. Since your Website will be online
24 hours a day, you need to make sure your provider offers 24 hour support. Also
make sure this support is easily accessible and their "support" is not an
answering service that "gives them the message" when you call, or worse, a voice
mail system that will not let you speak with a live person. Also look for a variety of
support options like
- web based ticket system that can track all of
your support requests
- detailed online documentation for your hosting
account
- FAQs that you can reference
- discussion boards or mailing lists
- multi-media help is always a big plus
- Features You Require. Do you require
FrontPage to publish? How about a robust database? PHP? 50 POP accounts? Knowing what you
need is a great start but be sure to talk to a sales representative if the host you are
looking at does not seem to have everything you need. Often some features are not listed
or an equally suitable alternative can be suggested.
- Network / Connectivity. Be sure your
webhost is located in a professional data center and is not hosting sites out of their
closet or garage (this is a real concern with the recent availability of high speed
bandwidth). Look for information on their network or connectivity and be sure they have a
reliable, redundant connection. In the shared hosting world, a guaranteed uptime of
anything over 99% is acceptable but 99.5% is better.
- Applications. Without applications, a
website is just a brochure online and probably will not do that well. Although there
are many free applications available on the Internet, getting them installed and working
properly is often a very difficult task. Look for providers who offer Applications
with easy to use Web interfaces and support the installation and setup of such
applications.
- Location. In the shared and dedicated
hosting world, the physical location of the servers should not matter. What should
matter is that you have a fast connection to your server and so do your prospects and
customers who will be using your site. However some localized OR industry-specific
hosting providers can offer value added services specific to your location or business and
provide you with more personalized support.
- Price. Price is mentioned last because too
many new users are lured by cheap prices and ignore all the other criteria mentioned
above. This is your business we are talking about and you should not let a few
dollars a month alter your decision.
In addition to the above, you should also think of
your host provider as a partner. They should act as the technical and industry
expert who can help your business succeed, not just provide you with "space".
Look for a hosting company that seems to specialize in your type of business or
demographic, or one who understands the needs of on-line businesses in general.
Choosing a Webhost for your business is an important decision. Once you are
established with a hosting provider it is difficult (but certainly not impossible) to move
so make sure you are confident that you have made the right choice.
Be sure to also read the article Webhosting Scams Exposed!
for what to look out for in a Webhost.
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This guide was produced by AppiesHost
and BostonDataCenters.com.
If your looking for hosting, please see these sites.
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