December 30, 2003 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- One of the most notable areas of development in the Web hosting industry this year was the competitive discount dedicated hosting market niche. Over the course of 2003, price points continued their sharp downward trend and vendors from various corners of the hosting market jumped into the fray.
In contrast to the thinning at the high end of the market, with UK carrier Cable & Wireless (cw.com) striving to escape the US, two European players made moves to break into the US market - one with its sights set firmly on the discount dedicated hosting market, and the other certainly appearing to be heading in the same direction. Their entry into the US dedicated hosting market, joining several key local players, sets the stage for a battle that promises to heat up in the coming year.
Since EV1Servers.net (ev1servers.net), the dedicated hosting arm of Texas-based ISP Everyone's Internet, burst onto the scene in 2000 with its $99 self-managed dedicated servers, the company has carved out a formidable market niche for itself. In fact, their discount dedicated model has inspired several other hosting providers to roll out similar offerings. ServePath (servepath.com), a San Francisco-based dedicated server specialist, rolled out a $99 dollar server in early 2002. But it wasn't until this year that things really began to heat up.
In January, Richard Yoo, founder of Texas-based Rackspace Managed Hosting (rackspace.com), left the company to launch ServerBeach (serverbeach.com), offering self-managed dedicated servers for Windows and Linux at $99 per month. The same month, Washington- based Superb Internet launched its Superb Servers division, unveiling various dedicated server configurations at prices ranging from $79 to $99 per month. Midway through the summer, SERVER4YOU (server4you.com), a subsidiary of German communications firm intergenia AG, launched its US operations, releasing a $49 bare-bones dedicated server to the surprise of many. In just six months, the price floor for a discount dedicated server had dropped by 50 percent.
The downward trend continued in the latter half of the year as other vendors reduced prices in response to the competition. Affinity Internet's (affinity.com) ValueWeb (valuebweb.com), based in Florida, dropped the price of its Linux and Windows dedicated servers to $59 and $89 per month respectively and Atlanta-based Interland (interland.com) introduced a $79 dedicated server, albeit as a limited time offer.
SERVER4YOU's arrival was significant not just for the dramatically low price point, but because it represented Europe's first entry into the US dedicated hosting market. At the time EV1Servers was staking its claim in North America, German-based SERVER4YOU was already a powerful player in Europe's discount dedicated server market. SERVER4YOU, with operations in the UK, Germany and France, has been selling budget-priced discount dedicated servers as far back as 1997. It currently hosts over 6,500 servers and 380,000 domains, and has set up its US-based shop in St. Louis, Missouri, where it has already begun to win clients.
Looming on the horizon is 1&1 Internet (oneandone.co.uk), Europe's largest Web host. 1&1 announced in October that it would be entering the US market in January of 2004. In order to gain a foothold in the market, 1&1 offered new customers three years of free shared Web hosting. The company said its US operations, based in New York, would include dedicated hosting offerings and many expect that 1&1 will join SERVER4YOU in the budget dedicated business. Though 1&1 has not yet revealed any dedicated pricing, its three free years of hosting promotion has led some to speculate that another extremely low-priced dedicated server from a European-based company could be added to the menu.
Based on the noise its long-time rival has made and its own eyebrow- raising promotions, it is a good bet that 1&1 will be involved in the looming battle in the discount dedicated server market. The two European hosts join a market that includes US-based upstarts ServerBeach and Superb Internet, who are set to face off against the segment's leader EV1Servers and other industry players like ValueWeb and Interland, which are just getting started in the discount server market. Look for this eclectic group of vendors to include new members in 2004 as the market for discount servers continues to develop.
http://www.thewhir.com/
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
USA Reseller Web Hosting: Unix or Microsoft?
If you're in the USA, and you're planning to get into the USA reseller web hosting industry, you need to consider one major issue, first and foremost: would you like to offer Unix-ready features along with Microsoft-only ones? Offering Microsoft-only services may seem to be the smart choice, but supporting Unix is its own asset, which could open a world of opportunities for you as a USA reseller web hosting outfit. In fact, if you have avenues to ask for both Microsoft and Unix support from your web host, all the better! One downside to reselling web space instead of putting up your own server is that you don't get to control the basics. As a reseller, you may be able to change things around via the standard control panel. You may even have limited access to certain features like merchant accounts and secure site hosting. But when you want to switch between operating systems, or OS-es - it's unfortunately not your call, but your web host's. Web hosts determine the kind of OS-es that run on their servers. Many web hosts offer both Windows and Unix features, by using Unix machines as servers, and then just running Windows programs and servers within these machines . Over time, Unix server OSes have become increasingly tolerant of Windows programs, which makes a Unix server a sweet deal for web hosts and resellers alike. Unix servers are cost efficient because they are ideal for running open source programs. Preferring open source programs help save on operational costs, since they're mostly free for use, depending on the specifications of the persons or outfits who developed the codes to be used. When you run paid programs or servers on your machines, you don't only need to think of the cost of buying the software - you also need to consider the potential costs of license renewal. There is, after all, no assurance that software licensing will cost the same throughout the years! And you have to consider that in your profit projections if you are running a webhost. Thankfully, you don't need to be concerned with that as a reseller. However, as a reseller, you should be aware of what software your potential customers will need. If your web host only supports Unix and open source features, you run the risk of losing a big part of your clientele. But you run the same risk if your host only supports Microsoft and Windows! As a USA reseller web hosting outfit, you should be intimately aware of the needs of your target market.
source: www.articlebasement.com
source: www.articlebasement.com
Microsoft Sharepoint 2007 Hosting Services
You can have your complete website hosted in SharePoint web hosting. Microsoft SharePoint 2007 comes with great features like predefined templates; project management; task management; discussion forums and many others. You can use these features to improve productivity and increase efficiency of your employees.
Using features in Project Management and task management in Microsoft SharePoint 2007 you can create a project, assign tasks and sub-tasks of the project to team members and track the development of the project. This is so important if your team is spread in different parts of the world; work in different locations or work in a 24 X 7 environment. Projects can be tracked using the Internet in a location independent manner.
Microsoft SharePoint server comes with solutions that are tailored for specific businesses or tasks. You can customize the template with your own logo, forms, and create user alerts. Managers and CEOs can keep track of activities using these templates. Forums and discussion groups can be used to discuss important projects. This saves a lot of time in organizing meetings and co-ordination.
Using Microsoft Sharepoint 2007 you can centrally store the documents which can be accessed by users. You can control which document is accessible to which user. Changes to the document can be tracked. These files can be accessed from any location in the world. Many documents like Word and Excel can be opened and edited in the browser itself.
With Microsoft SharePoint Hosting you can create meeting space, and use the workspace to publish the agenda; invite attendees and discuss points. You can use the same workspace to track the points and tasks that were discussed during the meeting. You can view the calendar and determine the best time for you and the attendees before scheduling the meeting.
As we move towards a world, where time and boundaries no longer are hindrance towards doing business; Microsoft SharePoint And hosted Exchange 2007 are becoming feature rich tools which will help us improve productivity and increase efficiency. Using a vendor to host these feature rich collaborative suites will significantly save your precious dollars and time.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Adrian G
Using features in Project Management and task management in Microsoft SharePoint 2007 you can create a project, assign tasks and sub-tasks of the project to team members and track the development of the project. This is so important if your team is spread in different parts of the world; work in different locations or work in a 24 X 7 environment. Projects can be tracked using the Internet in a location independent manner.
Microsoft SharePoint server comes with solutions that are tailored for specific businesses or tasks. You can customize the template with your own logo, forms, and create user alerts. Managers and CEOs can keep track of activities using these templates. Forums and discussion groups can be used to discuss important projects. This saves a lot of time in organizing meetings and co-ordination.
Using Microsoft Sharepoint 2007 you can centrally store the documents which can be accessed by users. You can control which document is accessible to which user. Changes to the document can be tracked. These files can be accessed from any location in the world. Many documents like Word and Excel can be opened and edited in the browser itself.
With Microsoft SharePoint Hosting you can create meeting space, and use the workspace to publish the agenda; invite attendees and discuss points. You can use the same workspace to track the points and tasks that were discussed during the meeting. You can view the calendar and determine the best time for you and the attendees before scheduling the meeting.
As we move towards a world, where time and boundaries no longer are hindrance towards doing business; Microsoft SharePoint And hosted Exchange 2007 are becoming feature rich tools which will help us improve productivity and increase efficiency. Using a vendor to host these feature rich collaborative suites will significantly save your precious dollars and time.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Adrian G
First Steps To A Successful Web Hosting Business:
The high demand on Web Hosting services ensures an extensive market that can be penetrated with reliable services and the right branding strategy that differentiates you from the clutter.
What should not be forgotten is that web hosting is a business like any other; requiring the entrepreneurs to follow subsequent business ethics and practices. The number of Web Hosting business may have saturated the industry, however few have attained success. This is mainly caused by the overall attitude that a Web Hosting business is an opportunity to make a quick buck. No successful business has ever been an opportunity to make a quick buck.
Moving on, the brand strategy relies on the steps you take to stand out and differentiate yourself from the competition. We shall leave this aspect of the business to you.
The services you choose however, relies completely on your service provider. The make or brake factor relies on the service provider you choose. The first step to choosing your service provider is that you must always look for the service provider that actually develops and maintains the services and products. Registrars are at the top on the chain. Registrars provide services to resellers who either serve registrants directly or resell these services to other resellers. Business sense dictates that Registrars are the sensible choice. Singing up with Registrars means drastic cut down on support time, increased reliability and most importantly premium services.
Even before you select your service provider, there are couple of things that you should consider:
A few simple but essential decisive factors that dictate the success of your Web Hosting business.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Sandra
What should not be forgotten is that web hosting is a business like any other; requiring the entrepreneurs to follow subsequent business ethics and practices. The number of Web Hosting business may have saturated the industry, however few have attained success. This is mainly caused by the overall attitude that a Web Hosting business is an opportunity to make a quick buck. No successful business has ever been an opportunity to make a quick buck.
Moving on, the brand strategy relies on the steps you take to stand out and differentiate yourself from the competition. We shall leave this aspect of the business to you.
The services you choose however, relies completely on your service provider. The make or brake factor relies on the service provider you choose. The first step to choosing your service provider is that you must always look for the service provider that actually develops and maintains the services and products. Registrars are at the top on the chain. Registrars provide services to resellers who either serve registrants directly or resell these services to other resellers. Business sense dictates that Registrars are the sensible choice. Singing up with Registrars means drastic cut down on support time, increased reliability and most importantly premium services.
Even before you select your service provider, there are couple of things that you should consider:
- Check the efficiency of the customer support team of the service provider, in terms of how fast they respond to your query and issues. They are reachable at any point of time. To check this, you should call at odd hours and see if they easily available to listen to your queries or issues.
- How reliable are the service providers. You will have to check since how long they have been in the industry. There are many good companies which provide a certain amount of uptime depending upon which offer you have chosen. For example: They may offer an uptime of 95% for say $8 and 99% uptime for $12. It is better to pay more money than have any problem.
- Check the control panel as it is the integral part, wherein you can control the functioning of the website. With a proper control panel, you can password protect directories, prevent image hotlinking, block certain IP addresses from coming to your site.
- Check out the storage capacity of the server. If you will be loading the website with heavy files then you will have to check the limitation.
- Check the bandwidth. There are packages which allow you to upgrade if you want to.
- Check the statistics of your website. This will help you understand, which keywords were used to come to your website, the browser types, from which company the visitors are from, which page they have visited the most on your website, etc. With good statistical analysis programs, you should also be able to view Raw Access Logs for your Site, Disk Usage, Bandwidth Usage, Web Traffic Statistics, Error Logs and visitors demographics.
- Email is an integral part of running a website. You will have to be expert in creating email addresses. Auto Responder, POP3 and Mail Forwarding is a must. It is not all that difficult if you have the rest of the tools. See to it that you have full control over your email hosting or you will have to be dependent on the service provider.
- Check how much you will be paying each month. There are web hosting packages that range from $4.95 to $9.95 per month, which would satisfy the basic necessities. There are websites which give out offers throughout the year. Consider & understand all the features offered by the service provider and choose a good package irrespective of the cost
If you plan to go for a free web hosting provider, than I would say it is not a good idea. There are many issues when it comes to free web hosting service providers, in terms of availability, service, and bandwidth. And there are these pop under ads that keep popping up, each time somebody visits your website. Hence it is advised that you should not compromise on the quality for some meager amount. - If you are looking for advanced hosting features then check out for MySQL and phpMyAdmin, PostgreSQL and phpPgAdmin, PHP, Perl, CGI, Python and Tomcat. If you are just entering the world of web hosting, I would suggest that you don’t look for these advanced features.
A few simple but essential decisive factors that dictate the success of your Web Hosting business.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Sandra
Going for Shared Hosting? There is something better to choose
When people look for some hosting services, they get bombarded with so many options. If you are one of those persons who are currently facing such problems then you can really go for some more reliable options in terms of web hosting.
As time has changed, there are so many things that have come into being to help you to perform all of the tasks. VPS or Virtual Private Server is one such concept that has really made life easier for people who may be looking for a reliable hosting service.
VPS is a method in which you are presented a limited space on a physical server which acts like your private space. However, this portioning is done using different softwares that make physical server to work as private server.
Simply put, you will be getting a dedicated space on a physical server, instead of sharing the entire server with many other users. Each of the partition will not be done in a real way but in a virtual way. That’s why it is known as Virtual Private Server.
This is one of the better options to choose as there are lots of benefits that come gratis with this type of hosting service. The best benefit will be the speed. It means that you will be able to enjoy a greater speed and quick access as you will not have to share the space with hundreds of other users and companies like shared servers.
It means that if you are operating a site for which speed is really essential then you will really end up losing many of the customers because of shared hosting services. VPS is better because it will offer your visitors a better downloading speed along with a quick access to all of the features of your site.
Apart from this most obvious benefit, you can also enjoy some more as well. For instance, when you will be using VPS, there will be no concern for you in terms of hosting other sites. It implies that you can host as many sites as you want without getting in the hassles of choosing domains and sub-domains.
Also, you can have some more versatile services that you will never be able to experience in shared hosting services. For instance, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server that can really help you to tackle some really heavy data will not be available in shared hosting services. However, you can bring some more innovation to your VPS as here you can upload your own FTP server which will really help you cater your entire file transferring needs.
Finally, VPS offers you some better security features because of the isolation and personalized use of available space. This can also be an important thing for most of the business sites operators.
All in all, VPS can really beat most of the hosting options. However, the only concern in this whole thing is price as this is the only aspect where shared hosting services score more than VPS. However, you should always go for utility comparison before going with any of the hosting services as this can really make or break your business.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Abdul Vasi
As time has changed, there are so many things that have come into being to help you to perform all of the tasks. VPS or Virtual Private Server is one such concept that has really made life easier for people who may be looking for a reliable hosting service.
VPS is a method in which you are presented a limited space on a physical server which acts like your private space. However, this portioning is done using different softwares that make physical server to work as private server.
Simply put, you will be getting a dedicated space on a physical server, instead of sharing the entire server with many other users. Each of the partition will not be done in a real way but in a virtual way. That’s why it is known as Virtual Private Server.
This is one of the better options to choose as there are lots of benefits that come gratis with this type of hosting service. The best benefit will be the speed. It means that you will be able to enjoy a greater speed and quick access as you will not have to share the space with hundreds of other users and companies like shared servers.
It means that if you are operating a site for which speed is really essential then you will really end up losing many of the customers because of shared hosting services. VPS is better because it will offer your visitors a better downloading speed along with a quick access to all of the features of your site.
Apart from this most obvious benefit, you can also enjoy some more as well. For instance, when you will be using VPS, there will be no concern for you in terms of hosting other sites. It implies that you can host as many sites as you want without getting in the hassles of choosing domains and sub-domains.
Also, you can have some more versatile services that you will never be able to experience in shared hosting services. For instance, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server that can really help you to tackle some really heavy data will not be available in shared hosting services. However, you can bring some more innovation to your VPS as here you can upload your own FTP server which will really help you cater your entire file transferring needs.
Finally, VPS offers you some better security features because of the isolation and personalized use of available space. This can also be an important thing for most of the business sites operators.
All in all, VPS can really beat most of the hosting options. However, the only concern in this whole thing is price as this is the only aspect where shared hosting services score more than VPS. However, you should always go for utility comparison before going with any of the hosting services as this can really make or break your business.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Abdul Vasi
Windows or Linux Web Hosting?
Many newcomers prefer to get shared web hosting, which are plans that enable the user to buy space on a web server of a particular web hosting firm, wherein a single web server could contain and hold some other websites of the other account holders.
There are two common operating system setups which are used with shared hosting web servers and these would be the linux/apache setup and the Windows 2003/IIS6 setups. There are also some other software packages that are installed on web servers, but the web server software and the operating system would be the most critical.
Making the choice between the two types of setups is crucial as it would be the element that would be defining the kind of software that could be installed on the hardware of the web server and what you, as the web developer could use in the development of your website.
Linux is an open source platform operating system which works together with Apache, which is an open source web server are considered part of the LAMP systems. Other components would be PHP and MySQL. This type of software package is usually available for free and can be used for personal or business purposes.
On the other hand, the Windows 2003 server works together with IIS6 would be what forms the web hosting environment of Microsoft Windows. This is actually already incorporated in the Microsoft .NET platform. The Windows web server is generally the more popular choice of web developers and programmers who have developed their skills on the different Microsoft technologies like Visual Basic , Visual C, C# and C++.
There are two common operating system setups which are used with shared hosting web servers and these would be the linux/apache setup and the Windows 2003/IIS6 setups. There are also some other software packages that are installed on web servers, but the web server software and the operating system would be the most critical.
Making the choice between the two types of setups is crucial as it would be the element that would be defining the kind of software that could be installed on the hardware of the web server and what you, as the web developer could use in the development of your website.
Linux is an open source platform operating system which works together with Apache, which is an open source web server are considered part of the LAMP systems. Other components would be PHP and MySQL. This type of software package is usually available for free and can be used for personal or business purposes.
On the other hand, the Windows 2003 server works together with IIS6 would be what forms the web hosting environment of Microsoft Windows. This is actually already incorporated in the Microsoft .NET platform. The Windows web server is generally the more popular choice of web developers and programmers who have developed their skills on the different Microsoft technologies like Visual Basic , Visual C, C# and C++.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com
About The Author:
Finding a good web host is a difficult decision which most online business owners face. HostingCoupons.org simplifies this process by providing hostgator elite dedicated server and discount coupons from the leading web hosting companies. Read the webhosting blog and find a good webhost such as hostgator standard dedicated servers
Shared Web Hosting: The Myth of Unlimited Resources
Shared web hosting is a great way to get started online. If you are able to find a reliable service, you’ll get a decent amount of resources and guaranteed uptime, all for one low price, usually less than $10 per month.
And with some of the latest promises of unlimited bandwidth, unlimited storage space, unlimited databases, unlimited email accounts, unlimited add-on domains and more, you might be wondering why anyone would opt for other more expensive options, such as dedicated web hosting or VPS (virtual private server) which can cost over $100 per month.
As we mention below, there are limits to ‘unlimited’ resources. So if your website is large, or if you receive a lot of traffic, it might not be best to use shared web hosting.
The Myth of ‘Unlimited’… Stuff
Many web hosts boast low-cost hosting packages featuring an endless amount of resources. Unfortunately, this is too good to be true.
Shared web hosting means that your website is on a server along with hundreds — or even thousands — of other websites! So each website is given only a small allotment the server’s resources.
If, and when, a website exceeds it’s allotment, it is usually shut down for a period of 1-5 minutes, and all visitors to the website will see a notice explaining that the website has exceeded the maximum resource limit. And for websites that repeatedly exceed their quota, they are often shut down.
Clearly, this is false advertising at it’s best! In shared web hosting, there is never a true ‘unlimited‘.
Shared Hosting Does Have Its Pluses
Either way, shared web hosting does have its benefits. For small websites, you can pay a low price and avoid the hassle and expense that comes with managing a dedicated server. Additionally, shared hosts regularly backup all files and data on their servers. So you can be assured that you will not suffer data loss.
source http://www.velvetblues.com
Why You Shouldn’t Choose A Web Host Solely By Price
Today, web hosting packages are cheaper than ever, with many hosts offering unlimited resources such as bandwidth, storage space, addon domains, databases, and more, all for less than $10 per month! And while this might seem like a good deal, there are a few other factors that you should consider before selecting a hosting plan. These include quality of support, uptime guarantee, and plan features.
Quality of Support
Whether you are a developer extraordinare or a complete novice, you will have questions from time to time on using your hosting account. Remember, this is not your personal computer, so you are probably not aware of all of the individual settings that your host may have used to configure the server.
And even if you do not need any special assistance, you will want to know that you can notify your web host if something undesirable — such as a server failure or attack — were to occur.
So when choosing a web host, be sure to select one that has readily available technical support via phone of Live Chat. The best hosts usually have support technicians available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Uptime Guarantee
It is also important to make sure that your website will be always accessible. After all, downtime often means disappointed visitors and lost revenue.
So when selecting web hosts, ask about their uptime guarantee. An uptime guarantee is a monthly money-back guarantee that your website will not be down.
Of course, there will be some unavoidable downtime such as when servers are upgraded or rebooted, so you probably will not find a web host offering 100% uptime. However, you will find some good hosts offering 99.9%, which is the industry standard for shared web hosting.
Plan Features
Last but not least, it is very important to compare features and make sure that your hosting package will support the needs of your website. Some things that you might consider include: bandwidth allowance, disk/storage space, number of databases, dynamic script support and versions, and number and quality of email accounts.
To avoid purchasing a plan that is incompatible, be sure to gain a good understanding of what resources your website may need. (In many cases, this may necessitate a discussion with your developer.) And it is also a good idea to select a host which offers a trial period, so that you can opt out of a plan if it does not meet your needs.
Your choice of web host is one of the most important things that you’ll need to decide on when planning your website. A bad host can cause your website to function poorly and/or be inaccessible. And given the time, effort, and money that you are investing in building your website, it is worth it to select a good host
source www.velvetblues.com
Is Shared Hosting A Good Choice For Your Website?
As we mentioned in our article, Can Too Much Traffic Be Bad For Your Website?, there are three typical choices for web hosting: shared, dedicated, or VPS (virtual private server). And depending on what you want your website to do, it may be necessary to opt for something more robust than shared web hosting.
To determine which will best accommodate your website, we’ll need to consider the pros and cons of each type of hosting.
Shared Web Hosting
Shared web hosting is when your website shares a web server with many different websites, which each have their own resource allotment.
Pros
- Inexpensive. Because web hosts may be able to place hundreds, or even thousands, of accounts on one host, the price of shared web hosting is very cheap, usually $6 - $25 per month.
- Fully featured. The web hosting industry is crowded with hosts, each offering low prices. As a result, there is high competition to win over new customers. To do this, web hosts are offer more and more features ranging from unlimited resources to free Adwords credits.
- Professionally managed. One other feature is that your server is managed by the web company. This means that you never have to worry about hardware problems, upgrading software, or troubleshooting inbound attacks.
Cons
- Limited configuration options. While you have the freedom to upload just about any files to your website, you have limited control over the configuration of your server. This includes, but is not limited to, the handling to certain file types, the default settings for variables, and the version of scripts (such as PHP or ASP).
- Affected by other customers. In addition, your website could be affected by other websites on your server. For example, if there is a website which regularly consumes more than its share of bandwidth, your website might load more slowly that it otherwise might. Additionally, if another website has insecure scripts, your server could be compromised and attacked.
- Low Security. Like above, your website could be subject to attack based on other websites on your server. In addition, due to the insecure configuration of your shared server, your website may be at risk.
Dedicated Hosting
In contrast, dedicated hosting means that only one customer’s website(s) will be hosted on a server.
Pros
- Complete control over configuration. As the only customer on a server, you can create your ideal server by setting up the configuration options according to what works best for your website and programs.
- No limitations. There are also not restrictions on bandwidth usage or are their any limitations due to other website. The only limitations that might effect your website is the capacity of the server.
Cons
With dedicated hosting, there is generally only one drawback. Price. Dedicated hosting is very expensive. It usually starts at about $125, and might go as high as several hundred dollars a month, depending on features as well as the level of support.
Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting
VPS hosting gives you the best of both worlds. This hosting option mimics dedicated hosting because you are given full control over your server. However, you also share the server with other customers, but fewer customers than with shared web hosting.
This option is particularly attractive because there is a low price, usually around $45 - $115 a month, as well as greater security and increased resources, when compared to shared hosting.
Which should you choose?
For most websites, shared web hosting is sufficient. However, if you have a high traffic website or host an eCommerce store, it might be good to opt for VPS or dedicated hosting. While making your decision, be sure to discuss your concerns with different web hosting providers to see which package will best suit your needs.
source http://www.velvetblues.com
Shared Web Hosting Problems
Most webmasters on the net today are familiar with what the industry calls "shared" web hosting accounts. A shared hosting account is where you rent a small amount of space on a server which is shared among many other users. This is a cheap way to get started online but it has many disadvantages - you will encounter email delivery problems because of spam complaints against other sites on the same server. You will find your site's grinding to a halt when someone else does some heavy database work on your server. You might even find your site going down because of a denial of service attack against someone else hosting hacking or piracy related material on your server See how you can avoid all these problems by using a virtual dedicated hosting ...
Most webmasters on the net today are familiar with what the industry calls "shared" web hosting accounts. A shared hosting account is where you rent a small amount of space on a server which is shared among many other users.
This is a cheap way to get started online but it has many disadvantages - you will encounter email delivery problems because of spam complaints against other sites on the same server. You will find your site's grinding to a halt when someone else does some heavy database work on your server. You might even find your site going down because of a denial of service attack against someone else hosting hacking or piracy related material on your server (these type of sites attract antisocial elements!)
How can you avoid all of this drama?
By upgrading to a virtual dedicated server. A virtual dedicated server lets you run your sites as if you had your own "dedicated" server, except it is cheaper because you are really just using part of a server that has been split into multiple virtual dedicated servers.
You can find out more about this by searching Google for "virtual dedicated hosting". Virtuozzo is the main commercial software that web hosts use to run virtual hosting services.
You will find virtual dedicated server accounts starting at just $100 a month. You'll get a much larger chunk of bandwidth compared to shared hosting, and none of the problems that go with a shared host. You can also get multiple IP addresses that are exclusive to your sites.
So what's the catch? Not much. You'll probably spend a bit more on hosting each month. The main disadvantage of upgrading to virtual dedicated hosting is that you will need to be more technically proficient so that you can administer the server.
This requires a bit of time learning the necessary Linux skills to make sure your server runs smoothly.
Many hosting providers will have a "premium" support offering that includes a bit more hand holding - this is definitely recommended if you don't have much experience with Linux, or are new to virtual dedicated hosting.
With the increased speed and bandwidth that a virtual dedicated host offers, and none of the shared hosting headaches, the move is one you will never regret. So, the question now becomes, are to ready and willing to take-on the challenge of virtual dedicated web hosting and save yourself some hard earned cash? The choice is yours...
Most webmasters on the net today are familiar with what the industry calls "shared" web hosting accounts. A shared hosting account is where you rent a small amount of space on a server which is shared among many other users.
This is a cheap way to get started online but it has many disadvantages - you will encounter email delivery problems because of spam complaints against other sites on the same server. You will find your site's grinding to a halt when someone else does some heavy database work on your server. You might even find your site going down because of a denial of service attack against someone else hosting hacking or piracy related material on your server (these type of sites attract antisocial elements!)
How can you avoid all of this drama?
By upgrading to a virtual dedicated server. A virtual dedicated server lets you run your sites as if you had your own "dedicated" server, except it is cheaper because you are really just using part of a server that has been split into multiple virtual dedicated servers.
You can find out more about this by searching Google for "virtual dedicated hosting". Virtuozzo is the main commercial software that web hosts use to run virtual hosting services.
You will find virtual dedicated server accounts starting at just $100 a month. You'll get a much larger chunk of bandwidth compared to shared hosting, and none of the problems that go with a shared host. You can also get multiple IP addresses that are exclusive to your sites.
So what's the catch? Not much. You'll probably spend a bit more on hosting each month. The main disadvantage of upgrading to virtual dedicated hosting is that you will need to be more technically proficient so that you can administer the server.
This requires a bit of time learning the necessary Linux skills to make sure your server runs smoothly.
Many hosting providers will have a "premium" support offering that includes a bit more hand holding - this is definitely recommended if you don't have much experience with Linux, or are new to virtual dedicated hosting.
With the increased speed and bandwidth that a virtual dedicated host offers, and none of the shared hosting headaches, the move is one you will never regret. So, the question now becomes, are to ready and willing to take-on the challenge of virtual dedicated web hosting and save yourself some hard earned cash? The choice is yours...
Web Hosting Types
Hosting can be FREE, SHARED or DEDICATED
Free Hosting
Some service providers offer free web hosting.
Free web hosting is best suited for small sites with low traffic, like family sites or sites about hobbies. It is not recommended for high traffic or for real business. Technical support is often limited, and technical options are few.
Very often you cannot use your own domain name at a free site. You have to use a name provided by your host like http://www.freesite/users/~yoursite.htm. This is hard to type, hard to remember, and not very professional.
| Good: | Bad: |
| Low cost. It's free. | No domain names. |
| Good for family, hobby or personal sites. | Few, limited, or no software options. |
| Free email is often an option. | Limited security options. |
| Limited or no database support. | |
| Limited technical support. |
Shared (Virtual) Hosting
Shared hosting is very common, and very cost effective.
With shared hosting, your web site is hosted on a powerful server along with maybe 100 other web sites. On a shared host it is common that each web site have their own domain name.
Shared solutions often offer multiple software solutions like email, database, and many different editing options. Technical support tends to be good.
| Good: | Bad: |
| Low cost. Cost is shared with others. | Reduced security due to many sites on one server. |
| Good for small business and average traffic. | Restrictions on traffic volume. |
| Multiple software options. | Restricted database support. |
| Own domain name. | Restricted software support. |
| Good support |
Dedicated Hosting
With dedicated hosting your web site is hosted on a dedicated server.
Dedicated hosting is the most expensive form of hosting. The solution is best suited for large web sites with high traffic, and web sites that use special software.
You should expect dedicated hosting to be very powerful and secure, with almost unlimited software solutions.
| Good: | Bad: |
| Good for large business. | Expensive. |
| Good for high traffic. | Requires higher skills. |
| Multiple domain names. | |
| Powerful email solutions. | |
| Powerful database support. | |
| Strong (unlimited) software support. |
Collocated Hosting
Collocation means "co-location". It is a solution that lets you place (locate) your own web server on the premises (locations) of a service provider.
This is pretty much the same as running your own server in your own office, only that it is located at a place better designed for it.
Most likely a provider will have dedicated resources like high-security against fire and vandalism, regulated backup power, dedicated Internet connections and more.
| Good: | Bad: |
| High bandwidth. | Expensive. |
| High up-time. | Requires higher skills. |
| High security. | Harder to configure and debug. |
| Unlimited software options. |
Your Checklist
Before you choose your web host, make sure that:
- The hosting type suits your current needs
- The hosting type is cost effective
- Upgrading to a better server is a possible solution
- If needed, upgrading to a dedicated server is possible
Before you sign up a contract with any hosting provider, surf some other web sites on their servers, and try to get a good feeling about their network speed. Also compare the other sites against yours, to see if it looks like you have the same needs. Contacting some of the other customers is also a valuable option.
http://www.w3schools.com
Shared Web Site Hosting
It's easy to find Shared Domain Web Hosting these days. The problem comes when trying to find a reliable Shared Domain Web Hosting that will save you from everyday hassles and problems. How much money would you loose with the so called " Shared Domain Hosting " when your website was down and there was nothing you could do about it?
Today in many cases Shared Web Page Hosting is just another term for "I want a quick buck". Some of the companies don't really care for the people and are just out to make money.
Still, most people haven't found a solution because they don't have time to try every Shared Domain Hosting . They have to take guesses and see if they've made the right one. One of the main reasons people fall into these traps is because the best web hosting companies are usually not so well know, so people don't tend to go with these companies right away.
You know you've found one of these companies because everything just flows perfectly. It's even possible to pay the same as the cheapest companies, but you just have to know what to look for.
So you're not sure whether you've actually found the right web hosting. Here are some of the features the "right one" will have:
Multiple Domains Allowed: This is a feature most people don't know about but we love it. It's being able to host multiple domains in the same hosting at the same price.
Proper Web Statistics: How much traffic you're getting? What keywords are people using to find you? What sites link to you? All this stuff you'll want to know.
Monthly Price: Cheap doesn't always mean bad, but sometimes it can hurt depending on the web hosting. We recommend getting "healthy cheap" which is around 10 bucks a month. This gives a good price and gets you good service.
Cpanel: Makes the whole interface to manage your web hosting very easy to use.
With the information you can find online you should be able to locate the right hosting that meets your needs.
Some nice hosts: www.avahost.net, www.epowhost.com
Go ahead and look for a company that meets all of the above needs, this way you'll find the entire web hosting experience very pleasant and rewarding for you. So go and find yourself the right Shared Web Hosting Service for you. It'll be worth every second of your time.
Articles from http://www.ezinearticles.com
Today in many cases Shared Web Page Hosting is just another term for "I want a quick buck". Some of the companies don't really care for the people and are just out to make money.
Still, most people haven't found a solution because they don't have time to try every Shared Domain Hosting . They have to take guesses and see if they've made the right one. One of the main reasons people fall into these traps is because the best web hosting companies are usually not so well know, so people don't tend to go with these companies right away.
You know you've found one of these companies because everything just flows perfectly. It's even possible to pay the same as the cheapest companies, but you just have to know what to look for.
So you're not sure whether you've actually found the right web hosting. Here are some of the features the "right one" will have:
Multiple Domains Allowed: This is a feature most people don't know about but we love it. It's being able to host multiple domains in the same hosting at the same price.
Proper Web Statistics: How much traffic you're getting? What keywords are people using to find you? What sites link to you? All this stuff you'll want to know.
Monthly Price: Cheap doesn't always mean bad, but sometimes it can hurt depending on the web hosting. We recommend getting "healthy cheap" which is around 10 bucks a month. This gives a good price and gets you good service.
Cpanel: Makes the whole interface to manage your web hosting very easy to use.
With the information you can find online you should be able to locate the right hosting that meets your needs.
Some nice hosts: www.avahost.net, www.epowhost.com
Go ahead and look for a company that meets all of the above needs, this way you'll find the entire web hosting experience very pleasant and rewarding for you. So go and find yourself the right Shared Web Hosting Service for you. It'll be worth every second of your time.
Articles from http://www.ezinearticles.com
Shared Web Hosting ?!!!!
What is Virtual (Shared) Web Hosting?
Virtual or shared Web hosting is the business of housing and serving files for a Web site. Typically, an individual or small to mid-sized business cannot afford to independently obtain an extremely robust connection to the Internet for their Web presence. Virtual or shared Web hosting thus provides these consumers with the option to outsource their Internet requirements inexpensively.
Using a shared hosting service allows these companies to share the cost of a fast Internet connection for serving files. It is the most basic entry-level, fee-based hosting service a consumer can select.
Shared hosting offers clients the ability to host their Web site on a powerful, professionally managed server at a low monthly cost. Shared servers provide individual Web sites with redundant connectivity and guaranteed uptime. These services provide an excellent solution for entry-level hosting needs because they are designed to host small-scale, e-commerce sites and static Web pages.
Shared hosting is also popular amongst first-time webmasters because it can provide a reliable Web presence without advanced technical skills. Such a service is also advantageous to the smaller consumer because it assures them that they will obtain transparent services and that their Web site will have its own domain name and set of e-mail addresses.
Virtual hosting services are thus extremely popular because they offer the smaller consumer fast deployment, strong resources and most importantly, low cost. By paying an affordable and predictable monthly fee to a shared Web hosting service, consumers obtain reliability, expertise and faster connections than their dial-up service can provide.
Such a service is also advantageous to the smaller consumer because it allows them outsource a high-traffic, content-rich Web site for a small percentage of what it would cost to hire a single employee to develop it and run it in-house. For this reason, most individuals and small businesses opt to select a virtual hosting service because it is inexpensive and usually provides the basic services that they require.
Convenience is another factor that drives popular interest in shared Web hosting due to the service's fast setup time and bundled features. Typically, site activation can take minutes after you have purchased services with a credit card.
The most characteristic feature of virtual Web hosting is that services are usually bundled. For an inclusive monthly fee, consumers can obtain a variety of high-quality, multi-platform Web site solutions.
Usually the bundle of services includes a minimum amount of disk storage space for your Web pages. The bundle will normally also include a minimum amount of data transfer, or a capped amount of data that your can send to individuals that access your Web site. Most virtual accounts will also include e-mail forwarding services along with hardwired, physical e-mail boxes. Mail forwarding services allows you to create e-mail aliases at your domain name that will forward to an external e-mail address.
A descent shared hosting firm will also include free 24x7 technical support in all of its service bundles. It should also include unlimited file transfer protocol (FTP) services so that you can update your Web site at anytime.
For your own reference, a shared Web hosting service should also provide you access to Web statistics, so that you can gage how many Internet clients are visiting your site. For the sake of accuracy, a reliable Web host should also provide its customers with access to raw statistical logs, so that consumers can use their own statistical Web packages for site analysis.
Other services that are typically characteristic of a shared Web host include: daily tape backup of your Web site; anonymous FTP server so that you can provide distribute your file for public access via file transfer protocol format; and full CGI-BIN access so that as you upload scripts that will add functionality to your Web site
Virtual or shared Web hosting is the business of housing and serving files for a Web site. Typically, an individual or small to mid-sized business cannot afford to independently obtain an extremely robust connection to the Internet for their Web presence. Virtual or shared Web hosting thus provides these consumers with the option to outsource their Internet requirements inexpensively.
Using a shared hosting service allows these companies to share the cost of a fast Internet connection for serving files. It is the most basic entry-level, fee-based hosting service a consumer can select.
Shared hosting offers clients the ability to host their Web site on a powerful, professionally managed server at a low monthly cost. Shared servers provide individual Web sites with redundant connectivity and guaranteed uptime. These services provide an excellent solution for entry-level hosting needs because they are designed to host small-scale, e-commerce sites and static Web pages.
Shared hosting is also popular amongst first-time webmasters because it can provide a reliable Web presence without advanced technical skills. Such a service is also advantageous to the smaller consumer because it assures them that they will obtain transparent services and that their Web site will have its own domain name and set of e-mail addresses.
Virtual hosting services are thus extremely popular because they offer the smaller consumer fast deployment, strong resources and most importantly, low cost. By paying an affordable and predictable monthly fee to a shared Web hosting service, consumers obtain reliability, expertise and faster connections than their dial-up service can provide.
Such a service is also advantageous to the smaller consumer because it allows them outsource a high-traffic, content-rich Web site for a small percentage of what it would cost to hire a single employee to develop it and run it in-house. For this reason, most individuals and small businesses opt to select a virtual hosting service because it is inexpensive and usually provides the basic services that they require.
Convenience is another factor that drives popular interest in shared Web hosting due to the service's fast setup time and bundled features. Typically, site activation can take minutes after you have purchased services with a credit card.
The most characteristic feature of virtual Web hosting is that services are usually bundled. For an inclusive monthly fee, consumers can obtain a variety of high-quality, multi-platform Web site solutions.
Usually the bundle of services includes a minimum amount of disk storage space for your Web pages. The bundle will normally also include a minimum amount of data transfer, or a capped amount of data that your can send to individuals that access your Web site. Most virtual accounts will also include e-mail forwarding services along with hardwired, physical e-mail boxes. Mail forwarding services allows you to create e-mail aliases at your domain name that will forward to an external e-mail address.
A descent shared hosting firm will also include free 24x7 technical support in all of its service bundles. It should also include unlimited file transfer protocol (FTP) services so that you can update your Web site at anytime.
For your own reference, a shared Web hosting service should also provide you access to Web statistics, so that you can gage how many Internet clients are visiting your site. For the sake of accuracy, a reliable Web host should also provide its customers with access to raw statistical logs, so that consumers can use their own statistical Web packages for site analysis.
Other services that are typically characteristic of a shared Web host include: daily tape backup of your Web site; anonymous FTP server so that you can provide distribute your file for public access via file transfer protocol format; and full CGI-BIN access so that as you upload scripts that will add functionality to your Web site
Shared web hosting service
A shared web hosting service or virtual hosting service or derive host refers to a web hosting service where many websites reside on one web server connected to the Internet. Each site "sits" on its own partition, or section/place on the server to keep it separate from other sites. This is generally the most economical option for hosting as many people share the overall cost of server maintenance
Description
The hosting service must include system administration since it is shared by many users; this is a benefit for users who do not want to deal with it, but a hindrance to power users who want more control. In general shared hosting will be inappropriate for users who require extensive software development outside what the hosting provider supports. But on the other hand, shared hosting is cheaper than other types of hosting such as dedicated server hosting.
Shared hosting typically uses a web-based control panel system, such as cPanel, DirectAdmin, Plesk, InterWorx, H-Sphere or one of many other control panel products. Most of the large hosting companies use their own custom developed control panel. Control panels and web interfaces can cause controversy however, since web hosting companies sometimes sell the right to use their control panel system to others. Attempting to recreate the functionality of a specific control panel is common, which leads to many lawsuits over patent infringement.[1]
In shared hosting, the provider is generally responsible for managing servers, installing server software, security updates, technical support, and other aspects of the service. Most servers are based on the Linux operating system and LAMP (software bundle), which is driven by the low cost of open source software. But some providers offer Microsoft Windows-based or FreeBSD-based solutions. For example, the Plesk and Ensim control panels are both available for two operating systems, Linux and Windows. Versions for either OS have very similar interfaces and functionality, with the exception of OS-specific differences (for example, ASP.NET or Microsoft SQL Server support under Windows, and typically greater security and stability under Linux).
There are thousands of shared hosting providers in the United States alone. They range from mom-and-pop shops and small design firms to multi-million-dollar providers with hundreds of thousands of customers. A large portion of the shared web hosting market is driven through pay per click (PPC) advertising or Affiliate programs.
Shared web hosting can also be done privately by sharing the cost of running a server in a colocation centre; this is called cooperative hosting.
Implementation
Shared web hosting can be accomplished in two ways: name-based and IP-based, although some control panels allow a mix of name-based and IP-based on the one server.
Name-based
In name-based virtual hosting, also called shared IP hosting, the virtual hosts serve multiple hostnames on a single machine with a single IP address.
When a web browser requests a resource from a web server using HTTP/1.1 it includes the requested hostname as part of the request. The server uses this information to determine which web site to show the user.
IP-based
In IP-based virtual hosting, also called dedicated IP hosting, each virtual host has a different IP address. The web server is configured with multiple physical network interfaces, or virtual network interfaces on the same physical interface. The web server software uses the IP address the client connects to in order to determine which web site to show the user. The primary reason for a site to use a dedicated IP is to be able to use its own SSL certificate rather than a shared certificate.
Disadvantages
Name-based virtual hosts have some disadvantages:
They do not properly support secure websites (HTTPS). All name-based virtual hosts using the same IP address must share the same digital certificate. This is because the SSL/TLS handshake takes place before the hostname is sent to the server. Thus the server doesn't know which encryption key to use when the connection is made. An extension to the TLS protocol, part of RFC 3546 - Transport Layer Security (TLS) Extensions, specifies a way for the client to provide the requested host name as part of the handshake, but it is not yet widely implemented. Some of the shared hosting providers require their customers to get Unique IP in order to properly set up HTTPS.
If the Domain Name System is malfunctioning, it is harder to use a name-based virtually-hosted website. Ordinarily, in this case, the user could fall back to using the IP address to contact the system, as in http://127.0.0.1/ (invalid IP for example only). However, the web browser doesn't know what hostname to send to the server, but a name-based virtual host requires it. In this case, the default web host is sent back to the browser for that IP address. Therefore most hosters offer an alternative access method like http://127.0.0.1/~virtualhostname to provide access in such cases.
They will not work with browsers that do not send the hostname as part of requests. This is true for older HTTP/1.0 browsers that have not retrofitted the host field feature from the HTTP/1.1 protocol. (The "Host" header that distinguishes between various DNS names sharing a single IP address was optional in HTTP/1.0; it is mandatory in HTTP/1.1, issued in 1999 as RFC 2616.) Since nearly every webbrowser that is currently used supports the HTTP/1.1 protocol and thus also virtual hosting, this is not a real issue.
Improperly configured file permissions with shared file systems might give other (compromised) users or processes system-wide access to these files, such as credential files for database access or modify existing files.
Description
The hosting service must include system administration since it is shared by many users; this is a benefit for users who do not want to deal with it, but a hindrance to power users who want more control. In general shared hosting will be inappropriate for users who require extensive software development outside what the hosting provider supports. But on the other hand, shared hosting is cheaper than other types of hosting such as dedicated server hosting.
Shared hosting typically uses a web-based control panel system, such as cPanel, DirectAdmin, Plesk, InterWorx, H-Sphere or one of many other control panel products. Most of the large hosting companies use their own custom developed control panel. Control panels and web interfaces can cause controversy however, since web hosting companies sometimes sell the right to use their control panel system to others. Attempting to recreate the functionality of a specific control panel is common, which leads to many lawsuits over patent infringement.[1]
In shared hosting, the provider is generally responsible for managing servers, installing server software, security updates, technical support, and other aspects of the service. Most servers are based on the Linux operating system and LAMP (software bundle), which is driven by the low cost of open source software. But some providers offer Microsoft Windows-based or FreeBSD-based solutions. For example, the Plesk and Ensim control panels are both available for two operating systems, Linux and Windows. Versions for either OS have very similar interfaces and functionality, with the exception of OS-specific differences (for example, ASP.NET or Microsoft SQL Server support under Windows, and typically greater security and stability under Linux).
There are thousands of shared hosting providers in the United States alone. They range from mom-and-pop shops and small design firms to multi-million-dollar providers with hundreds of thousands of customers. A large portion of the shared web hosting market is driven through pay per click (PPC) advertising or Affiliate programs.
Shared web hosting can also be done privately by sharing the cost of running a server in a colocation centre; this is called cooperative hosting.
Implementation
Shared web hosting can be accomplished in two ways: name-based and IP-based, although some control panels allow a mix of name-based and IP-based on the one server.
Name-based
In name-based virtual hosting, also called shared IP hosting, the virtual hosts serve multiple hostnames on a single machine with a single IP address.
When a web browser requests a resource from a web server using HTTP/1.1 it includes the requested hostname as part of the request. The server uses this information to determine which web site to show the user.
IP-based
In IP-based virtual hosting, also called dedicated IP hosting, each virtual host has a different IP address. The web server is configured with multiple physical network interfaces, or virtual network interfaces on the same physical interface. The web server software uses the IP address the client connects to in order to determine which web site to show the user. The primary reason for a site to use a dedicated IP is to be able to use its own SSL certificate rather than a shared certificate.
Disadvantages
Name-based virtual hosts have some disadvantages:
They do not properly support secure websites (HTTPS). All name-based virtual hosts using the same IP address must share the same digital certificate. This is because the SSL/TLS handshake takes place before the hostname is sent to the server. Thus the server doesn't know which encryption key to use when the connection is made. An extension to the TLS protocol, part of RFC 3546 - Transport Layer Security (TLS) Extensions, specifies a way for the client to provide the requested host name as part of the handshake, but it is not yet widely implemented. Some of the shared hosting providers require their customers to get Unique IP in order to properly set up HTTPS.
If the Domain Name System is malfunctioning, it is harder to use a name-based virtually-hosted website. Ordinarily, in this case, the user could fall back to using the IP address to contact the system, as in http://127.0.0.1/ (invalid IP for example only). However, the web browser doesn't know what hostname to send to the server, but a name-based virtual host requires it. In this case, the default web host is sent back to the browser for that IP address. Therefore most hosters offer an alternative access method like http://127.0.0.1/~virtualhostname to provide access in such cases.
They will not work with browsers that do not send the hostname as part of requests. This is true for older HTTP/1.0 browsers that have not retrofitted the host field feature from the HTTP/1.1 protocol. (The "Host" header that distinguishes between various DNS names sharing a single IP address was optional in HTTP/1.0; it is mandatory in HTTP/1.1, issued in 1999 as RFC 2616.) Since nearly every webbrowser that is currently used supports the HTTP/1.1 protocol and thus also virtual hosting, this is not a real issue.
Improperly configured file permissions with shared file systems might give other (compromised) users or processes system-wide access to these files, such as credential files for database access or modify existing files.
Shared Web Hosting - 6 Things to Consider
Are you ready to consider a shared web hosting plan. Here are the 6 points you need to consider. The big concern for you once your site is designed is to get your website hosted by a reliable web host. And there are many hosting providers out there, all competing for your business.
But with so many web hosting companies offering various types of web hosting packages - shared, dedicated, and managed hosting, it is very hard to know what hosting plan to choose. It can be downright overwhelming.
Which type of hosting should you choose?
If you are a small business owner or a webmaster or someone who wants to host a site, and cost is a major concern - go for shared hosting. It is probably the best break-entry situation into a web-hosting account. But before you make your hosting decision, let us first learn what shared hosting service is. Shared web hosting means that the same server hosts more than a single website. It is very common today that you will find hundreds of websites hosted on a single server. And depending on the quality of the server and its performance, your website should operate at maximum efficiency.
Shared web hosting service is an easy and cheaper way of hosting web sites if you do not require extremely high performance and high bandwidth. Even with so many websites hosted on a web server, you can be rest assured that the web hosting providers will not compromise on any kind of security and performance issues on the shared hosting servers. Before you go in for shared hosting, consider the following 6 items:
Shared Web Hosting: 6 Things to Consider When Choosing a Web Hosting Provider
1. Go through some sites already hosted on the server to see the response time. If the sites take very long to load then probably your server is overloaded. Test them at different points of time. However the difficulty might be in finding sites on that particular server.
2. Usually shared hosting is economical. Verify this. In most probability, you can expect to pay $5-$10 per month for shared web hosting services. Although I am seeing a breakthrough in the price point probably moving to under $5 a month in pretty short time. You might want to consider Bluehost or Lunarpages as solid web hosting providers. Today, due to stiff competition in the web hosting industry, many web hosts offer unlimited storage space and unlimited bandwidth.
3. Go in for a shared hosting web servers managed by professionals who are highly skilled with specialized knowledge of the field. You might want to see how long the company has been in business. In such a case you can concentrate on your web business and let the professionals worry about the maintenance and uptimes of the web server. It is always a smart move to sign up with a reputable web hosting provider.
4. Focus on the web hosting providers' reliability issues. Do your homework to find out the reliability of your host and check past performance as well as uptime assurance etc. You want the highest uptime reliability possible.
5. In shared web hosting you just need one bad website in your shared web server to get your website banned altogether by the search engines due to shared IP address. Anyway you can always pay a little extra to get a dedicated IP address and avoid this problem. Having a dedicated IP might well be worth the investment if you are serious about your web site, but if you are a beginner, I would not worry about this too much. I sort of believe the search engines will ban the bad websites domain name before banning the whole lots of sites. Shared Web Hosting is pretty common out there and a great place to start.
6. Consider all the features that come with the package. See if you are really getting what you are paying for. Before you decide to sign a deal on shared web hosting, be sure to consider all the points mentioned above. After all, selecting a right web hosting services may be one of the most critical business decisions you will be making for the success of your online business.
Russell Blanc manages an online web portal and resource about Web Hosting where users can compare and select web hosting providers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Russell_Blanc
But with so many web hosting companies offering various types of web hosting packages - shared, dedicated, and managed hosting, it is very hard to know what hosting plan to choose. It can be downright overwhelming.
Which type of hosting should you choose?
If you are a small business owner or a webmaster or someone who wants to host a site, and cost is a major concern - go for shared hosting. It is probably the best break-entry situation into a web-hosting account. But before you make your hosting decision, let us first learn what shared hosting service is. Shared web hosting means that the same server hosts more than a single website. It is very common today that you will find hundreds of websites hosted on a single server. And depending on the quality of the server and its performance, your website should operate at maximum efficiency.
Shared web hosting service is an easy and cheaper way of hosting web sites if you do not require extremely high performance and high bandwidth. Even with so many websites hosted on a web server, you can be rest assured that the web hosting providers will not compromise on any kind of security and performance issues on the shared hosting servers. Before you go in for shared hosting, consider the following 6 items:
Shared Web Hosting: 6 Things to Consider When Choosing a Web Hosting Provider
1. Go through some sites already hosted on the server to see the response time. If the sites take very long to load then probably your server is overloaded. Test them at different points of time. However the difficulty might be in finding sites on that particular server.
2. Usually shared hosting is economical. Verify this. In most probability, you can expect to pay $5-$10 per month for shared web hosting services. Although I am seeing a breakthrough in the price point probably moving to under $5 a month in pretty short time. You might want to consider Bluehost or Lunarpages as solid web hosting providers. Today, due to stiff competition in the web hosting industry, many web hosts offer unlimited storage space and unlimited bandwidth.
3. Go in for a shared hosting web servers managed by professionals who are highly skilled with specialized knowledge of the field. You might want to see how long the company has been in business. In such a case you can concentrate on your web business and let the professionals worry about the maintenance and uptimes of the web server. It is always a smart move to sign up with a reputable web hosting provider.
4. Focus on the web hosting providers' reliability issues. Do your homework to find out the reliability of your host and check past performance as well as uptime assurance etc. You want the highest uptime reliability possible.
5. In shared web hosting you just need one bad website in your shared web server to get your website banned altogether by the search engines due to shared IP address. Anyway you can always pay a little extra to get a dedicated IP address and avoid this problem. Having a dedicated IP might well be worth the investment if you are serious about your web site, but if you are a beginner, I would not worry about this too much. I sort of believe the search engines will ban the bad websites domain name before banning the whole lots of sites. Shared Web Hosting is pretty common out there and a great place to start.
6. Consider all the features that come with the package. See if you are really getting what you are paying for. Before you decide to sign a deal on shared web hosting, be sure to consider all the points mentioned above. After all, selecting a right web hosting services may be one of the most critical business decisions you will be making for the success of your online business.
Russell Blanc manages an online web portal and resource about Web Hosting where users can compare and select web hosting providers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Russell_Blanc
The Best Web Host – For Your Money
Shopping for a web host can be a difficult and confusing process, especially if you’re new to it all - the different prices and packages offered by web hosting companies can make your head spin. For instance, shared, reseller, and dedicated web hosts often have different prices for similar products. You’re probably wondering, “What’s a good package for me?” and “How much should I pay?” The answers to these questions really depend on your individual requirements.
First, it’s important to understand the basics of what goes into the pricing of web hosting packages:
Disk space. This is the maximum amount of space the account you purchase is allowed on the server. This is similar to a folder that holds files on your hard drive, which takes up a certain chunk of disk space.
Bandwidth. Essentially, this is the maximum amount of times the files on your site can be viewed by visitors. For instance, a 1 MB file with an allocation of 100 MB of bandwidth means visitors can view that file 100 times. Sometimes called data transfer, bandwidth is an important consideration when selecting a web host.
Extras. Items that fall under this category may include MySQL databases and email accounts, among other things. Because these extras don’t cost the host more money, a reputable company will offer them to consumers free of charge, as part of the whole package.
In addition to the basics, other elements contribute to the price as well:
Support and Service. These two items are more difficult to accurately price. In the end, a good support center is really what you need, so test out a company’s inquiry response times before you sign up to get a feel for how they deal with customers.
Hardware Configurations. Because some servers cost more than others, the server employed by a particular web host will determine the ultimate cost of the service as a whole. The hardware configuration of the server, in particular, affects price as well as performance.
Overselling. It’s a well-known fact that many shared hosts oversell – if the company has a server that can handle 100 accounts of 1 MB each, they take the chance that most people won’t end up using all their allocated disk space, and sell accounts to 150 people. Companies that have a habit of overselling don’t provide the best performance and the price may not match the quality of the service.
What’s the right package for me?
So you’re up to speed on what goes into the pricing of website hosting, but the question still remains: how do you find the perfect company to host your website without spending money on features you don’t need?
First, figure out your budget and plan to stick to it. Once you know how much you’re willing to spend each month on hosting fees, you can narrow down the playing field significantly.
Next, determine what features you really need. As a starting point, send a description of the site you plan on creating to more than one host and ask for a package recommendation. Don’t forget to mention what you require in terms of support – if you need help every step of the way make sure you mention this to the host. After receiving the companies’ recommendations, review the attributes of each package and shortlist the ones that provide the services you need for the lowest prices.
Conduct research. Knowing your needs and the type of package you should purchase, do more research on your own. Look for hosts that offer the highest quality service, support, and anything else that tops your list of good features. Read independent reviews to learn the pros and cons of all the companies in your list.
After narrowing down the prospects, verify that the company you want to choose really does offer what you need for the right price.
Before signing up, test out the company to see if it really does suit you. You can do this by emailing or calling them, perusing the website, and browsing the customer forums. Read the fine print – discover what the money back guarantee is and know its details inside and out. Ask yourself, was the company helpful when you had a question? Did they reply quickly and politely? Does everything appear professional and trustworthy?
Lastly, go for it. Sign up with the company that gives you the best impression and offers the services you require. After a few days, before the money back guarantee is over, seriously think about whether or not the company has satisfied your needs. If you feel confident in your decision, you’ve probably made the best choice.
As long as you follow these tips and don’t choose the first web host to come your way, chances are you won’t pay too much for a good hosting service.
By: Katerina Mitrou -
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
First, it’s important to understand the basics of what goes into the pricing of web hosting packages:
Disk space. This is the maximum amount of space the account you purchase is allowed on the server. This is similar to a folder that holds files on your hard drive, which takes up a certain chunk of disk space.
Bandwidth. Essentially, this is the maximum amount of times the files on your site can be viewed by visitors. For instance, a 1 MB file with an allocation of 100 MB of bandwidth means visitors can view that file 100 times. Sometimes called data transfer, bandwidth is an important consideration when selecting a web host.
Extras. Items that fall under this category may include MySQL databases and email accounts, among other things. Because these extras don’t cost the host more money, a reputable company will offer them to consumers free of charge, as part of the whole package.
In addition to the basics, other elements contribute to the price as well:
Support and Service. These two items are more difficult to accurately price. In the end, a good support center is really what you need, so test out a company’s inquiry response times before you sign up to get a feel for how they deal with customers.
Hardware Configurations. Because some servers cost more than others, the server employed by a particular web host will determine the ultimate cost of the service as a whole. The hardware configuration of the server, in particular, affects price as well as performance.
Overselling. It’s a well-known fact that many shared hosts oversell – if the company has a server that can handle 100 accounts of 1 MB each, they take the chance that most people won’t end up using all their allocated disk space, and sell accounts to 150 people. Companies that have a habit of overselling don’t provide the best performance and the price may not match the quality of the service.
What’s the right package for me?
So you’re up to speed on what goes into the pricing of website hosting, but the question still remains: how do you find the perfect company to host your website without spending money on features you don’t need?
First, figure out your budget and plan to stick to it. Once you know how much you’re willing to spend each month on hosting fees, you can narrow down the playing field significantly.
Next, determine what features you really need. As a starting point, send a description of the site you plan on creating to more than one host and ask for a package recommendation. Don’t forget to mention what you require in terms of support – if you need help every step of the way make sure you mention this to the host. After receiving the companies’ recommendations, review the attributes of each package and shortlist the ones that provide the services you need for the lowest prices.
Conduct research. Knowing your needs and the type of package you should purchase, do more research on your own. Look for hosts that offer the highest quality service, support, and anything else that tops your list of good features. Read independent reviews to learn the pros and cons of all the companies in your list.
After narrowing down the prospects, verify that the company you want to choose really does offer what you need for the right price.
Before signing up, test out the company to see if it really does suit you. You can do this by emailing or calling them, perusing the website, and browsing the customer forums. Read the fine print – discover what the money back guarantee is and know its details inside and out. Ask yourself, was the company helpful when you had a question? Did they reply quickly and politely? Does everything appear professional and trustworthy?
Lastly, go for it. Sign up with the company that gives you the best impression and offers the services you require. After a few days, before the money back guarantee is over, seriously think about whether or not the company has satisfied your needs. If you feel confident in your decision, you’ve probably made the best choice.
As long as you follow these tips and don’t choose the first web host to come your way, chances are you won’t pay too much for a good hosting service.
By: Katerina Mitrou -
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
5 Features Your Web Host Must Have
It is important that your web host has all the greatest features and technologies. However, you may not be aware of what you should look for in a web host. They all say they are the best, most reliable, etc. but how do you decipher who is really telling the truth? How do you find out what is really important when choosing a web host? In this article you will find the 5 things your web host must have. When you are researching a web host and you come across one that does not have these 5 things just click away to find one that does have what you need.
5 Features Your Web Host Must Have –
1. Greatest Control Panel: The control panel is the place you will be visiting most often, so it should be easy to use, have all the features you need, etc. You can find a great control panel with cPanel, which provides one of the best control panel user experiences among all of the others. CPanel offers more than 42 different icons, 50 of the most used PHP scripts, shopping carts, forums, and even a WordPress blog – one of the best blog hosts out there. cPanel also provides an easy to use layout and navigation so when you do use it you can forget about frustration.
2. On 24-7: Your web host should be working for you around the clock. This will keep your website up and running 99.9% of the time, and the server should be able to locate and repair any problems as soon as they appear. It is rare that a server could become inactive, but if/when it does happen, you do not want it to happen to your website. That could mean lost sales, lost visitors, and maybe even lost customers for life. No one wants that. The web host should be working all of the time – no exceptions. It should constantly monitor your website at least every few minutes for problems, check your server load and RAM, and be able to let administrators know immediately so they can instantaneously fix the problem. Your web host should also provide a fire wall to keep your website safe from hackers, viruses, and anything else that could effect your website.
3. An Outstanding Server: If you want to avoid regular problems and too much downtime (all that can be avoided) you need to find a web host with a reliable server. The web host’s server should have multiple hard drives, good RAM, the latest CPUs, the best power supply, quality motherboards, a great cooling system, and a testing system for all new servers.
4. Linux Servers: No, you do not need windows servers. You should get a web host that uses Linux only. You don’t need to have Linux on your own computer to have a web host that uses Linux. Linux has been shown to be more reliable and able to handle larger loads than other server operating systems. It is even better at virus protection and has a better uptime than others.
5. Free Features: Your web host should provide you with a variety of free features, or features that you can use for a small fee. These features should include things that you can use for your website such as graphics, blogs, paid pages, sub domains, interesting facts to add to your website, forums, and more.
By: Gabriel Adams -
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
5 Features Your Web Host Must Have –
1. Greatest Control Panel: The control panel is the place you will be visiting most often, so it should be easy to use, have all the features you need, etc. You can find a great control panel with cPanel, which provides one of the best control panel user experiences among all of the others. CPanel offers more than 42 different icons, 50 of the most used PHP scripts, shopping carts, forums, and even a WordPress blog – one of the best blog hosts out there. cPanel also provides an easy to use layout and navigation so when you do use it you can forget about frustration.
2. On 24-7: Your web host should be working for you around the clock. This will keep your website up and running 99.9% of the time, and the server should be able to locate and repair any problems as soon as they appear. It is rare that a server could become inactive, but if/when it does happen, you do not want it to happen to your website. That could mean lost sales, lost visitors, and maybe even lost customers for life. No one wants that. The web host should be working all of the time – no exceptions. It should constantly monitor your website at least every few minutes for problems, check your server load and RAM, and be able to let administrators know immediately so they can instantaneously fix the problem. Your web host should also provide a fire wall to keep your website safe from hackers, viruses, and anything else that could effect your website.
3. An Outstanding Server: If you want to avoid regular problems and too much downtime (all that can be avoided) you need to find a web host with a reliable server. The web host’s server should have multiple hard drives, good RAM, the latest CPUs, the best power supply, quality motherboards, a great cooling system, and a testing system for all new servers.
4. Linux Servers: No, you do not need windows servers. You should get a web host that uses Linux only. You don’t need to have Linux on your own computer to have a web host that uses Linux. Linux has been shown to be more reliable and able to handle larger loads than other server operating systems. It is even better at virus protection and has a better uptime than others.
5. Free Features: Your web host should provide you with a variety of free features, or features that you can use for a small fee. These features should include things that you can use for your website such as graphics, blogs, paid pages, sub domains, interesting facts to add to your website, forums, and more.
By: Gabriel Adams -
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
How To Choose Your Web Host ?
1. Use a popular web host.
That cheapo one might be an uncommitted reseller. I used one recently. Very cheap, and very helpful. Then my site went 'missing'. By the Grace Of God I was able to get in contact with the owner, and make a backup, before the service was closed down. I found out later he had only about six customers.
Use a popular web host. Avoid ones that are trying to attract customers by undercutting rates to silly levels. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
2. Their Google PageRank gives a clue as to how popular they are.
This will irk the smaller hosts, but if your site is a serious one, put it on a serious host. Web hosting costs peanuts these days. People can be funny about spending an extra $5 a month. You'll wish you'd paid $500 when your site goes skew-whiff, and you can't get a reply from their technical support.
3. Send them an email or two. See how long it takes to get a reply.
This can be very revealing. If they take two days to get back to a potential customer, how long do they take to answer their _existing_ customers?
4. Check out their forums; how busy are they? They don't have a forum? Next!
They should have enough customers to run a forum, and care enough to have one. Reading it can give you a clue as to what their support is like. Likewise, see when they had the last news update on their site. If it was long ago, they may be moribund.
5. Technical Support.
This is as important as the features they supply. It's no good having a Virtual Private Server for $10.00 a month if there's no one there to answer your emails when the hard-disk fails.
6. Features.
Most geeks favour Unix. It's been around longer, and is more stable. Web hosts offering Unix variants like Linux have always been cheaper. They also seem to offer a wider range of toys. I need SSI (Server Side Includes), SSH (secure Telnet), 10 MySQL databases, Cpanel, PHPMyAdmin and a UK IP number. And you can get this for $15 a month.
Things like MySQL databases, Cpanel and SSH access are real sticking points for a lot of web hosts. If they're generous with these, you've found a rare jewel.
7. Word Of Mouth.
Webmasters are always asking about web hosts on webmaster forums. Find a few recent threads, and note who gets the most votes. Search engines, on the other hand, have been spammed by some hosts. If you do a search on 'the best web hosts' or 'top 10 web hosts' you'll get puff pages. Recent opinions from professional webmasters are the best.
By: T. O' Donnell
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
That cheapo one might be an uncommitted reseller. I used one recently. Very cheap, and very helpful. Then my site went 'missing'. By the Grace Of God I was able to get in contact with the owner, and make a backup, before the service was closed down. I found out later he had only about six customers.
Use a popular web host. Avoid ones that are trying to attract customers by undercutting rates to silly levels. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
2. Their Google PageRank gives a clue as to how popular they are.
This will irk the smaller hosts, but if your site is a serious one, put it on a serious host. Web hosting costs peanuts these days. People can be funny about spending an extra $5 a month. You'll wish you'd paid $500 when your site goes skew-whiff, and you can't get a reply from their technical support.
3. Send them an email or two. See how long it takes to get a reply.
This can be very revealing. If they take two days to get back to a potential customer, how long do they take to answer their _existing_ customers?
4. Check out their forums; how busy are they? They don't have a forum? Next!
They should have enough customers to run a forum, and care enough to have one. Reading it can give you a clue as to what their support is like. Likewise, see when they had the last news update on their site. If it was long ago, they may be moribund.
5. Technical Support.
This is as important as the features they supply. It's no good having a Virtual Private Server for $10.00 a month if there's no one there to answer your emails when the hard-disk fails.
6. Features.
Most geeks favour Unix. It's been around longer, and is more stable. Web hosts offering Unix variants like Linux have always been cheaper. They also seem to offer a wider range of toys. I need SSI (Server Side Includes), SSH (secure Telnet), 10 MySQL databases, Cpanel, PHPMyAdmin and a UK IP number. And you can get this for $15 a month.
Things like MySQL databases, Cpanel and SSH access are real sticking points for a lot of web hosts. If they're generous with these, you've found a rare jewel.
7. Word Of Mouth.
Webmasters are always asking about web hosts on webmaster forums. Find a few recent threads, and note who gets the most votes. Search engines, on the other hand, have been spammed by some hosts. If you do a search on 'the best web hosts' or 'top 10 web hosts' you'll get puff pages. Recent opinions from professional webmasters are the best.
By: T. O' Donnell
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Does My Web Host Have Good Support?
When selecting a web host it is very important to ensure that they have an adequate support system in place. Here are some keys to making sure your new host is going to have the ability to support your needs.
#1 Do They Have Toll-free, 24/7, Native Language Support?
Nothing is worse that spending money on support that isn't always open when you need it and where you can't understand the support personnel. And if you've ever had to deal with a long wait time while a critical feature or aspect of your company website is down you'll know how important fast response times are. If your host can't get to you in under a few minutes then you'd best be prepared for frustration on those days when everything seems to be going wrong. Fast, free, and intelligible support should become your mantra.
#2 Test Their Response Time
The easiest way to test a given hosts support hold times is to call them up yourself. Don't simply rely on the reports of the various hosting review sites out there. Make your own calls. Try to make the calls at several different times as well as on a weekend. Some good options would be early morning, around dinner time, and during the weekend. Consider how long you were on hold and how difficult it was to actually get connected to the support team.
#3 Test Their Knowledge
Now that you've got someone from support on the line, you should test their knowledge. It's not enough to simply connect to someone if that someone doesn't have the skills and ability to help you. Here are a few questions you could try out. How do I set up a cron job? I want to backup my database, how do I do that? What scripting languages do you support? Questions like these will quickly let you know how knowledgeable the support team is. If it sounds like they are looking up answers or they have to put you on hold then they might not be as savvy as you need. Even if you don't know the answers to the questions you are asking you can learn a lot about their support staff by just observing how they respond.
#4 Are There Other Support Options?
Sometimes using the phone may not be an option or you might simply enjoy a little bit of do-it-yourself research. If so your new host is going to need the ability to help you out in these areas as well. Take some time to figure out what other support options your potential host offers. Do they have support forums? Do they have live web-chat? Do they have a fast response email team? If they are taking longer than a few hours to respond then they had better have fast phone response times or you're going to find yourself frustrated that day where everything goes wrong.
Support Isn't Everything, Is It?
Support definitely should not be the only thing you consider when finding a new web host, but it definitely should be near the top of your list. With web hosts competing so vigorously these days for new clients support is an area that will vary significantly from one host to the next. Take the time, do your research, and then you can rest assured that you are in good hands when trouble strikes. The short time you spend in advance will give you the confidence you need going forward!
By: Ed Grier
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
#1 Do They Have Toll-free, 24/7, Native Language Support?
Nothing is worse that spending money on support that isn't always open when you need it and where you can't understand the support personnel. And if you've ever had to deal with a long wait time while a critical feature or aspect of your company website is down you'll know how important fast response times are. If your host can't get to you in under a few minutes then you'd best be prepared for frustration on those days when everything seems to be going wrong. Fast, free, and intelligible support should become your mantra.
#2 Test Their Response Time
The easiest way to test a given hosts support hold times is to call them up yourself. Don't simply rely on the reports of the various hosting review sites out there. Make your own calls. Try to make the calls at several different times as well as on a weekend. Some good options would be early morning, around dinner time, and during the weekend. Consider how long you were on hold and how difficult it was to actually get connected to the support team.
#3 Test Their Knowledge
Now that you've got someone from support on the line, you should test their knowledge. It's not enough to simply connect to someone if that someone doesn't have the skills and ability to help you. Here are a few questions you could try out. How do I set up a cron job? I want to backup my database, how do I do that? What scripting languages do you support? Questions like these will quickly let you know how knowledgeable the support team is. If it sounds like they are looking up answers or they have to put you on hold then they might not be as savvy as you need. Even if you don't know the answers to the questions you are asking you can learn a lot about their support staff by just observing how they respond.
#4 Are There Other Support Options?
Sometimes using the phone may not be an option or you might simply enjoy a little bit of do-it-yourself research. If so your new host is going to need the ability to help you out in these areas as well. Take some time to figure out what other support options your potential host offers. Do they have support forums? Do they have live web-chat? Do they have a fast response email team? If they are taking longer than a few hours to respond then they had better have fast phone response times or you're going to find yourself frustrated that day where everything goes wrong.
Support Isn't Everything, Is It?
Support definitely should not be the only thing you consider when finding a new web host, but it definitely should be near the top of your list. With web hosts competing so vigorously these days for new clients support is an area that will vary significantly from one host to the next. Take the time, do your research, and then you can rest assured that you are in good hands when trouble strikes. The short time you spend in advance will give you the confidence you need going forward!
By: Ed Grier
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Choosing Web Hosting for your Personal Training Business
Web hosting is basically a way for individuals and companies to store digital media (websites etc.) on the internet for others to access; allowing any type of web content, including websites, to be accessed by users. Hosting companies have servers, which they use to store these files, with each customer having their own section for storage; much like a drawer in a filing cabinet.
Hosting prices can range from zero to hundreds of dollars per month depending on the type of service, features, and amount of hosting space you need. Free hosting deals are great for those Fitness businesses that want to ‘dip their toes in the water' but the range of services available to them will be very limited. Hosting can get fairly expensive if you have a dedicated server but in most cases that will be unnecessary. Some of features and factors that a Training business may want to consider when considering web hosting services are:
* (U)Space(/U) With today’s technology and potentiality for storing and making large files available through your website, you should look for a service that offers at least several gigs of space. If you have a busy site with lots of visitors, downloads or video etc. then you need to have a hosting package with sufficient bandwidth (amount of data that can be transmitted).
* (U)Email/Webmail Service(/U)- A good hosting company will offer at least 25 email addresses based on your domain and a webmail service as well. This should be part of their standard hosting program. It is important to use an email that is based on your domain name in order to look more professional as well as to put your domain name in front of people as often as possible.
* (U)Content Management Systems (CMS)(/U) - Several web hosting services offer CMS that integrate with their hosting services. These will allow you to manage and update all of the content on your website on your own. This is important for just about every PT business since there are so many areas of a website that need to be updated or changed regularly – schedule, prices, bios, testimonials, articles, etc... Beware of the build-your-own website programs that do offer CMS but require you to build your own websites - and look for a CMS that is web-based versus software based - that will allow you to update your website anywhere you can access the Internet. A good CMS will save you significant time and money when it comes to keeping your website up to date.
* (U)Spam Filtering(/U) - Be sure that your web hosting service has some type of spam filtering feature.
* (U)Web Statistics/Analytics(/U) Many hosting services offer a web statistics program along with their standard hosting packages allowing you to monitor the traffic to your website. This is very important if you are doing any type of marketing and driving traffic to your website.
* (U)Live Customer Support(/U)- If your hosting service offers only email or no customer support you could be in trouble if your website or email goes down.
* Servers- Ask your hosting company where their servers are being stored and about the company that is managing their servers. Also ask about back-ups as well as information related to safety and the facility that is storing the servers. Many hosting companies don’t actually own their servers- which can be beneficial if they are stored in a quality facility designed specifically to protect and keep servers safe.
Choosing your web host can be as important as choosing your web designer. Mikel Bruce of WebFlexor PT Websites (www.websitesforpt.com) recommends looking for a company that can offer both hosting as well as design in order to keep everything under one roof. The final step is to have a professional and well designed PT website to reference in the article. If you are looking to develop a professional web presence and succeed on the Web, WebFlexor PT specializes in affordable and quality websites for Personal Trainers and Fitness Professionals. Customized PT Websites start at only $199!
source : http://www.articleorange.com/articles/1998/1/Choosing-Web-Hosting-for-your-Personal-Training-Business/Page1.html
Hosting prices can range from zero to hundreds of dollars per month depending on the type of service, features, and amount of hosting space you need. Free hosting deals are great for those Fitness businesses that want to ‘dip their toes in the water' but the range of services available to them will be very limited. Hosting can get fairly expensive if you have a dedicated server but in most cases that will be unnecessary. Some of features and factors that a Training business may want to consider when considering web hosting services are:
* (U)Space(/U) With today’s technology and potentiality for storing and making large files available through your website, you should look for a service that offers at least several gigs of space. If you have a busy site with lots of visitors, downloads or video etc. then you need to have a hosting package with sufficient bandwidth (amount of data that can be transmitted).
* (U)Email/Webmail Service(/U)- A good hosting company will offer at least 25 email addresses based on your domain and a webmail service as well. This should be part of their standard hosting program. It is important to use an email that is based on your domain name in order to look more professional as well as to put your domain name in front of people as often as possible.
* (U)Content Management Systems (CMS)(/U) - Several web hosting services offer CMS that integrate with their hosting services. These will allow you to manage and update all of the content on your website on your own. This is important for just about every PT business since there are so many areas of a website that need to be updated or changed regularly – schedule, prices, bios, testimonials, articles, etc... Beware of the build-your-own website programs that do offer CMS but require you to build your own websites - and look for a CMS that is web-based versus software based - that will allow you to update your website anywhere you can access the Internet. A good CMS will save you significant time and money when it comes to keeping your website up to date.
* (U)Spam Filtering(/U) - Be sure that your web hosting service has some type of spam filtering feature.
* (U)Web Statistics/Analytics(/U) Many hosting services offer a web statistics program along with their standard hosting packages allowing you to monitor the traffic to your website. This is very important if you are doing any type of marketing and driving traffic to your website.
* (U)Live Customer Support(/U)- If your hosting service offers only email or no customer support you could be in trouble if your website or email goes down.
* Servers- Ask your hosting company where their servers are being stored and about the company that is managing their servers. Also ask about back-ups as well as information related to safety and the facility that is storing the servers. Many hosting companies don’t actually own their servers- which can be beneficial if they are stored in a quality facility designed specifically to protect and keep servers safe.
Choosing your web host can be as important as choosing your web designer. Mikel Bruce of WebFlexor PT Websites (www.websitesforpt.com) recommends looking for a company that can offer both hosting as well as design in order to keep everything under one roof. The final step is to have a professional and well designed PT website to reference in the article. If you are looking to develop a professional web presence and succeed on the Web, WebFlexor PT specializes in affordable and quality websites for Personal Trainers and Fitness Professionals. Customized PT Websites start at only $199!
source : http://www.articleorange.com/articles/1998/1/Choosing-Web-Hosting-for-your-Personal-Training-Business/Page1.html
Why You Need Paid Web Hosting
Lots of web hosting service providers are offering identical packages today. And hence it will be difficult for you to choose the right web hosting service for your web site. Choosing the best suited web hosting plan is very important for a smooth running web site. Due to unsuitability in the web hosting plan, one can face losses by decreasing sales, or even losing customers. There are some important factors that have to be considered before buying a web hosting solution.
Web hosting plans that are available on the Internet differ in their pricing. There are some free web hosting plans too. While free hosting plans are meant for personal, non commercial web sites, the paid ones will be good for business web sites. Free web hosting solutions always have certain kinds of restrictions, most unacceptable to any respectable business.
Disk Space or Storage Space Restrictions
As one's web site is a collection of files being offered on the Internet for viewing, it is necessary to store them somewhere for retrieval. These files are stored in the web servers offered by the web hosting service provider. Most of the free web hosting solutions offer a little storage space (say) 500 Mb or even less than that. This space will not be adequate for a business web site. Even a personal web site with many video and music files cannot be accommodated in so little space. Paid web hosting will let you get the desired server space for your files. If you need more space for storing files you can expand by paying a little extra.
Web Traffic restrictions
Business promotions can cause large amount of traffic flowing to a website. And that's what the business websites are meant for. However, the free hosting service providers allow only limited traffic to your website. Most of the free web hosts allow 5 GB (max) of traffic to your website. Once the traffic to your website crosses the limit, your website won't be visible to the public. The paid web hosts allow much greater traffic which is indispensable for business website
Email Account Restrictions
The free web hosting solutions often provide only 2-5 email accounts for the users. If your business organization needs email addresses assigned to all your employees, you will not be able to do that with the help of free hosts. Paid web hosts allow a greater number of user email accounts (at least 50) to be created.
No Tools and Applications
Paid web hosting packages include tools and applications that are needed to tweak or modify a website. The applications will be ready-made and can be used in a website with ease. The tools include virus protection, privacy tools, etc. None of these tools or applications will be available with the free hosting packages.
This is why you need paid hosting for creating a good web site.
| The Author of this article is an expert on web technologies. He has been in the web hosting field for more than 6 years. With his extensive knowledge about web hosting and web design, he has helped many people pick the best suited web hosting package based on their needs. When it comes of web hosting companies, he prefers hosting.bygeekz.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Bowdenn |
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