Most people have heard of “web hosting,” but don’t actually know what the service provides. Well, web hosting is a service provided by a company that enables anyone to create a website, and store the site information and files on the host’s servers. If you want to learn how web hosting benefits you and your website, keep reading for solid advice about web hosting.
Make sure that your domain name is registered by you and not your hosting provider so that you can keep it should you change providers. Your host, rather than you, will control your domain name and registration if you use the same service for registration and hosting.
Look into the type of server access provided by your web host. Will you have access to a more complex server, or a more simple one? Some hosting platforms incorporate FTP-based servers, and others use a simpler control panel. If your website is small, the simpler server access will do. But if you need a higher level of access, the complex servers will work best for you.
Always keep in mind the frequency that outages occur with a company prior to selecting one. Never accept any excuses that a company may give you for them. There are hosting providers out there that will blame electrical outages or other things for insufficient up time, but there are great companies that will always keep your site up and running. Demand satisfaction, even if the hosting is cheap and highly recommended.
Take a minute and call or chat online with a web hosting company’s customer support before you make your final choice. You want customer service people that will help you in a efficient manner. Knowing ahead of time what kind of service and turnaround time you can expect can save you from potential headaches if problems arise later.
Many web hosting companies offer add-ons to their services, but the number and type of features varies from one company to another. When comparing web hosting services, you should make certain that you are making comparisons based on the specific features required by your website. A cheaper host may not have the same level of features as one that costs a bit more but has a more robust plan.
Web hosting services may use Windows; however, some utilize Linux. In effect, this requires you to learn the features of nuances of each platform. Linux is cheaper than Windows and can lead to lower rates for your website.
Does the web host offer your money back guaranteed? A 30-day probationary period is typical, allowing you to leave the host and get a full refund within the first month of service. However, not all companies that offer web hosting are as well-functioning as they claim to be.
Web hosts will typically charge you on a per-traffic basis. First, understand how you will be billed. This can vary from flat rates to a price based on traffic.
Select several providers you are interested in, and keep their contact information. If you decide you can’t handle the problems with your service, you can easily switch to one of the services you’ve researched and won’t have to risk your website being down altogether while you figure out a new plan.
When possible, you should always choose the paid hosting option. While most of the sites that sell domains also offer free hosting, you want to keep your site professional by opting for the best available host. This prevents a free host from placing advertisements, outside of your control, on your website. When a site has several different advertisements displayed all over it, the site might just become an annoyance. This will often mean that visitors leave as quickly as they have arrived, and never return again.
Check the maintenance and downtime history of any hosting company you consider. When there is always a lot of downtime, this can hurt your website as it won’t be up to make sales. If there is downtime, you can’t access your account.
If you have software that needs testing, or require greater access to administrative options on your server, consider opting for a host that provides virtual private servers. VPS plans will let you have control over everything that has to do with your web site, this includes all of your software installations and deletions, it is like you have your own server. Understand that you need to know the ins and outs of administering your own web server if you choose this type of plan.
Most of the applications and add-ons your host will offer will be useless to you, so don’t include them in your comparisons unless you have a concrete use for them already. If your site is small, for instance, you might not need unlimited storage. This may be an entirely unnecessary added expense and you won’t use the extra space. Predominately, only the web host benefits from the selling of the add-ons, the user company does not.
Another sign of a good host is that you may cancel whenever you like. Even when signing monthly or yearly contracts, you still should have the ability to exit anytime you want and be compensated for the portion of your payment you don’t use. You should never be trapped in a service and be forced to pay tons of money that you shouldn’t be paying.
Will you need to upload a significant amount of information? If so, will companies that you’re considering be able to accommodate this? In some cases, it may be necessary to enlist the help of an FTP server. Those that are technologically handicapped should choose a service with a good online manager.
Many hosts are actually based off of other hosts. These types of companies buy huge blocks of web server capacity at a bulk discount, then re-sell it in smaller chunks to individual web site owners. See where your site will be hosted and see that you get the lowest price in between them.
In short, web hosting can help others make sites and share their content online. Use the tips you learned in this article to make better decisions concerning your web host, and the services it offers.