• Do you need Windows Hosting or Linux Hosting? It all depends on the language of the website: If it is PHP, Perl, Python or Ruby on Rails with a MySQL database; Linux Hosting is what you should be looking for. If it is classic ASP or ASP.NET then Windows Hosting is the way to go. ColdFusion runs on both.
• Do you need your website for your personal blog or small-business website? Shared Hosting would probably be fair enough to satisfy your website needs. On the other hand, if you need a guaranteed memory, has a processor intensive website or need a full root access to the web server without caring about the limitations of shared web hosting, VPS (Virtual Private Sever) is your best bet. Finally, if you need to run a large-scale website with tens of thousands of visitors then dedicated hosting would guarantee the best performance.
• What type of features do you need for your website? Will you host multiple or a single domain on the hosting account? Do you need shell access to your web server? Is it OK for you to share the IP address with multiple domains? Do you need unlimited disk space, unlimited Bandwidth, unlimited databases or unlimited FTP users? Does the web host offer a free domain name with the account?

You also need to make sure that your chosen web hosting provider has an easy to use control panel. Some control panels can turn your hosting account management to a nightmare. cPanel and Parallels Plesk are both great control panels to consider. Moreover, be certain that your provider provides a 24/7 support.

I recommend choosing a web host that offers chat support because this can help get your problems solved really fast when being compared to submitting a support ticket or waiting on the phone line for the support operator. HostGator, InMotion Hosting, BlueHost, Go Daddy, HostMonster and Arvixe Hosting are good examples of affordable providers that have good reputation and offer excellent features with a great support.

To-sum-up, don’t rush with buying a web hosting service, determine your exact requirements, read reviews online and ask questions in the web hosting related discussion forums.

Host monster was rated the best support web hosting site. They have a live chat with a real person and twenty four hour service, seven days a week. If you need unlimited bandwidth and disc space they offer this service as well as a money back guarantee for an unlimited amount of time. This is much better than the typical thirty day money back guarantee. This site has 1.7 million domains so they have plenty of experience. You get all this for less than four dollars a month, but they want you to pay yearly.

Go Daddy is known for their advertising and commercials. Their commercials are a bit racy but always eye catching. They have even had commercials during the super bowl. They offer a variety of plans for fewer than seven dollars a month. If you need tools for your website they have a range of tools and are the largest web hosting site.

Blue Host was rated the number one site for web hosting plans and they have over three million domains. They offer a money back guarantee that is offered anytime and does not have limitations. This is one of the few sites that offer an unlimited money back guarantee. The plan comes with unlimited bandwidth and disc space if this is one of your needs. They also have twenty four hour support seven days a week which can be very beneficial. You get all these features for fewer than four dollars a month.

Fat cow is known for being a green web hosting site. Even though it is not completely green they are striving to be completely green. There services are offered for less than five dollars a month. They have unlimited bandwidth and disc space if this is one of your needs. The system is equipped with v deck.

Hostgator is the most recognized name in web hosting. It has over seven million domains which is astounding. It also is popular because they allow you to pay per month. It is less than six dollars a month. Most sites make you pay yearly and you have to make a commitment even if when you start using it your needs are not met.

1. Scalability on demand:

The biggest advantage of using the concept of cloud website hosting is that the website owner gets the freedom to scale the capacity of his website on demand. This means that when the business flourishes and there are new visitors by the minute, then the entrepreneur can just add another server with the help of the cloud server. Similarly, when the demands from the website fall, the extra server can be dropped.

2. Instant response times and modifications:

Many people new to the concept of cloud web hosting think that this addition and removal of the virtual servers takes time. On the contrary, these additions and removals do not take a lot of time which makes the website’s capabilities highly dynamic. Furthermore, the concept of cloud servers also means that the website would not experience any downtimes as is the case with traditional one server web hosting.

3. Financially more feasible for most businesses:

A very important aspect of cloud web hosting is that it turns out to be much more affordable than conventional hosting in the majority of cases. The reason for this is simply that, with cloud web hosting, you would not have a monthly or annual fee. Instead, you would be allowed to pay as you go. Therefore, whether you use one or two virtual servers, you would only pay on the basis of how much you use each.

4. Unlimited technological compatibility:

Certain types of websites need to be built on specific platforms which are not commonly used on the internet. This can create problems for the entrepreneurs behind the websites because it forces them to consider the compatibility between their websites, other websites and hosting services, while choosing the hosting service provider. This is not the case with cloud web hosting because the concept of a virtual server cloud simply means that you can have multiple platforms in one single cloud. For example, it is possible to use ASP and PHP together if you have chosen cloud web hosting for your website.

Cloud web hosting is a concept that is the natural progression of technological advancement, which means that it will gradually take over from the conventional concept of website hosting on a single server.

This is where the concept of free web hosting comes into the picture. Free web hosting, as the term suggests, is nothing but a hosting service that comes at no cost which makes it ideal for people who are cash strapped. In the majority of cases, such types of hosting services are below par. Fortunately, if you invest some time into your selection process, then it is possible for you to find a free hosting service that is not below the required standard. Consider the following tips:

1. The reputation of the free service provider:

Evaluating the reputation of the free web hosting service provider is one of the best ways of checking whether you will get the right service or not. This is not a difficult task because most companies providing such services are reviewed by independent people on the internet. In addition to this, there are also many comments on the internet from people who have used the service provider themselves.

2. The customer service provided by the service provider:

It is very common for free web hosting service providers to completely overlook the aspect of customer service. The reason, as is obvious, is that they benefit from traffic and ads on the websites and do not much care about the experience of the owner of the website. However, while many free web hosting service providers do this, there are some others who know that they need to take care of the website owners as well. Hence, you should look for hosting service providers that provide good customer service to their customers.

3. Features provided by the service provider:

When you are analyzing potential free web hosting service providers, it is important for you to have a solid plan for your website because this would allow you to assess the kind of features that the service provider is providing you. If your plans for your website require a certain feature then you should evaluate the service provider with respect to that feature. In the majority of cases, having a plan for your website would allow you to know the amount of web space and bandwidth that you will need.

What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is the address of your website. The DNS (domain name system) assigns IP addresses to Internet web servers. An IP address or (Internet Protocol address) is a unique number used to identify every single computer on the Internet. An IP address is not your domain name. It is a set of numbers the DNS automatically translates by way of your domain name into the correct IP address. A domain name is part of a larger Internet address called the URL. The URL includes more specific information including the exact page address, protocol language and folder name. In a URL the domain name appears in bold letters. If you need a domain name, hosting services offer this as well, sometimes free of charge. Some hosts give you free domain for life. This can save you money over a period of time when you take into account how much it costs per year. Your domain name can be whatever you want it to be. If you’re in an online business you may want to choose something relevant to your type of business as this could increase your SEO (search engine optimization) and help bring traffic to your site. Once you have a web hosting service, a domain name, and your website is live on a server it can be accessed by anyone on the Web.

What is Bandwidth and Disk Space?
Bandwidth is the rate your web site hosting transmits your website to a visitor’s computer, or how much information can be transmitted over a connection in a given period of time. So, unlimited bandwidth would mean infinite speed, but that does not exist in our world. When a web service provider offers unlimited bandwidth they’re not referring to rate or speed; but to the amount of data transferred usually within one month’s time. Disk Space is the amount of storage your website has on the web hosts web server. Unlimited plans are frequently offered for both bandwidth and disk space, but they often put restrictions on audio/video downloads because they cause a substantial increase in the amount of bandwidth and disk space, costing the hosting company money. There are excellent unlimited web hosting plans available out there that allow audio/video and you will find them on my site. If you are unsure what a certain web host offers read the Terms and Conditions of their hosting package.

Shared, VPS and Dedicated Hosting?
Shared web hosting is the best option for the small business owner or someone just starting out. You share a server with hundreds of other users. In the past, one really busy site could cause a traffic spike and an interruption of service. Today, with web hosts using multi-server load balancing technology, you immediately get routed to a live server if one goes down. This greatly minimizes downtime. Shared hosting is inexpensive and, with the right web service provider, you get plenty of features for your money. It’s available for either Linux or Windows although not every host offers windows hosting; but if that’s what you want there are some great web hosts that do provide it. The cost for the average shared plan is around $5/mo. but it can cost more based on features and extras offered. It’s a balancing act – you take everything the web host has to offer into account and then determine if you’re willing to pay the price they’re charging for their service.

VPS is Virtual Private Server and is like having a separate computer with its own CPU and memory and disk space by partitioning a single server to appear as multiple servers. With shared web hosting all you are allocated is disk space. With VPS you have root access to install any custom software or other applications you choose. Most hosting services offer managed VPS although with some of the less expensive lower performance servers you are responsible for managing any problems that may arise with the server. With managed VPS the web hosts take care of any problems that arise with the server. When looking for a VPS web host package we strongly recommend one with at least 768GB of RAM as this will give you plenty of room for growth. Anything less and you are really not getting the full benefits out of VPS and may be better off with a shared plan. It costs more than shared web hosting and there are other websites on the server, but if you want more control over your website(s), security, and flexibility, you may want to consider this option. Prices start around $15/mo. for basic VPS hosting.

Dedicated web hosting is when you rent the entire server and you can choose whatever hardware and/or software you need for your server. Another benefit is you have the whole server so performance because of other sites isn’t an issue. There is a wide range of dedicated servers from basic to high performance based on the Processor, Memory, Storage, Bandwidth and number of Dedicated IP’s, and it’s reflected in the price. However, unless you choose to go with managed, you’re responsible for maintaining the server. Managed or not, dedicated hosting costs hundreds of dollars a month and offers a lot of storage space just for your site(s). It is the best option if you are getting thousands of visitors to your site(s) each month and want complete control over your online business.

What is SSL?
SSL is Secured Socket Layer protection. SSL generates a secure connection between your web server and your visitor’s browser by encrypting it. It provides your website with added security against hackers, data tampering and forgery. It is often needed when personal information is required like credit cards, and most visitors won’t do business without it if any personal information is required. To get SSL on your site you will need to get an SSL certificate which is required by the web server and provided by Certificate Authorities. Some web hosts offer shared SSL. With this type of security you are using your web host’s SSL certificate so their name will appear on your URL as well as yours. With private SSL, as explained above, you need to get a certificate and have a dedicated IP address (this is an IP address just for your website with no other site listed on it). Some web hosts offer SSL certificates which average $60 per year. If you have an online business where visitors are required to log in, use a credit card or provide any other personal information, it is a must to have a private SSL. Not only will you keep your web host’s name off your URL, you will receive a SSL certificate and logo to display on your site for your visitors to see and provide them with a sense of security.

What’s the Next Step after Choosing a Web Hosting Plan?
Create your website. You can use a template, some HTML, and add your own content. If you don’t know or don’t want to learn HTML many web hosting services have website builder tools to help you build your site. There are many applications such as the WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) web page editor. There are many variations of web page editors ranging from free to expensive. You have to do a little research to find the one that meets your needs. As mentioned previously WordPress is a powerful and versatile platform to use to create a website. There are literally tens of thousands of plugins (applications made by developers), that can do literally anything you need. Once you have a website you will need to get it live on the Internet. You will need to upload files as well as any downloads (that you want to be available to your visitors) to the web server. You will do this via FTP (File Transfer Protocol) which lets you transfer files between your computer and your web server. Free trial programs like WS_FTP are available. Type that into your search engine and look for a 30 day trial. Download it, answer a few simple questions, and you’ll be on your way. Any assistance or information you need your web hosting service should provide you with during this process. Creating a website is an extension of you; put time into it and be creative. Remember there are tens of millions of websites on the Web and at least thousands on the subject you are covering. What will make your site unique and stand out from the rest? What will you have to offer that will make your site unique and stand out from the rest? What will you have to offer that will make visitor’s want to return to your website?

Of all the features that your web hosting company has to be able to provide for you a secure server is by far the most important. This is especially true if you are going to be making sales online. People know that when they buy online they have to look to make sure that the site is secure before they provide their credit card information, if your hosting company can’t provide you with a secure server nobody is going to buy from you. A lot of the really low cost hosting companies can’t offer a secure server so this is something that you definitely want to pay attention to.

Another feature that you are going to want to look at when you are considering web hosting for your small business is the control panel for your site. Most people prefer to use cPanel since it is easy to use. If you are going to be building and maintaining your own site this is obviously going to be an important feature. Most people can figure out cPanel fairly quickly on their own which makes it good option for small business owners. Of course if you are going to hire somebody else to build and maintain your site for you this is not really an issue, the professionals know how to use all of the control panels.

The last thing that you are going to want to look at when you are considering features your web host offers are disk space and bandwidth. This is basically going to determine how big your site can be and how much traffic it can handle. You want to make sure that you get more than you need so that your site can grow. This is an area where you are going to have to find the balance between cost and service. It is a good idea to get as much disk space and bandwidth as possible but the more you get the more it will cost.

The most important thing that you are going to want to look for when you are looking for a web host for your small business is to make sure that they are reliable. It is critical that your site be up and running all the time otherwise you are going to lose customers. Having a site that is down not only costs you sales but it gives a poor impression of your company. It is important that you make sure that you do some research to make sure that you find a company that offers reliable hosting so that your site will be available as often as possible.

The next big thing that you are going to want to look at when you are choosing a web host for your business is how much disk space and bandwidth you get. Disk space is the amount of space that you get to actually store your site while bandwidth basically tells you how much traffic your site will be able to handle. In general the more of either of these that you need the more your hosting will cost you. It is however a good idea to get a host that offers more than you need so that your site can expand as your business grows, having to change to a different host if you grow too big can be a real hassle.

The last factor that you are going to want to look at when you are choosing a web host for your small business is the cost. This should not be a huge factor in your decision since the cost is not generally that high for hosting. Certainly there are price differences but they are not that great. It is far more important to make sure that you get a good host rather than looking for the cheapest one that you can find. Quality hosting is important to your business so it is not a good idea to base the decision on cost alone.

Most small companies when they are first building their website will go with shared hosting for a simple reason, it is the cheapest option. In a lot of cases this may not be a problem however as your company grows you could end up having some issues. The biggest issue that you will likely face is that it can be hard to expand your site if you need to. When you go with shared hosting you only get a limited amount of disk space and bandwidth, if your site grows too large for this you will have to move to a different server which can be a real hassle.

The other issue that may come up if you are using shared web hosting for your company is that security may be a problem. If you just have a simple site that provides basic information about your company this is probably not a huge concern. If on the other hand you are making sales online it can be a real problem. If you are going to accept online payments you have to have a secure website and doing this with shared hosting may not be the best option. In most cases the host won’t be able to guarantee the security of your site.

If you decide that shared hosting is not the best option for your company then you are going to have to get a dedicated server. The benefits of going this route are that you have a lot more disk space and band width and since you are not sharing the server with anybody else you have better control over your site security. The down side to having a dedicated server is that it is a lot more expensive than shared hosting. That being said as your business grows you will likely find that you come to a point where you need to have a dedicated server; it is a lot easier to start out with one than to try to change later.

When you build a website that is just for personal use then making sure that you can get problems fixed quickly is not a huge issue, if you have to wait until Monday it isn’t the end of the world. If you are using your site for business however you have to get that site fixed as soon as possible, every minute that it is down you are losing customers. Therefore you have to make sure that you choose a hosting company that offers customer support twenty four hours a day seven days a week.

While it is important that you make sure that your web host offers customer support around the clock that in itself is not enough. They also have to be able to fix the problem when you call. If the person who is offering the support can’t actually do this then the help they are providing is of little value. It is a good idea to do some research on the companies that you are considering for your web hosting to see what kind of customer support they offer. You should be able to find all sorts or reviews online.

It is important to realize that getting good customer support is going to cost you money. Most of the discount web hosts are able to offer low prices because they do not offer round the clock support. This is not the sort of company that you want to be involved with for your business website. The cost of having your site down is far more than the amount that you will save by going with one of these low costs providers. It is much better to spend a little bit extra so that you can be sure that you are getting quality customer support for your website.

The most important thing that you are going to want to look at to make sure that the hosting company you are considering is reliable is to look at the company that is offering the services. You are going to want to consider things like how long they have been in business and how many customers they have. Companies that offer hosting that is not reliable don’t hold onto clients and they don’t stay in business for very long. Therefore if you can find a company that has been around for a long time and has lots of customers you can be pretty sure that they are reliable.

The other big thing that you are going to want to look at when you are choosing a web host to make sure they are reliable is how many other sites you are sharing a server with. Obviously if you are using a dedicated server this is not going to be an issue. Most small businesses however will go with shared hosting to keep the costs down. This is fine but it is important to realize that if there are too many sites on the same server it can be a problem, particularly if a few of them get a lot of traffic. The quality hosts will limit the number of sites that share the same server.

No matter how reliable the hosting that you choose is there will be times when your site goes down, therefore you want to make sure that your hosting company can get it back up again quickly. In order to be able to do this they are going to have to offer customer service twenty four hours a day. A lot of the companies that offer really cheap hosting don’t do this, customer service costs a lot to provide. It is not worth the money you save on hosting if your site is down for hours because there is nobody there to fix it. Pay the extra money for quality customer service.