What to Look for in a Web Host

The first questions you have to ask yourself are: how much space and bandwidth do I need; do I want one site or several sites; how much will I have to spend; am I going to use an SQL database; how much uptime does the web host offer; does this site host spammy adult sites; what extras are offered; are there script limitations; do they provide a control panel; and if my site gets too big, what is the next level and how much does it cost?

Bandwidth
Let's take bandwidth for instance. If you are starting a brand new site and don't have a lot of other sites to link to it, which, by the way, is becoming increasingly less efficient due to changing search engine rules, it may take over a year to build any real traffic to even worry about this point. But, with bandwidth being a lot more reasonable lately, why not go ahead and pay the 6-10 dollars a month for 1 - 4 gigabytes currently available. After all, your goal is to grow right? So get something a few sizes too big and grow into it. Don't think that you necessarily have to pay a lot of money to get a good web host. You could just as easily spend 20 dollars or more a month and have terrible uptime and any number of hassles. Now if your site is going to be filled with images, especially wallpaper size images, then get as much bandwidth as your budget will allow. If you plan on having a growing site and it becomes even moderately popular, you'll need all the bandwidth traffic allowable you can get. Watch out for hosts that claim they have unmetered bandwidth. Read carefully, especially if we're talking about a host that charges below 5 dollars a month. It's better to have a clear number that you can keep track of in your control panel. You don't won't them to come up and give you a generic excuse like "Your site is using an unfair amount of system resources or traffic as compared to our other customers so therefore we have to shut you down". Please note that system resources and bandwidth are two different issues when dealing with a web host. For instance a script that locks up and has a bug could cause a server to use a great deal of system resources that could cause problems between you and your web host if you are on a shared account versus a dedicated server. So do your research on the type of script you want to run. Bandwidth is the amount of traffic going out from your site including your images, clips, pages, etc. As far as images, sounds, and clips this is easily monitored in your control panel as long as you have a clear number of what you are allowed to use. Unmetered bandwidth could mean anything and really is worthless in the long run if you plan on getting a lot of traffic sometime in the future. And why wouldn't you want to get as much traffic as possible for your site?

One Domain or More
Some hosts allow to host more than one domain on your account. This could be a very great way to cut costs especially with new sites that may take a while to build up traffic. Once any of your sites grows too large you can always move it. Please be cautious though heavy interlinking between sites on the same i.p. address may get you dinged by search engines.

Price
For the most part 6-10 dollars per month is what I consider great area to be in cost wise. Anything lower than 6 and I would get nervous. Anything higher than 10-15 per month and it better have a lot to offer that I can't get anywhere else like bandwidth, space, etc. That's a very basic rule of thumb from my own experience, but it all depends mainly on what your site needs are.

Scripts, Databases, etc
You need to know if there are any script limitations. Are there scripts like cgi, php, etc you want to use that your web host doesn't allow? Of course most are going to work with php and cgi with no problem. Also find out about how many SQL databases you can get and if they offer it at all. Databases can be a very powerful tool that can save you tons of time and are usually necessary for forums.

Uptime and Customer Reviews
Do research. Check out sites with reviews from actual customers. You need to see what your average joe says about the uptime and other factors of the web host you're thinking about using. Remember, most people will complain more than take the time to praise, but a really good host will have a lot more praise then criticism.

Spam and Adult Sites
A new thing is starting to come up. Certain search engines may penalize sites that are on a server with red flag sites like gambling, spam sites, adult, etc. Gambling and adult sites tend to spam a lot so search engines may be penalizing whole servers that house these sites. Make sure your web host will put you on a server free of these types of websites.

Think Ahead
Always think ahead to save time and money having to movie to another web host. Always get as much bandwidth and web space you can get at an affordable price. Ask yourself if your site grows faster than you predicted what is the next level with the web host your using? How much is it going to cost to upgrade if necessary, and what do they offer? Some companies that offer reasonable rates and good plans only offer one plan, but they tend to increase their plan's offerings every year or so. So keep that in mind as well when considering how much bandwidth and space your going to need in the coming year or so.

Choosing the Web Site Host that is Best for You

There are few things as critical to your e-business success as having a reliable web hosting service ...
Here’s How To Choose The Right Web Host that guarantees Your Web site Stays Up And Running!
Whether your focus is affiliate marketing, niche marketing or any other online business, now more than ever – as the Internet grows by leaps and bounds – the choice of a reliable Web site hosting provider is absolutely critical.
Cheapest ... biggest ... smartest ... newest ... oldest – with thousands of web site hosting companies vying for your attention, it’s easy to get confused. And, heaven forbid, if you make the wrong choice, it could cost you dearly in time, effort and money. Transferring a site from one host to another host is nightmarish at best – if it’s even do-able. So ...
How do you pick the BEST host for your web site and online business needs -- the very first time out?
You can start by going through the following checklist:

- What is the Initial Set-up Fee?
- Is the cost of a domain name included?
- How much bandwidth (data transfer) will you be allowed each month?
- How much disk space (data storage) is provided?
- What features are provided on the website control panel?
- Are you provided with unlimited email accounts?
- Do you get unlimited single and multiple sequential autoresponders?
- What is the level of shopping cart compatibility?
- Are website analysis tools provided?
- Are tools provided for traffic analysis, tracking reports?
- Are search engine submission tools provided? Ranking reports?
- Do you have access to your own cgi-bin directory?
- What web design tools are provided, as part of a complete web design capability?
- Are web site design templates included?
- Are there any ezine publication tools?
- Is there a Spam check tool?
- What kind of technical support is provided?
- What security measures are in place? Offer your clients ease of mind with SSL (Secure Socket Layer) for selling from your site.
- What is the speed of the web host’s Internet connections?
- Is there 24-7 customer service? How does the company rate on support?
-What is the hosting cost per month?

Pricing, of course, is a key consideration in choosing a web host that’s right for your needs. Just remember, as with everything else in life, you’re going to get what you pay for. There are 3 general categories of web hosting providers readily available, ranging from $0 to $75 per month. (More expensive solutions are for really big companies and beyond the scope of this article). Let’s take a look:

Free Web Hosting
Tempting as it sounds, $0 cost hosting is best reserved for casual use – for a hobby or other personal purpose not related to making money on the Internet. Among the disadvantages: Low bandwidth, poor technical and customer support, excessive downtime, slow connection times, poor or no search engine positioning.
One of the most significant compromises you face is that 99% of free web hosts put their own ads on the homepage of your site, detracting from your business. It comes across as unprofessional and can quickly drive your prospects away. Also – extremely important for affiliate marketers – many affiliate programs will not accept people who are hosted on a free web service!
The Search Engines may not accept rating your web site if it has a sub-domain name not as part of your own dot.com name, especially if the sub-domain is part of a free web host domain name.
If, for any reason, you’re interested in going this route, do a search on Google. For example, search for "Free web hosting" and discover more that 1.5 million references. For this reason, I can not pick any favorites, being unable to verify how reputable they are. Good luck with your search. Compare features, over and over. It is the best way to narrow the field of candidates.

Cheap Web Hosting
Low cost web hosting will work for you if your budget is limited and you don’t want to spend money for larger disk space and other options that might not be necessary for you at the moment.
Most providers in this category charge from $3 to $10 a month. Many of them do not offer you a Control Panel and a number of other useful features like tracking, autoresponders, sub domains, etc.
If you don’t need the storage space or extra features, cheap web hosting is a workable solution, especially if your needs are not for e-business.
For some examples... nah, forget it, I don't want to give you examples of what I don't really believe in.

Professional Web Hosting
When you’re in it for the long haul, it really pays to think and act like a Pro.
As you continue to add content to your site, you will need more disk space. As your traffic increases, so does your need for more bandwidth. You’ll want that sophisticated control panel with all the bells and whistles -- unlimited autoresponders, unlimited email addresses, unlimited sub domains, detailed website statistics, website promotional tools, topnotch support and so on.
Prices for top level hosting range from $20 to $49 a month or more. Granted, it’s not free or cheap. But it’s the BEST choice for running a successful online business. Time is money especially on the Internet, and you want a web host that has enough power to assure that your website will load fast.

And before you sign on the dotted line ...
Don’t be shy about doing some double checking. Send some emails and see how quickly the company’s customer service responds. Get feedback from several existing customers on how they find the service.

Choosing a Web Host

Choosing to make a web site is a very big decision. However, even more important than deciding to make the website itself, is choosing your web host. There are many web hosts out there, and so it is very difficult to find the web host that’s right for you. In order to find the best web host, it is important to find as many options as possible, and have a clear idea of what you want out of your web host. Following these four tips will make your search for a solid web host a lot easier.

1. Use search engines. Search on Google and Yahoo using keywords such as “web host.” Carefully going through the results will give you an accurate idea of the web hosting options available. Some may say that the web hosts ranked the highest are clearly the best, but this is not always true. Taking the time to look at a large number of the results will give you an ample group of web hosts to compare.

2. Know how your site is going to work. This tip may sound confusing, but it is important to know what your goals will be for your web site. If you plan to have a great number of large files hosted on your site, then you want a web host that gives you ample amounts of space. Bandwidth should also be taken into consideration. Is the site a personal site, or a commercial site? If you plan on making money with your website, than a larger investment for more storage space and bandwidth is justifiable. If you are making your site a blog and hosting it with a service such as TypePad, you want a web host that allows domain mapping.

3. Have a price range in mind. Knowing the general amount of money you are willing to spend will save you a great amount of time. If a certain web host is simply too expensive, then you move on to the next one with no issues. Additionally, if you set a specific price range, you can search for the best offer within that price range. Some web hosts may offer more space for $20 than others do for the same price.

4. Finally, make sure that you have web host support based on your needs. If it is your first web site, then you might want a web host that is willing to give advice on building new sites. Some web hosts offer a very “hands on” approach to new users. Other web hosts simply let users do whatever they want and no help is offered.

The most important thing when finding a web host is knowing exactly what you want. Your search for a web host will be a lot easier if you search for hosts using Search Engines like Google and Yahoo, and you know what you are looking for. Every web host offers something a little different than others. Simplicity and customer service should be high priorities when searching for a web host. Remember, the most expensive, and highest ranked web host may not always be the best web host for your needs. Beginning your web host search with a clear, informed mind is the perfect way to assure a successful venture.

Changing host? Step-by-step guide

Every webmaster cringes at the thought of moving hosts. Like moving your home it can be messy and sometimes problems arise. But if you follow these simple steps, your move will be less painful.

Backup Backup Backup
If you've been diligent with your backups, you've got a lot of insurance to fall back on yet always make the latest backup. If you haven't, before you do anything else, do a backup now. Backup anything and everything you can and don't forget your database if your site relies on it. Save at least 2 copies and store them separately. One for you to work with, and the other as an archive. Do not underestimate how easy it is to copy over these files as you make changes or simply mess it up.
If you're moving to a host who has as different control panel, make a manual backup by downloading all your files because different control panels may not be able to restore the backups made by your old host. They also have different directory structures so your file trees will be in a mess. If you need to, make a small note file with notepad with memos for you to remember the old server configurations. This will help you as you make changes on your new host server and save the confusion moving back and forth between hosts. Remember to make the correct transfer type (ASCII or Binary) as you download. If your download is not right chances are you'll have a tough time getting your site to work on the new host server.
If server logs are especially important, remember to backup those too. There is no good way of moving logs yet because different hosts may log statistics differently. So the best thing to do is to download it and use a log analyzer on your computer to make references to later on.

Gather Odds & Ends
1. A Good FTP program which you should have by now 2. Get your new host server's DNS 3. It's also helpful to have a script that tells you the server environments installed on your new host server for quick references. 4. Get the temporary URL on your new host so you can check your site before you make a DNS change. 5. If you have your host control the domain inform them not to change your DNS until you tell them to. 6. If you run scripts: ? Get a copy of the original installation guide and the script. Sometimes after moving the scripts just do not work right so you might need to install the script from scratch. ? Get a list of all the server paths such as Perl, Sendmail and home directory on your new server. ? If your script needs special server modules or programs ensure they are installed and where. Even though these might be covered before you ordered the account with the host but sometimes your host has removed it or haven't installed it yet.

Inform Your Visitors
It is common and good practice to inform your visitors and customers of the server move. If you run a e-store, this helps assure your customers you have not fled with their money if there is any downtime. Also give an alternate email so you won't lose emails in the transfer. You might also want to give periodic updates prior, during (if there is downtime) and after. If your site is large, doing this is helpful because your visitors can alert you whenever there is a part of the site not working.

Moving Day
Try to schedule the move at a time where there's least traffic. Backup again just before you do the move so you'll have the latest data. Start by first copying or creating your custom error pages onto the new host server. Put a small note in there about the move. You can always remove it later. Then upload the most visible parts of the site first i.e. the main pages then move on to the less critical parts of the site. If you have a large site with many divisions you might want to split them across different days and instead move the least critical first. Just ensure you always do a backup before you do any moving. Use the temporary URL to check your site, visiting as many pages as you can.

Changing DNS
Once you're satisfied, change your DNS over. This typically takes about 24-48 hours so you have time to make some minor changes if need be. You might want to also take this time to modify your old site's error pages to inform your visitors of the move and give a new URL if there are URL changes. To help you determine if the DNS has resolved, make a small change on the new pages to differentiate between the old and the new.

Monitor
After you've moved and the DNS resolved, do not release the old account yet. Keep it as long as two weeks running concurrently. Go back and check the old servers for activity. Check your old email account and if you have a web based contact method on the old server check to see if any communication is left there. Once you're comfortable all email and traffic is correctly directed to the new host server, you can cancel that account.

To Host or Not to Host

Letting a Web Hosting service do the grunt work may be cheaper than doing it yourself.

Who is the Best Host for your Web site: you or somebody else: The answer boils down to control and convenience vs. cost. Web hosting isn't like contracting to outsource an entire IT operation, but there are similarities. Operating your own Web server provides maximum control and convenience, but it's expensive. As a blanket statement, hosting is usually (much) less expensive. Unless a company can amortize the costs over many years and many customers, it's hard to beat the economics of a hosted Web service.
Here's a rough guide to the costs for hosting a Web site yourself:
Equipment: A server and communications gear. Internal company networks may need special routers. One-time. One-time cost: $5,000 to $15,000.
Communications: Typically a T-1 line (or fraction thereof). Annual cost: $8,000 to $12,000.
Physical location: A room for the server and worker(s) that is secure and has communications access, This is difficult to estimate, but let's say about $5,000 a year.
Staff: A Webmaster (full- or part-time). Other technicians and specialists may be needed from time to time. yearly cost: $40,000 to $75,000.
In total, the minimal operating costs can reach $58,000 to $107,000 the first year, with $50,000 to $100,000 per year after that. This is a lot for any company if the Web presence is merely informational. The situation is different for companies doing business on the Web, since the income from e-business should at least cover the costs of operation. On the other hand, letting a hosting service host your Web site costs about $1,500 to $5,000 a year. A hosting service can manage your storage, absorb the cost of owning T-1 lines, and take care of all the day-to-day operations of maintaining a Web server. the reason the price is so much less is that other customers are sharing the resources, including the network administrators and the hardware.
Not every company is comfortable in the hands of a host. If sensitive data is part of your Web presence, then using a host entails assuming some risk. While all hosts promise to protect the security and privacy of your data, it is very difficult for them to guarantee that no employee will ever violate that trust or that nothing will go wrong. Of course, your own facility may not be 100 percent safe either, but there's some comfort in feeling it's under your control.
Web hosting also has had its share of chicanery. Especially visible have been cases of cramming--loading a customer's bill with hidden charges. This strategy is practices only by a tiny percentage of Web hosts, but the fact that it happens is your cue to research a potential hosting service before you buy.
Who should consider hosting? The glib answer is everybody, just like everybody should consider outsourcing. But it doesn't work that way. The most obvious candidates are small to midsize businesses that don't have the resources to operate their own in-house Web site--it simply costs too much to have a Web staff and also pay for the technology.
Even some very large companies with major Web Operations of their own use hosting services. The most commonly cited reason is to avoid the cost of adding people and equipment for special projects or spurts in traffic, or when a department wants a service that doesn't fit into the operational schedule.
The thing to do is define what you want in your Web site. Determine how many megabytes you expect the site to take up and how much traffic you expect ( calculated in megabytes of Web pages viewed per month). Most hosting companies set fees according to how many megabytes of information they will store, and how much traffic is expected on the Web site. Also figure the income potential of your site. Then shop around fro hosts. Local hosts may be more convenient, but don't overlook the possibilities of a national host, even if it's headquartered thousands of miles away.
There are different kinds of Web hosts, and they all cater to a specific need, so the customer has a variety of options. There are shared, dedicated, and high availability solutions available. There are now more than 5,000 Web hosts of one type or another. some are big and well known, such as IBM and Mind-Spring Enterprises; many thousands are quite small. Searching for the right host can be facilitated with specialty search engines such as Infotonic. Price, comfort, and convenience may be affected by the quality of the hosting company. Who runs the company? How big is it? do they speak your language? do they understand your requirements? If you like the answers you get to these and similar questions, then you've probably found the right Web hosting company.