Find the Right Web Host Using These Tips
Starting a new web site means first finding a webhosting company that suits your needs and that is reliable and relatively low-cost. Given the seeming explosion of web hosts promising all types of services at all levels of pricing that can seem to be a daunting task. By keeping a few important things in mind, however, it is not impossible to find the right fit at a price that is affordable.
The first issue to consider is just what exactly you are looking for in webhosting companies. What are the elements your web site is going to need? If you are planning a large web site that will require multiple servers, it certainly would not pay to go with a smaller web host. By the same token, if the site is for a simple blog, you do not want to be paying for more features and storage than you will ever need.
Sites that are expected to grow over time will need to look into basic packages that offer unlimited disk space so you can add pages as needed. These webhosting companies give you the added advantage of making your site accessible to search engines. When you feel you are outgrowing the host, you will still have the option of switching.
One rule of thumb that experts advise you to follow is that even the smallest web sites should have at least 5 GB of disk space, with a bandwidth of 250 GB. For those new to the world of webhosting companies, they also should look for one that is easy to use. Some companies will allow you to try out their control panels before making a commitment so that you can tell if it meets your level of expertise. For those that do not offer this tryout, there are consumer sites, such as Consumer Rankings, that have done the testing for you and reported their findings.
The cost of web hosting is always a major issue. The prices webhosting companies charge can vary widely, with some offering gateway prices as low as $1.95 per month, to more reliable and conventional rates of between $4.25 a month to as much as $40 per month. The features offered in the package often make up the difference in prices, but some webhosting companies that are just starting up may offer shockingly low prices as a way to build business and brand recognition. For example, iPage is one that currently is offering new users prices as low as $1.95 per month, while Web.com lists the lowest monthly price of those in the comparison at 50 cents per month. Bluehost and iPage are both both companies that are very popular amongst web developers. Click here for a list of the top cheap web hosting companies.
In deciding which of the webhosting companies to select, the future web master will have to compare prices with the standard features offered in each package. Some web hosts have long lists of often unnecessary features that could add to the price, but are not of value to the user. Those who are not sure what features they may eventually need can take advantage of side-by-side comparisons offered at consumer review sites, like Consumer Rankings or CNET Reviews. But be certain to check the company’s BBB rating before making your final purchase decision.
Features that you might require from webhosting companies will include statistical reporting, Java, Real audio and video, and mail list management. If the new site is a business, make sure the host has the features you think you will need available to you now. Do not expect them to offer them at some point in the future.
Also, make sure you shop the webhosting companies that can provide the best page load times. Web sites often fail because visitors get frustrated with what they consider a slow loading process and go elsewhere. Reliability plays a big factor here.
At some point, web masters will need to get help from the host company's customer support service. So it pays to examine this aspect, which can be done, again, by using the research available at consumer rating sites.
Shopping the wide variety of webhosting companies available today is important, because once you do decide on one and land somewhere; it does not pay to move your site from server to server. Webhosting companies each have their own set-ups and conventions and use different versions of Windows or UNIX operating systems. So what worked with one host may not be supported by another. That is why it is so important to properly predict future needs before making the leap.
Starting a new web site means first finding a webhosting company that suits your needs and that is reliable and relatively low-cost. Given the seeming explosion of web hosts promising all types of services at all levels of pricing that can seem to be a daunting task. By keeping a few important things in mind, however, it is not impossible to find the right fit at a price that is affordable.
The first issue to consider is just what exactly you are looking for in webhosting companies. What are the elements your web site is going to need? If you are planning a large web site that will require multiple servers, it certainly would not pay to go with a smaller web host. By the same token, if the site is for a simple blog, you do not want to be paying for more features and storage than you will ever need.
Sites that are expected to grow over time will need to look into basic packages that offer unlimited disk space so you can add pages as needed. These webhosting companies give you the added advantage of making your site accessible to search engines. When you feel you are outgrowing the host, you will still have the option of switching.
One rule of thumb that experts advise you to follow is that even the smallest web sites should have at least 5 GB of disk space, with a bandwidth of 250 GB. For those new to the world of webhosting companies, they also should look for one that is easy to use. Some companies will allow you to try out their control panels before making a commitment so that you can tell if it meets your level of expertise. For those that do not offer this tryout, there are consumer sites, such as Consumer Rankings, that have done the testing for you and reported their findings.
The cost of web hosting is always a major issue. The prices webhosting companies charge can vary widely, with some offering gateway prices as low as $1.95 per month, to more reliable and conventional rates of between $4.25 a month to as much as $40 per month. The features offered in the package often make up the difference in prices, but some webhosting companies that are just starting up may offer shockingly low prices as a way to build business and brand recognition. For example, iPage is one that currently is offering new users prices as low as $1.95 per month, while Web.com lists the lowest monthly price of those in the comparison at 50 cents per month. Bluehost and iPage are both both companies that are very popular amongst web developers. Click here for a list of the top cheap web hosting companies.
In deciding which of the webhosting companies to select, the future web master will have to compare prices with the standard features offered in each package. Some web hosts have long lists of often unnecessary features that could add to the price, but are not of value to the user. Those who are not sure what features they may eventually need can take advantage of side-by-side comparisons offered at consumer review sites, like Consumer Rankings or CNET Reviews. But be certain to check the company’s BBB rating before making your final purchase decision.
Features that you might require from webhosting companies will include statistical reporting, Java, Real audio and video, and mail list management. If the new site is a business, make sure the host has the features you think you will need available to you now. Do not expect them to offer them at some point in the future.
Also, make sure you shop the webhosting companies that can provide the best page load times. Web sites often fail because visitors get frustrated with what they consider a slow loading process and go elsewhere. Reliability plays a big factor here.
At some point, web masters will need to get help from the host company's customer support service. So it pays to examine this aspect, which can be done, again, by using the research available at consumer rating sites.
Shopping the wide variety of webhosting companies available today is important, because once you do decide on one and land somewhere; it does not pay to move your site from server to server. Webhosting companies each have their own set-ups and conventions and use different versions of Windows or UNIX operating systems. So what worked with one host may not be supported by another. That is why it is so important to properly predict future needs before making the leap.