Congratulations! You now have a domain name, next step is a website host. But, where do you start? Do you know what features are important in a good web hosting company? How can you know if this company is reliable? This article is packed with practical and proven tips that should make it easier to explore all of your options for web hosting services.
Consider some free web hosts. While some free hosting services place obnoxious, unprofessional-looking ads all over your site, some free hosts do not engage in this practice at all. If their services meet what you need, why not save money?
When you are looking for a web hosting service, write down your priorities. Figure out your wants and needs beforehand and see how the potential hosts meet them. This will help you make a decision based on a variety of factors, rather than a single factor at the potential expense of others.
If one of your goals is to drive up site traffic, look into hosts that offer search engine optimization tools. This will register you with search engines. However, it might be a better idea to register your site yourself since you will be able to add a detailed description which is helpful for the ranking of your site.
Find out what “unlimited” means in a particular web hosting package. For example, when a web host offers unlimited disk space, there might be limitations on the file types that are allowed. Also, infinite bandwidth might be considered to be tiered payment plans. Be sure to read the fine print and know what “unlimited” means in terms of your plan.
It’s possible that you might have to upgrade services that you get from a web host, once the traffic of your site increases. Make sure to understand the process for any upgrades to be sure that yours will happen quickly and with ease. Find out what the procedure is to increase bandwidth; your host shouldn’t make your site inaccessible while it experiences a sudden traffic spike. If you have a shared server, you should have the ability to switch to a dedicated one with ease.
One decision you need to make is whether you want shared or dedicated hosting. Shared servers are not ideal for websites that enjoy high traffic levels, design-driven layouts and sensitive customer and payment information. It is a great idea to find a web host that is dedicated.
Consider upgrading to a dedicated server for your web hosting needs. They provide higher levels of security, increased bandwidth, and optimum storage capacity. This will allow you to provide your customers with the optimum experience when they visit your site. Keep in mind that a happy customer is one that will probably come back.
Find out a web hosting company’s track record before you conduct business with them. Unfortunately, some hosts will claim to do the impossible. Doing your research is the best way to make the right decisions.
If you’re wanting to own your domain name for the long run, you shouldn’t register it with your hosting company. What you may not know is that you can lose your domain name if something happens to that web hosting company. You should consider utilizing an independent website to register your domain name.
Look online for directories and comparisons of web hosting companies. These will allow you to view a listing of all of the hosts that are out there and you are sure to be able to easily compare prices and features. In doing this, you can look at the prices of them all, and then compare the reviews and see what’s right for you.
Before signing up with a website host, make sure that if you decide to leave in the future that your domain name is transferable. Some hosts own the domain when you sign up for service (if you received it for free, for example) and you will have to buy a new domain when you move.
Evaluate the security features of a hosting company, as well as their safety features. Make sure it’s a very strict service that can protect against hackers getting access to your information and site. An excellent hosting site constantly backs up their own servers.
For whichever web host you consider, learn which uploading method they use, especially if you expect to transfer a lot of data. An FTP server might be required for your situation. If you don’t know technology very well, you need to have a decent online manager.
Always register your business’ domain name on your own, outside of your hosting site. This way, if a shutdown or argument ensues, your valuable domain name will remain protected. If you don’t do this, you could risk losing your domain name to your host.
Some web hosting sites are free and can help you save money and cut costs, but these usually come with a catch. Ads will be sprinkled over your website, and you’ll have very little space for storage, let alone bandwidth for visitors. If you want your site to look professional, though, stay away from free web hosting.
Find out what kind of server access a potential web host provides. Some companies give you FTP-based access that can be confusing and complex if you are not used to using it, while others use a simplified control panel that you can access through a web interface. A complicated, high-traffic site will likely require more access privileges. Those who run simple websites will likely do well with simple web hosting options.
Do not limit your research to a host’s website and advertisements. Customer reviews on independent websites or blogs will give you a much more accurate picture of your host’s abilities. Customers will usually talk about both the highs and lows of a company, making their reviews invaluable in your search.
This article has hopefully shown you that there’s more to setting up your website than choosing the domain name. You have to find a service to host it. Getting your website online is not that hard once you have an understanding on where to start and what information you should know about your hosting company. Use this advice to make your site management tasks as effortless and efficient as possible.