Basic Web Host
Factors to Consider

The Web host market is very competitive, you should be able to find a very good deal if you do your research, take your time and weigh both the basic and technical possibilities in advance. Finding the right host will save you money in the long run and help you get your site up and running to its complete potential.

Here are the basic factors to consider when chosing a hosting service.

1. Your Needs and Wants. The first thing to consider when choosing a web host is to know your needs and wants. Make a list of all the features you'll need from a host. Start by knowing the goal of your website.

   Is it going to be a hobby or are you planning to do serious business with it. Most hosting companies will offer cheap min-plans for those planning to create a hobby for fun (you can always up-grade to better packages if need arises).

   If you are going into business get a better package that will serve your business needs for instance if you need e-commerce solutions, look for hosts that offer features that you would otherwise need to purchase separately.

2. Free or Paid. Are you looking for a free host or for a paid host? With a free host, the good news it’s free but remember, your way around is quite limited. You are obligated to their terms.

   You won’t get your own generic domain name and your web page template will be limited to a few. These are good for anyone who is looking to create a hobby and not earn any money with their site.

   If you are going into business and would want to earn an income with your website then you definitely should purchase your web hosting service. Customers will take your much more seriously if you have your own domain name.

3. Price. Let look at Price. Most people start here. Don’t let these to be you only criteria. Once you have accessed your needs and wants, it’s time to look at the price in comparison to the package features that comes with the price.

   You don’t need that much features when you’re just starting. It’s better to choose a host that will enable you start at the level you want and be able to upgrade to better package and therefore higher price levels as your needs so dictate.

4. Customer Support. Choose a web host that will provide 24 hour customer support that includes a telephone number that you can call for support not just an e-mail and live chat.

   Sometimes it is much easier to talk to a live person than wait and wait for them to get back to you through email. Do they also offer helpful services, such as counting the number of users who visit your site, tracking service and such?

5. Quantity of Sites. Number of sites you will be building. Most but not all web hosting companies will offer you an awesome deal if you are planning to host multiple domain names.

   It will be expensive and unnecessary time consuming to register your domain names with different hosting companies when you can easily have them all hosted by one provider who can at the same time enable you to manage all your sites from one control panel.

6. Traffic Limit. Its good to check and know if your host will impose a limit to the amount of traffic your website will be attracting each month before they have you pay a surcharge. If you think your website will be very popular then it will be worth considering these.

7. Domain Name. As already mentioned make sure you choose a host that will also register your own generic domain name especially if you are going to use your site to earn income. Most web host services will register a domain name for you at no extra charge.

If you have considered all the basic features and you still can't decide on a host, its time to compare customer testimonials or ask the company if they can provide you with references. Many web hosting companies feature a page with their prominent clients.

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Basic web hosting issues to consider