Choosing A Domain Host
Due to the numerous types of Web Hosting companies that
exist today, choosing the right one can sometimes be a
daunting task.
In making a decision on what is a 'fair' price, there are
so many factors involved that it is difficult to pin-point
an exact price range to expect. However, taking this into
consideration, following are a few guidelines:
The first thing you need to decide is what type of Web Site
you want. For example, will it be personal or business
related? Will you need ecommerce services such as a shopping
cart and a merchant account? Do you have any special
requirements such as the ability to run CGI scripts? How
much can you afford to pay? The cost of Web Hosting varies
widely, from free to thousands of dollars per month. However,
you will find that a typical Hosting account ranges from $10
to $50 per month, depending on the features available. These
are just some of the questions that you should evaluate before
searching for a Web Host.
It's really impossible to say which is the best for the money
but there are certain features you should look for such as:
Free Domain Registration
Unlimited Autoresponders
Unlimited E-Mail Aliases
Secure Web Space For Order Forms
Unlimited Traffic
CGI-Bin, preferably with installed scripts
24 Tech Support
Keep in mind that 'you get what you pay for'. Chances are, for
$10.00 per month, you won't receive any of the above features.
It depends on what you need and what your requirements are.
There is a place on the web that compares hundreds of web
hosting companies, their features & prices and you can find it
at: http://webhostlist.internetlist.com/ but with so many hosts
to choose from, it can be quite overwhelming. Sometimes it
helps if you can find a person that has had experience with a
certain company and can testify to the fact that the company is
reliable as well as affordable. This is where I come in...
The web hosting company that I personally use can be found at:
http://www.virtualis.com/vr2/rdobbins and I can tell you, that
after switching companies numerous times I was ready to
literally pull my hair out because I was so frustrated.
Trust me, I've tried the 'free', the 'cheap' and everything in
between but once I found my current host, I wouldn't change it
again for anything. I get everything I need (and more) for
only $36.00 per month and the tech-support is awesome. I
personally guarantee that with any support questions you send
in, they'll get back to you in one hour or less.
One of the biggest complaints that many people have with their
Web Host is a lack of customer support. Whatever host you
choose, make absolutely sure that they can be reached 24 hours
a day. Not only by email, but by telephone as well. Trust me,
eventually, you will need support of some kind and by choosing
a host that is accessable 24/7 will save you a lot of heartache
and headache when that time comes.
Furthermore, make sure that the company does not charge you for
registering your domain name because any reliable company will
do that for you for free. Expect them to also transfer your
domain name for you (if needed) at no additional charge.
If you like, you can check out how our recommended hosting
company compares to others by visiting:
http://www.virtualis.com/vr2/rdobbins/comparison.html
Keep in mind that I'm not trying to 'push' you to choose this
particular company, but merely referring you to them as an
excellent and affordable one. Remember that you can compare
many other companies as well by going to:
http://webhostlist.internetlist.com/
About the Author
Rosanne Dobbins is a publisher of the 'Advice Daily'
ezine. Join us at http://www.promotiontools.net