Choosing the right Web hosting plan can be a daunting task with an enormous number of products and features available. Deciphering specifications and making sense of the jargon is only the first step. Finding a company you trust is equally important.
This guide helps take the mystery our of Web hosting. Find out what to look for in a webs hosting plan and how to identify a Web hosting company that will be a reliable partner for your online success.
Shared Servers
Most personal and small- to medium-sized business Web sites run well on shared-server Web hosing plans. Shared hosting plans give Web site owners a reliable and inexpensive way to create and maintain a Web presence.
A shared Web hosting plan offers customers access to a set amount of space on a server where other customers' Web sites reside. Plans vary in the amount of space and traffic allotted to each customer, giving online businesses a chance to grow before moving to bigger, more expensive hosting solutions.
For a simple, low maintenance Web site, shared servers are an excellent choice because the Web host provides all of the administration and server care. For people lacking the skills or desire to maintain their own server, this is an added benefit.
Web Hosting Features Explained
Web hosting plans usually consist of a combination of features that make it easy to manage and maintain your Web site. Features vary from Web host to Web host and plan to plan. Below you will find an explanation of some of the standard features.
Web Space
Web Space (also known as disk space) is the amount of space you're entitled to on the Web host's server. Web space is measured in megabytes and gigabytes. Images, media files and large databases require the most space.
Monthly Traffic
Monthly traffic is also called “data transfer”, which more accurately describes what it is. Every time the server sends a bit of your Web site data to a user’s browser or the user sends data to your server, it counts toward your monthly traffic allotment.
Hits per Month
One “hit” on your Web site equals one item retrieved from your server. An item can be a Web page or graphic. So, if someone visits a page on your Web site that has five images, six hits are recorded — one for each image and one for the page.
Email Accounts
Web hosts usually offer POP3 email accounts with their plans. POP stands for post office protocol. POP opens a temporary connection to the server and retrieves any email there before closing the connection. You can check these email accounts through a client such as Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, Entourage or Thunderbird. Some Web hosts also provide Web access to your account so you can check your email anywhere you have a browser and an Internet connection.
FTP
File transfer protocol (FTP) enables you to upload and download files between your computer and the server that hosts your Web site. Most Web hosting plans include an FTP tool that guides you through launching your Web site.
Traffic Analysis
Traffic reporting software tracks the number of visits to individual Web pages within a given timeframe. Most Web analytic tools let you choose monthly, weekly, daily or hourly reports. You can keep track of your most visited pages, your most active days, weeks and months and the amount of data transferred.
404 Page
When you type a URL into your browser, you may receive a 404 Not Found page instead of your intended target. This means that you’ve requested a page that does not exist, or you’ve misspelled the URL.
Web hosting plans may include a 404 page customization tool that allows you to use your own style, text, links and branding to help guide visitors to the information they need on your Web site.
Data Backup
It’s important to choose a Web host that backs up your Web site and server files at least daily. Data backup is essential for you to be able to easily restore your Web site without spending the time and money to recreate it if you accidentally delete or corrupt important files.
Technical Support
Technical support representatives can help you resolve issues you encounter when trying to get your Web site launched and running. Web hosts may offer telephone or email support. Some include 24/7/365 live telephone and email technical support in their plans at no extra cost.
This article provided by Hostway Corporation.
Hostway Corporation helps small- and medium-sized businesses grow with innovative Web services that make advanced technology accessible and easy to use. Founded in 1998, the company currently serves more than 600,000 customers across the globe with domain name services and Web hosting packages that include an easy-to-use Web site builder and a built-in mechanism for driving traffic. One of the world's largest Web hosting companies, it operates over 250,000 square feet of state-of-the-art data centers with a direct presence in 13 countries, 17 worldwide operation centers and more than 700 employees. Visit Hostway online at www.hostway.com.