There are various web hosts available and many of them offer the same basic features. When it comes down to it, you need to figure out what features you need for your website, always keeping in mind the long term potential. Also note that it is easier to upgrade than to downsize, so go with the most appropriate plan.
To start off, let’s talk briefly about the few types of web hosting plans that you can choose.
Web hosting is an ever growing industry and, each day, numerous companies spring up trying to make it in this competitive field. Of these many attempts, very few last long enough to become profitable due to a variety of reasons such as poor planning, insufficient capital, unexpected circumstances etc. This article should serve as an effective guideline to person seeking to venture into this industry from people who’ve actually done it themselves!
Firstly, you need to know how you will provide the service. Will you run your own servers? Will you lease servers from a larger company? These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself before you begin. Running your own servers is quite expensive and usually only turns out profitable in larger companies. The best bet for a new company, with a small budget, is to purchase a “reseller plan” from the many large companies that offer them.
Reseller plans work like this. You pay a monthly fee (usually) in return for a certain allotted amount of disk space and bandwidth which you can then “resell” in smaller amounts to your own clients. They will provide you with a Control Panel from which you can add accounts for your new clients and adjust their features as necessary. You must plan carefully, beforehand, and ensure that you can make a profit on the resale of the service you lease.
E-commerce is a growing industry. It has made new businesses possible and made shopping easier and faster. Unfortunately, every advancement in modern technology brings new, unpleasant, possibilities. Aside from hardware, and software, problems, the major concern is security of payments.
With identity theft on the rise, as more unscrupulous individuals engage in such illicit activities, there is an ever growing need for improvement in the security of online transactions. Measures such as encryption of sensitive information, once only necessary for high-risk transactions, of great value, are now required for the simplest of transactions (even the purchase of a toy) due to the great possibility of significant financial loss. Such an event can result from an unauthorized individual gaining access to someone’s credit card information and using it to purchase several expensive items, or perhaps wire money, in the person’s name. This can, and has repeatedly, ruined numerous lives and buried good people in debt.
Web hosting is the means by which a webmaster publishes her information on the internet. Lots of computers called servers are kept in large rooms called data centers, and are all connected to the internet lines, ready to distribute content to the world wide web in the form of your website.
For many people, a simple web hosting account is enough to manage their website. They pay a couple dollars per month per domain name and the hosting company gives them a tiny piece of the server. Their account will have limits in terms of disk space available for storing the files, and bandwidth used (uploading to server and visitor usage of site). The customer will have a password to access the account and be able to see their website stats, current files, and maybe have the capability of editing files right on the server.
The next step for individuals with many domain names is a reseller account. This generally allows you to add as many domains as you own with limited disk space and bandwidth allotments. The beauty of these types of accounts is everything is conveniently in one place, plus they are very inexpensive. It is much cheaper to have a reseller account than pay per domain for hosting. And of course, you can keep the whole account for yourself. Just because it is called reseller does not mean you have to allow others to host on your account.
All of the single hosting accounts and reseller accounts are on the same servers which is called a shared situation. There could literally be hundreds or thousands of domains on one server. The real danger here is your site is affected by all these other domains. If one person decides to install a malicious script, your site is going down with everyone else. If one person decides to use all the resources to spam email addresses, you will suffer. Hosting companies usually terminate their relationships with these people but the damage has already been done.
Once a business becomes too big for the first two types of web hosting accounts, webmasters might move into a semi-dedicated situation. This is where two or four people share the same server. Each is partitioned one-half or one-quarter of the resources. Some hosting companies will manage everything for you including setting up your databases, email addresses, adding domain names, and writing htaccess files. Other companies require you to manage your own section through server management software. The key here is to compare all the services in different packages to determine what you need. Do not make a decision based on price alone, but rather, what services that price includes.
Virtual Private Server (VPS) is a system where one server is partitioned into several virtual servers. It is also known as Virtual Dedicated Server (VDS).
Lastly, having reached a traffic threshold where you require your own server, hosting companies offer dedicated servers. You are the only person using the server and all resources are allocated to your sites. Usually the hosting company owns the server and leases it to you on a monthly, quarterly or yearly basis. Depending on the contract you sign with the host, you might be responsible for your own management or they might offer managed servers. Normally the host is responsible for any hardware problems, but if you manage your server, you are responsible for any software and technical issues, at which point you may be required to hire someone to help you.
One more scenario does exist and this is where you buy your own computer and send it to the host to reside in their datacenter. You might just pay the datacenter for housing the server or you may also make a deal where the hosting company will manage it for you.
If you are new to web hosting, it is likely you are being overwhelmed with tips on what to look for. Some of the main things that are covered are the bandwidth available from the web hosting company, as well as it’s memory limit. Some people will see unlimited bandwidth and memory and think that they found the mother load. Although these are important aspects to look into before purchasing web hosting, they are not the only things to consider. Uptime is a very important requirement that cannot be overlooked for the sake of your long term business.
If you are unfamiliar with the term, uptime is the amount of time your server is on and active. Basically, your web site is up and able to be accessed almost all the time. As you peruse through the many different web hosting packages out there, take into account the uptime guarantee they are offering. If they are a legitimate company, they will advertise a very high percentage for uptime. With so many high guarantees, it would be unwise to go with any web host that does not guarantee at least a 99.9% uptime.
Why do we need such a high percentage of uptime? That is a simple question to answer. Anytime that your web site is down from the web, you are missing out on possible customers. Downtime, the time when your web site cannot be accessed, should be limited to as rarely as possible. These guarantees become important when your site begins to get an increase in traffic. While these are the best times for your web site, it can also be the most vulnerable for your server. Sharing the server with other users give it the necessity to cap your bandwidth and memory at a certain point. Keeping your website up while notifying your about the issue is something most web hosts will do in an attempt to still uphold their guarantee while letting you know you’re walking a thin line.
With so many different choices out there when it comes to web hosting, it can be a tough decision to choose between them. One of these tough decisions comes when people are unsure of the differences between a VPS and a dedicated server. These two types of webhosting are very similar, and confusion is inevitable. Today, we will focus on these two services, and decide the major differences. Take the time to decide which best fits your needs.
The cheaper of the two is the Virtual Private Server, also known as a VPS. For those that have not yet been informed, a VPS is a shared server that has many of the same functions as dedicated hosting. Unlike regular shared hosting, VPS allows the user to have a separate operating system, as well as root access. VPS customers also are given certain performance guarantees that are normally associated with dedicated hosting. Although there are multiple users on the same server, each user has their own personal settings. To paint a clear picture, here is an example. The VPS is like an apartment complex. Everyone has their own living space, front door and lock. They are partitioned apart, although the whole of the building is together. Many common spots are shared, but each section has its own space. This is how VPS functions.
Dedicated hosting on the other hand holds the top spot for web hosting. With dedicated hosting, you are renting out your own server personally. Renting the server enables you to use it total control, as you are the only customer that is using it. This personal server allows for much more memory intensive scripts to be run smoothly. For large websites with large volumes of traffic, a dedicated server is the perfect solution. Unlike a VPS, you have no worries that the other users on your server might be taking up too much bandwidth. Never again will your load time and uptime suffer at the whim of others. Functionality is much like a VPS, with root access, the ability to run your own operating system, separate firewall, and many other similarities.
There are many different myths floating around the internet about free and unlimited offers. When it comes to web hosting, there are quite a few companies that offer unlimited bandwidth for a low monthly price. This guarantee, accompanied by unlimited space and domains cannot possibly be real, could it? Looking further into the web hosting small print, the truth will finally come out.
In the highly competitive web hosting market, companies have to use whatever means they have to grab customers. The current trend has pushed these web host companies to offer unlimited everything. People that this as they see it. Unlimited means as much as we want when we want it right? Unfortunately this is not the case. Everything that is offered with a unlimited icon has a point where it is no longer allowed. It is easy to understand why they can’t allow true unlimited bandwidth for such a low price.
If the web hosts were to remove the caps put on each user on a server, than a single user could use up all the CPU power and bandwidth on themselves, and cause all other uses on the server to crash. This is a huge risk, especially with the other guarantee of 99.9% uptime. To counteract this inevitable outcome, web hosts have given a generous amount of bandwidth, but they still keep it in perspective. This is a business, and it is impossible to make a profit when someone tries to extort your service.
Other claims, such as the unlimited domain hosting only add to undercut the unlimited bandwidth. Up until a certain point, the amount of sites you host won’t take up too much bandwidth. When you begin to host dozens to hundreds of different web sites, there is no way your cheap web hosting plan can suffice. Eventually, each site will take up enough bandwidth to put you over your designated cap. At that point, all of your sites could experience downtime. This can be a huge problem, especially when a large number of your sites are hosted on the same server.
All of these things come down to common sense. There would be no need for larger plans if the cheaper plans were truly unlimited. With an uncapped populous of users that continuously grow their usage, the only choice left is to force upgrades. Next time you are conned into believing everything that is advertised, look into the fine print. Normally the usage rights are listed out clearly so that users have no way to complain they were misled.
Unfortunately for most people, they overlook these simple laid out rules of use. Next time you are asked to agree to terms of service, remember to read through most of it to see what you are agreeing to. If you fail to do this before purchasing, there is nothing left for you to do when you unexpectedly get capped. Use common sense, read everything before signing, and know your limits. Following these rules will ensure you are never mystified by the cunning offers in front of you.
You thought long and hard about this and you decided that you want to change web hosts. Perhaps your current web host has been found out to be unreliable or it’s simply not up to par for you. No matter what the reason may be, there are some things that you need to know and remember before doing so. First of all, it’s not going to be a simple quick task. This is something that will require your time, patience, and of course some research.
Let’s start off by discussing picking out web hosts. When picking out another web host, you need to make sure that the new web host will have everything that you need for your website. If you just randomly pick a new web host before doing research, I’m sure that you will be unsatisfied when it comes to putting everything together. If it is easier for you, write out a list of everything that you need to have from the host and then you can match it up with the company. If you write everything down, it will make it harder for you to leave something out.
Inform your clients that you will be switching web hosts. You can do this by adding a note on your page, sending out a newsletter, or even making a blog. You are not only doing this out of courtesy, but also showing your clients that you are loyal to them and still would like them to remain your clients.
Before you start moving or deleting anything off of your page, you need to back up all your files for your website. In most cases, it is just better to have two backups as opposed to one, in case one gets lost or broken, you have the other. You have to prepare for the worst so when something does go wrong and you lose your files, you won’t need to fret because you will already have it taken care of. Do not completely get rid of the site that you are switching from, keep it as a backup-plan for the worst case scenario so you have a plan already.
When you move your domain name from an old one to a new one, this will be easy to do if your new host is a registrar. It can take up to several days for this to be completed, so keep this in mind. Make sure that you receive the authorization code from your old domain registrar so that you can move it to the new one. Once you put in the e-mail that you used to sign up the domain with, all you will have to do is click on a link and the transfer is made.
Changing web hosts can be easily done but you have to keep in mind the tips that I have given you so you do not forget certain things. If you feel you need to change web hosts, it may be beneficial for you if you are already thinking about it. If you are worried that you will forget something or not do something right, no need to go crazy worrying. Hire someone who can handle everything and makes sure everything goes smoothly.
Often, webmasters do not understand or do not realize the connection between web hosting and search engine rankings. And it may seem normal or widespread to discount the correlation but in reality, it is also disastrous. If you want to make the most out of your online endeavor, you need to understand that the actions of external companies directly affect your search engine rankings. And although you may say that you have no control over other people’s behavior, you have more control than you think, and must react accordingly in order to assure your earnings and prevent your income from slipping through the cracks.
Unquestionably, there are many excellent hosts around the world. But for every honest one, there are infinitely more dishonest companies just trying to make a buck. Their intention is not one of support to its clients but rather, how many clients they can get on the same server. Quantity means money to them. But as they make their monthly fees from you and hundreds others like you, your sales commissions are flying out the window like the heat in your house through a drafty door.
Specifically, you are losing traffic and sales because your positions in the search engines are not where they are supposed to be. And this is a difficult concept to grapple because you cannot quantify what you have lost or how you lost it. You just intuitively know that your web hosting has affected your search engine rankings.
One of the ways in which your web hosting affects search engine rankings is the downtime. Have you ever checked your websites during the night? Are they live or are they so slow, they may as well be down? This is common. If you cannot access your websites, then neither can the search engines. And if the search engines cannot crawl through your site, they have no idea what you are offering. So when it comes time to return results for a particular phrase, you will not be listed in those results.
Journeying into the world of web hosting, you have come across a universal law. Your web host must have cPanel. But what is cPanel? For those that are brand new to building websites and choosing web hosting, this is time to pay attention. cPanel is an advanced control panel that is used to manage your web site. The ease of use is unmatched, with a graphical interface that allows users to easily move from task to task, without ever feeling lost. This is much easier for newcomers than in the past when you were forced to use command line actions.
So why is this a web hosting must you ask? There are many advantages to using cPanel. You can easily maneuver through your email, sub domains, FTP, and web stats. Each of these tasks is marked by easy to see icons, which allow even the newest webmaster to use them without any prior knowledge. This is one of the reasons that cPanel is the most popular web hosting control panel. Anyone can learn the system within hours, and can glide through all tasks associated with their website within minutes.
Other powerful additions to the cPanel interface have put it into another league compared with its competitors. Most web hosts currently have Fantastico which runs within the cPanel. Fantastico is an auto installer that can quickly and easily install php based scripts within your hosting. Themes like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla are quickly and effortlessly installed without the need for FTP. A few quick forms and your website’s backbone is completely set up. This addition is a powerful ally to any serious webmaster.