Choosing a Hosting Plan & Provider

A hosting provider is different than a domain name.  A domain name you own.  A hosting plan is rented.  Hosting providers in essence, rent you space to put your site up on the web so people can find your site.  Therefore you need a hosting provider to get your site on the web.

Different providers offer different features, prices and plans.  The complexity of your site, needed features, and back end requirements will all help you determine the host you choose.

So what do you want to look for in a hosting provider?  The number one thing I look for in a hosting provider is service.  I could care less how many features they offer me if their service stinks.  Why?  Because once your site is up you'll want it up all the time.  There is nothing more aggravating then navigating your way through automated voice systems only to be hung up on or being constantly being told they are aware of  problem that has existed for days.  Because the internet is electronic and always changing, things happen.   You need to select a hosting partner that answers your call quickly and resolves the problem in a timely manner.   So, service is the number one factor.

Second I look for features.  I like hosting plans with built in website statistics.  This way I don't have to purchase them and configure them separately.  I have enough to do.  Good backend site statistics help you monitor traffic, keywords, advertisers, hits, browsers, regions and time spent on your site.  All this information is valuable marketing power.  Site statistics help you see where you're doing well and where you need to improve.

If you are thinking about an ecommerce site, some hosting providers offer built-in ecommerce software.  This can be a big money saver as well as a major time saver.  Built-in software means you won't have to spend valuable time researching ecommerce software and then configuring it to your site.  Most companies that provide built in e-commerce software offer a demo to try before you buy - which I recommend you do.

Other hosting features may include free blogs, photo galleries, unlimited email accounts, search engine submissions and security and virus protection.


Keep in mind the anticipated size of your site when choosing a plan.  Typically, most sites do not require much space but ecommerce sites selling multiple items or sites that contain large files such as high resolution images or many sound files will require more space.  Most providers will let you upgrade to larger space if you need to. 
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