Many people believe that selecting a hosting service for their web site is a routine tasks and not that important. This is a big mistake as there are a number of very costly things that can and will go wrong if you are not aware of the important factors you need to take into account. Answers to these important questions need to be found and fully understood before you can proceed with hosting your domain name in confidence. This important activity is often seen as a routine technical / administrative task and insufficient attention is given to it. This is particularly the so with newbies who have little experience of the wider issues of internet marketing and the more technical aspects of the internet. Selecting Your Hosting Service All web sites need to be hosted (stored) on a server (special internet computer) in order to be accessible over the internet. There are many companies that offer hosting services for your web site. Its not a good idea to host your site with the same company that registers your domain name, as it can cause complications if you later wish to move your site to another hosting company. By keeping these two activities seperate, you will keep your options open and retain control of your business. Tip: Never use a company offering free domains as part of a cheap hosting package -- its false economy and you will not be in control of your business! There are many good hosting companies that will charge you about $7 a month and provide a good service. I can recommend using Hostgator, as their basic package provides all the essential functions you will initially need. Tip: It doesn't pay to get free hosting or unrealistically cheap hosting. If your web site is a success, you will loose a lot of sales and profit whenever your server goes offline. Be wary of hosting plans that offer unlimited diskspace or bandwidth as something else has to suffer to make this viable. Most hosting companies provide you with a control panel that enables you to perform a number of basic functions to manage your site. e.g. create, rename or delete folders and files (similar to files on your PC). You can also set up email accounts, databases and various other things as well. The first thing you need to do is get some help in the form of step by step instructions and coaching videos designed specifically for newbies. |
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