| How was
your website designed? Did you design it
yourself using Microsoft FrontPage, or
did you use some other WYSIWYG website
building software? Did a professional
designer build your site for you? Did
they use Microsoft FrontPage, or did they
use some other WYSIWYG website building
software? Did your designer use a
database driven software, such as Cold
Fusion? Maybe they coded your site using
a text editor – you’ll need the
answers to these questions. If you have a
FrontPage website, you’ll need a web
host who supports FrontPage. If your site
was developed with Cold Fusion, you’ll
need a web host who supports Cold Fusion.
This also applies to other design
software not mentioned here. Check with
your web designer and/or web design
program’s documentation for further
help with this.
Maybe
you haven’t yet designed your
website. Many web hosts offer online
website building software that requires
no programming or HTML knowledge. If this
is your strategy, make sure your web host
offers such software, and find out if
there’s a cost for you to use it.
Finding
The Right Web Host
Locating
a web host that gives you the reliability
you need, plus excellent customer
service, and that offers all the features
you’re going to need, can be
challenging.
You can
begin your search by asking business
associates, friends and relatives who
have websites of their own, who they use.
Just as you would get a recommendation
for a good restaurant, word of mouth can
sometimes steer you in the right
direction.
You can
also check out the many web hosting
directories on the web. These directories
are set up to allow you to search using
the features that you’re looking for
in a web host. Keep in mind though, that
many of the listings you see may also be
paid listings that are pushed your way
for obvious reasons.
Once you
narrow down your search to a few
potential web hosts, your next step will
be to visit the many web hosting message
boards and forums on the web. Perform a
search on each of the potential web hosts
that you have in mind – read through
the posts and see what other people’s
experiences have been with the hosts you
have in mind. If you see too many
negative comments or experiences by
others, you might want to take a hint
from that and rule out that particular
hosting company.
Once you’ve
narrowed down your search to a few web
hosts, you should make contact with them
and get answers to any questions you
have. Since you’re a beginner at
this, you might strongly consider using a
web host that provides telephone support.
A web host that provides only email
support may not be able to fully answer
questions that you have – this
applies to sales questions as well as
support questions.
When you
make your inquires, keep track of which
host responds to you the quickest. Which
of these hosts answers your questions
patiently and takes the time to go over
details with you? Do they seem more
interested in getting you to sign up, or
do they address topics you have no
concern about, beware of those danger
signs.
Signing
Up For Your Web Hosting Account
Most web
hosts have multiple plans that you can
choose from. The trick is to choose a web
hosting plan that provides you the
features you actually need, without
choosing a plan that offers you features
you don’t need, or may never use.
This is probably the most difficult thing
a novice will be faced with when choosing
a web host. You’ll need to choose a
plan that strikes an even balance between
what you need right now and what you may
need a month or two down the road. Your
website might remain the same size as it
is today, by next year; however, your
site may grow quickly, requiring
additional resources in a relatively
short period of time.
Consult
with your web designer and with your
potential new web host about these
issues. Ask you potential web host if it’s
easy it is to upgrade your account if you
need additional services. Ask if there
are any additional charges if you upgrade
your account.
The last
thing you should do before signing up for
a web hosting account is to read your web
host’s AUP (Acceptable Use Policy),
and/or their TOS (Terms Of Service),
and/or their SLA (Service Level
Agreement). Make certain that you
understand and agree with your new web
host’s policies, and that your
website does not break any of your new
web host’s rules and regulations. By
not reviewing your new host’s
contracts with you, you may find your
website and email shut down without prior
notice for breaking a rule you were not
aware of, or you might end up paying for
fees you didn’t know you were liable
for.
The
majority of web hosts require you to sign
up for a hosting account by using your
credit or debit card. Some hosts offer
online check payment, as well as paper
check payments. Many web hosts accept
PayPal. You might want to ask if your
host offers discounts for advance
payment. Some hosts offer substantial
discounts if you prepay a year in
advance. I don’t recommend this
until after you’ve had some time to
experience your new host’s level of
service and support.
Most
importantly, don’t rush into signing
up. Wait until you get all of your
questions answered to your satisfaction.
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