| Before you can launch your web site, you'll need | | | | - Data transfer |
| to engage the services of a web hosting | | | | How much data do you need to transfer? Most |
| company. | | | | hosting plans limit how much data transfer you |
| A web host, quite simply, allows you to rent | | | | are allotted each month. If you expect a lot of |
| space on a web server. Your web pages are then | | | | people to visit your site, you'll need a plan that |
| stored on this server, and the host computer | | | | allows for plenty of data transfer. |
| allows other people connected to the Internet to | | | | - E-commerce |
| view them. | | | | Will you be selling goods or services through your |
| There are literally hundreds of web hosting | | | | site? If not, there's no need to sign up for an |
| companies to choose from. How to choose the | | | | e-commerce web hosting service. If you are, |
| right one? | | | | e-commerce web hosting services such as |
| As with trying out any new service, you won't | | | | shopping cart software, SSL support and a |
| really know how good a web hosting company is | | | | merchant account will be vital. |
| until you try it. Therefore, ask around and see | | | | - Database, script and extension support |
| whether you can get any recommendations from | | | | Some hosts will try to blind you with all the |
| those who already use a web hosting company. | | | | features they provide: Frontpage, MS Access, |
| You might also want to consider how long the | | | | MySQL, MS SQL, Peri support, PHP support, ASP |
| company has been in business, how reliable it is | | | | support and SSI support. Do you really need all |
| known to be, and how expensive it would be if | | | | these features? If not, make sure you are not |
| you want to upgrade your plan in future. | | | | paying for extras you'll never use. |
| Other areas to consider include: | | | | - Operating systems |
| - Disk space | | | | Do you want a UNIX hosting plan or a Windows |
| How much disk space do you need? Does you | | | | hosting plan? Unix is the most commonly used |
| website have less than 10 pages? You'll need only | | | | operating system among Web servers. It is |
| a small amount of space. Is it a huge site that has | | | | known for its flexibility, reliability and stability. |
| thousands of pages? You'll be needing a lot of disk | | | | Windows hosting plans give you the ability to |
| space. Most web hosting plans limit how much | | | | utilize many forms of dynamic content and |
| space you will have, so make sure the plan you | | | | specialized databases. Windows hosting plans are |
| choose meets your needs. | | | | often used for sites utilizing Frontpage, ASP, MS |
| - E-mail accounts | | | | Access databases, MS SQL Servers and other |
| How many e-mail accounts do you need? You'll | | | | Microsoft applications. |
| probably need one for each employee and one | | | | - Support |
| for each department (sales, accounts, support). | | | | Is customer and technical support available 24/7? |
| Make sure you purchase a hosting plan that has | | | | Can you easily get through on the customer |
| enough e-mail accounts. Also, do you want full | | | | support hotline? Or are you on hold for hours? |
| POPS access, Web-based e- mail, or both? | | | | |