| Web Hosting Providers & Packages | | | | FTP Server (the File Transfer part of your web |
| What To Look For When Researching A Web | | | | space). Most good web hosting packages offer at |
| Host & Web Hosting Package | | | | least one FTP Account for your own file transfers |
| In order for people to view (download) your | | | | and those that do not usually offer a File Manager |
| website content on the internet you need a Web | | | | or Website Builder program that emulates a FTP |
| Hosting Provider, also known as a Hosting | | | | Account. |
| Company, to host (store and display or store and | | | | 4 FTP Accounts and upwards is adequate these |
| run) each website file that makes up your | | | | days. |
| website content. A website file can typically be a | | | | MySQL Databases |
| HTML file, CSS file, PHP file, JavaScript file, Image | | | | MySQL Databases are databases in their own |
| file, Audio/Video file and so on. | | | | right. You can set one up via your Control Panel |
| Even though one HTML file for example is known | | | | or by using phpMyAdmin (if your Control Panel |
| as a web page, as can be one PHP file, collectively | | | | supports it). For example. You could have a |
| a group of website files (i.e. one HTML file, one | | | | database for your customers, business contacts, |
| CSS file and one Image file) are also known as a | | | | blog, forum and so on (if you know what you are |
| web page.....usually by the general public. | | | | doing). MySQL has many levels - Easy-ish |
| What Is A Website? | | | | Management via phpMyAdmin to Nightmare-ish |
| Behind the scenes a website is just a folder, on | | | | Complex Programming. |
| the web hosting provider's computer (server), | | | | MySQL is also closely associated with the PHP |
| that is named after your domain name (i.e. | | | | scripting (programming) language. Many Forums, |
| websitecreationhelp.com). Within that domain | | | | Blogs, Guest Books and Mailing Lists for example |
| name folder (also known as your Web Space | | | | use a PHP Script and at least one MySQL |
| root folder) will be a sub-folder called public_html. | | | | Database. Therefore, when choosing a web |
| It is the content of that public_html sub-folder | | | | hosting package you need to consider that a Blog, |
| that the general public will view via their web | | | | Forum and Mailing List will require three MySQL |
| browser (i.e. Internet Explorer), with your | | | | Databases. If you are short on databases you |
| permission of course. | | | | can get around this problem by using one MySQL |
| This is because even though your domain name | | | | Database to create three separate Tables |
| points to (connects to) your Web Space root | | | | (Databases technically). |
| folder, the folder that was named after your | | | | MySQL and PHP are a good team. PHP Scripts |
| domain name (i.e. websitecreationhelp.com), a web | | | | normally set up and/or initialize MySQL Databases |
| browser and more specifically a website address | | | | for you. So do not be put off by MySQL. |
| can only point to (view the content of) the | | | | 10 MySQL Databases and upwards is adequate |
| public_html sub-folder.....in normal circumstances. In | | | | these days. |
| other words, typing your domain name into | | | | Web Space |
| internet explorer will point you to the content (i.e. | | | | Web Space is the actual storage space allocated |
| main web page) that is inside the public_html | | | | for your entire website - Storage space for your |
| sub-folder. You will not see the content of the | | | | Emails, FTP Storage Space, Forum, Blog, Mailing |
| Web Space root folder. | | | | List, MySQL Databases, Guest Book, Media |
| Which Web Hosting Provider? | | | | Gallery, Internal (Web Host) Files, Web Pages |
| You will know which web hosting provider to use | | | | (HTML files - Graphics, Text, Music and Video) and |
| when you have looked at the prices of their Web | | | | so on. |
| Hosting Packages and the features that come | | | | If your website is going to sell an Offline Product, |
| with it (i.e. PHP Scripting and MySQL Database). A | | | | such as Shoes, you should be looking at web |
| web hosting provider has two main jobs to do. | | | | space in the region of 50-100 MegaBytes. This |
| The first job is to maintain your Web Space (main | | | | should be enough space to store a reasonably |
| folder), which has specific web hosting system | | | | sized photo based catalogue on. And for a |
| files inside it as well as your public_html sub-folder, | | | | website selling an Online Product, such as Music, |
| so that your public_html website content is | | | | you should be looking at 100-500 MegaBytes of |
| viewable for everyone to see on the internet 24 | | | | web space depending on the number of music |
| 7.....with your permission of course. This job also | | | | files and their file size combined of course. |
| involves them looking after their own computers | | | | 50 - 500MB Web Space |
| (servers) and making sure your website content | | | | POP3 E-Mail Accounts |
| is safe and secure. | | | | POP3 is the protocol (format) used to describe |
| The second job is to maintain your Control Panel | | | | Incoming/Receiving E-Mail Accounts that can be |
| (set of Tools) that comes with the web hosting | | | | incorporated into an E-Mail Client (program) such |
| package, so that you can create MySQL | | | | as Outlook Express, Windows Mail and Mozilla |
| Databases, E-Mail Accounts and so on (depending | | | | Thunderbird. In other words. You can read your |
| on the features of the web hosting package). | | | | website e-mails from within those programs using |
| Shop Around - Avoid FREE & Cheap 'N' Nasty | | | | the POP3 protocol. |
| When looking for a Web Hosting Provider to host | | | | The number listed next to a POP3 Accounts |
| (display) your website on the internet, and more | | | | description will be the maximum number of E-Mail |
| importantly when looking at the features inside | | | | Addresses (E-Mail Accounts) you can set up for |
| their Web Hosting Packages, it pays to shop | | | | your website. IMAP is another protocol. |
| around. The old saying "If it's too good to be true | | | | The minimum number of POP3 E-Mail Accounts |
| it probably is" should be in the front of your mind. | | | | needed in todays climate should be at least four - |
| Dismiss the sales talk about features such as | | | | sales@..., info@..., contact@... and support@... Not to |
| "Unlimited Bandwidth", "Unlimited Web Space", | | | | mention any e-mail addresses you need for |
| "100′s of FREE Templates" and "Website | | | | employees, family members and so on. |
| Builder" because these tend to be gimmicks - A | | | | 20 POP3 E-Mail Accounts and upwards is adequate |
| company does not give for free unless they are | | | | these days. |
| taking from somewhere else and/or someone | | | | Mailing Lists |
| else. For example. "FREE Templates" that | | | | A Mailing List allows you to create a list of e-mail |
| everyone else is using (so your website is not | | | | addresses for your members, clients and so on. |
| unique/bespoke to you). "A Website Builder" that | | | | Once created you can then compose an e-mail |
| supposedly does everything for you (so you get | | | | and send it out to all those in the mailing list, in |
| a useless/limited Control Panel). | | | | one go if your web hosting provider and ISP |
| Many "FREE Website Hosting" packages do not | | | | (Internet Service Provider) allows it. So if you |
| allow you to create a MySQL Database or use | | | | needed to send out a "Special Offers" e-mail to |
| PHP Scripting for example. Other packages host | | | | 40 e-mail addresses for example it would be wise |
| (display) your website content for "FREE" with the | | | | to create a mailing list for those 40 e-mail |
| condition that your web pages contain their | | | | addresses first. |
| selected advertisements. Some limit the features | | | | So why not just use an e-mail client such as |
| of the Control Panel, Bandwidth and so on. These | | | | Windows Live Mail or Mozilla Thunderbird to do the |
| tend to be hosting companies that advertise | | | | job for example? Well you could in theory but |
| "FREE Website Builder" and "FREE Templates". | | | | mailing list software is much more dedicated to |
| In other words. They give you software that | | | | your mailing list needs. |
| builds and publishes your website, catered for the | | | | Due to people/companies spamming/junk mailing |
| Absolute Beginner, without you realising you | | | | people these days some web hosting providers |
| should be getting a better control panel for | | | | and/or ISPs do not allow a certain amount of |
| example. There are plenty of free, and very | | | | e-mails to be sent in one go. So check with them |
| affordable, templates and tools on the internet | | | | first what their e-mail limits are because both |
| that can also build you a website in minutes. So | | | | might have different limits. Sending 40 e-mails |
| do not pay for something like a Website Builder | | | | should not be a problem though, especially if you |
| for the sake of a limited control panel. | | | | use Authentication with your e-mail address. In |
| Affordable - With Basic Features | | | | other words, they should allow 40 e-mails to be |
| A good Web Hosting Package should be | | | | sent because they know it is you. |
| affordable but definitely not "FREE", and definitely | | | | 1 - 4 Mailing Lists should be adequate for a |
| not "Cheap 'N' Nasty". Above all else it should | | | | standard business/website. |
| contain YOUR basic requirements. So consider | | | | Shopping Cart |
| spending £5 to £10 a month on a standard | | | | Having a proper Shopping Cart on your website |
| web hosting package. This should get you the | | | | allows you to accept/receive Debit/Credit Card |
| Basics. Ask yourself the following questions: | | | | information via email/website notification. By |
| Do I need 10, 20, 40 or 80+ Email Addresses?. | | | | proper I mean it may have been installed/built |
| Am I going to need a Forum (Questions & | | | | using your Control Panel but has later had its PHP |
| Answers Board), Blog (Diary Articles), Guest Book | | | | Script(s) programmed/tweaked by a programmer |
| and/or Media (Audio/Video) Gallery?.....that may | | | | to blend in more with your website and/or your |
| need a MySQL Database and/or PHP Script. One | | | | language. In other words. With a proper shopping |
| thing to remember here is that these features | | | | cart (such as Agora) you are in control of the |
| can take time to create and may need ongoing | | | | coding and credit card side of things but they |
| management time too. | | | | require programming knowledge. |
| How much Website Space do I need?.....for my | | | | The opposite of a proper shopping cart is to build |
| Web Pages (HTML Files - Text, Pictures, Audio | | | | your own shopping cart web pages, in HTML/CSS |
| and Video), Forum, Blog, Guest Book and so on. | | | | code for example, and then attach a Payment |
| How many Website Visitors am I expecting each | | | | Merchant's buttons to them - BUY NOW, VIEW |
| month? The more visitors you get the more | | | | CART and so on. A Payment Merchant is a |
| Bandwidth (Download Units) you will need. | | | | company, such as PayPal), that gives you the |
| Below I have explained the major features inside | | | | facility to carry out Online Bank Transactions (i.e. |
| a standard Web Hosting Package, in order for you | | | | Withdrawals and Deposits) and create HTML |
| to answer the above questions and to give you a | | | | buttons that, once clicked on, take care of the |
| better idea of what features you should be | | | | purchase/payment for you. So in some respects |
| looking to use. At the bottom of each description | | | | the proper shopping cart is not always the best |
| I have noted the standard you should be looking | | | | approach. |
| for when paying £5 to £10 a month. These | | | | A good Control Panel will have a Library Of |
| are based on Quality web hosting providers (see | | | | Scripts inside it that allows you to install PHP |
| Quality below). | | | | Scripts/Programs such as a Guest Book, Forum, |
| The Control Panel | | | | Blog, Shopping Cart and so on. Alternatively. You |
| Although all web hosting packages have a web | | | | may be able to find a particular, updated, PHP |
| based Control Panel of some sort it is the control | | | | Script/Program on the internet and install it |
| panel that is overlooked. A good control panel is | | | | yourself. |
| the key to a good web hosting package and | | | | 1 - 3 Shopping Carts |
| more importantly to an easier life in terms of | | | | Standard Features |
| managing your website. The more tools in a | | | | These features should be standard and a part of |
| control panel the better. | | | | your Control Panel. If they are not listed in the |
| A part from the features entitled Bandwidth, Web | | | | web hosting package ask the web hosting |
| Space and Quality (below) all the other features | | | | provider if they are supported/included. If they |
| mentioned below should be accessable through a | | | | are not, look for another web hosting provider. |
| control panel. The control panel itself is installed, | | | | Folder Password Protection - Allows you to |
| and updated, by your web hosting provider. Many | | | | create separate Folders in your web space, with |
| use the popular CPanel (cpanel.net) control panel. | | | | a Title, UserName & Password which is good if |
| Bandwidth (Monthly Data Transfer) | | | | you want to have a private area of your website |
| Bandwidth (also known as Monthly Data Transfer) | | | | for members or family only for example. |
| is the amount of Data that can be downloaded | | | | Perl / CGI Support - Besides PHP and MySQL |
| from your public_html sub-folder, onto a | | | | Databases other programs are written in the Perl |
| customer's computer via internet explorer for | | | | programming language which goes hand-in-hand |
| example, each month. It is measured in GigaBytes | | | | with CGI. Basically, Shopping Carts and so on use |
| - A standard Web Hosting Package should allow | | | | Perl and CGI. |
| you at least 2 GigaBytes of bandwidth per month. | | | | SSL Support - SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is |
| Bandwidth can also be contributed to uploading | | | | basically the Security PadLock you see on a web |
| your files to your public_html sub-folder, which | | | | browser's Address Bar edit box. When you are |
| means Bandwidth is really your upload and | | | | paying for something online the URL (website |
| download usage. | | | | address) of the payment page changes from |
| What does all this mean? It means if one | | | | http: //whatever to https: //whatever and then a |
| customer downloads a 4MB Music File, for | | | | Security PadLock appears at the end of the |
| example, from your public_html sub-folder it will | | | | Address Bar edit box (after the URL). So if you |
| cost you 4MB in bandwidth. So if ten customers | | | | want a secure payments web page for your |
| download the 4MB Music File, or one customer | | | | Shopping Cart for example you need to ask the |
| downloads the 4MB Music File ten times, either | | | | web hosting provider to host your website on a |
| way it will cost you 40MB of bandwidth in total. | | | | SSL Server (Secure Computer), as it is standard |
| However. It is not that simple because each web | | | | practise to put newcomers on a non-SSL hosted |
| page viewed also costs bandwidth. | | | | server. |
| If you have a Music Product Web Page that | | | | MIME Type support - To display Pictures, and play |
| consists of 1MB of Introduction Text and 1MB of | | | | Audio/Video, from your website you need to |
| Music Pictures for example it will cost you 2MB of | | | | make sure you have the MIME Types (File |
| bandwidth each time that Music Product Web | | | | Formats) tool in your control panel. Although most |
| Page is viewed (downloaded into one customer's | | | | of the common MIME Types will have been set |
| web browser, from your web space to their | | | | up for you this tool will allow you to delete old |
| computer). Therefore, each time a customer | | | | MIME Types and add new MIME Types as you |
| views (downloads) the 2MB Music Product Web | | | | see fit. |
| Page and then downloads the 4MB Music File it will | | | | Website Statistics - Your control panel should |
| cost you 6MB of bandwidth in total. Times that | | | | come with some sort of Website Statistics tool |
| by ten customers and it would cost you 60MB of | | | | that allows you to analyse visitor data (Number of |
| bandwidth in total. | | | | Visits, Web Browser used, Who is linking to your |
| 5,000MB (5GB) of web space divided by 6MB (1 | | | | website, Keywords used to find your website and |
| Music Product Web Page and 1 Music File) equals | | | | so on). AWStats is one of the better statistics |
| 833 possible customers. It is not that simple | | | | tools. |
| though. Why? Because not all 833 possible | | | | Hot Link Protection - Allows you to stop people |
| customers will download 1 Music Product Web | | | | from linking to your files (i.e. images) and stealing |
| Page and 1 Music File, especially if they have to | | | | your bandwidth. For example. If someone links to |
| buy the Music File. | | | | your image (i.e. computer.jpg) in order to display it |
| Some might view (download) the Music Product | | | | on their website this is known has bandwidth |
| Web Page more than once (i.e. read it more | | | | theft. Why? Because people visit their website |
| another day) while others might download the | | | | and see your image (computer.jpg), that had to |
| Music File more than once (download it for their | | | | be downloaded from your website using your |
| family and friends), especially if it is free to | | | | bandwidth and not theirs. So they are stealing |
| download. So you might end up with customers | | | | your bandwidth and your image really. |
| who view the Music Product Web Page only but | | | | Quality |
| do not download the (Buy Now!) Music File and | | | | A Quality web hosting provider should have the |
| vice versa. Hence why selling something on the | | | | following. |
| internet is not guaranteed - It costs bandwidth | | | | 24/7 Support - A good web hosting provider will |
| and money. | | | | give Telephone and/or Email support 24 Hours A |
| 5 - 20 GigaBytes. 30 GigaBytes maximum.....before | | | | Day, Seven Days A Week. A sign of quality here |
| the package price changes to something even | | | | is the response time. An answer within 20 - 40 |
| better. | | | | Minutes is excellent. |
| Add-On Domains | | | | Daily Backup - This means your web hosting |
| An Add-On Domain is a normal domain name (i.e. | | | | provider will backup your website once a day, as |
| software.com) that points to (connects to) a | | | | opposed to weekly for example. This in turn |
| sub-folder within your main domain name's | | | | means if their server crashes/freezes they can |
| public_html (website) folder. That sub-folder is | | | | restore your previous day's website. Saying this, |
| normally named after your add-on domain name | | | | you should always have a copy of your website |
| (i.e. software.com). So if your main domain name | | | | files on your own computer, on a cd, on a flash |
| is and your add-on domain name is your web | | | | drive and so on. If a programmer did your |
| hosting provider will create a new sub-folder called | | | | website ask them for the original codes |
| inside the public_html folder of and then point/link | | | | (templates, web pages, images, etc). |
| (redirect) to that new sub-folder called | | | | Operate Own Servers - If a web hosting provider |
| This means that anyone typing into their web | | | | operates their own servers they will be in a |
| browser will be taken to a sub-folder called within | | | | better position to fix any, networking, problems |
| the public_html folder of | | | | (crashes/freezes). |
| The advantages of an add-on domain name are | | | | 99% Uptime - This means your website should |
| that 1) It has its own folder which means it can | | | | be live on the internet 99% of the time, with only |
| be classed as a website within its own right and | | | | 1% risk of it not being live on the internet. Or put |
| 2) It saves on buying two web spaces (two pure | | | | another way, your web hosting provider's server |
| websites). However. The overall disadvantage of | | | | should only crash/freeze 1% of the time. This |
| hosting two domain names (a main domain name | | | | ideally means your website should never be |
| and an add-on domain name) is that they share | | | | unavailable. And if it is, it should only be unavailable |
| the same web space and bandwidth. | | | | for a total of 3-4 days of the year and only |
| This has serious side-effects if you want to have | | | | unavailable for 1-3 hours in each of those days. |
| video on one or both websites (domain names) | | | | Established - Look for a web hosting provider that |
| because the web space and bandwidth might be | | | | has good knowledge, experience and expertise of |
| shared unevenly, which means a customer might | | | | Networking and Programming. It is not good if |
| miss out on a download. For example. A free | | | | they have a beautifully set up network but with |
| video download on might take up the bandwidth | | | | no in-depth knowledge, experience and/or |
| for a buying customer on | | | | expertise of CGI, MySQL or PHP programming |
| An Add-On Domain should only cost you the | | | | for example. In other words, you do not need a |
| normal price of an extra domain name (i.e. £5 a | | | | "Call Center" type of web hosting provider |
| year). | | | | whereby you contact them and they go through |
| 1 - 3 Add-On Domains | | | | the Standard-Procedures book before telling you |
| Parked Domains | | | | "We cannot help you.....We cannot emulate/fix |
| A Parked Domain is a normal domain name (i.e. | | | | your problem". |
| software.com) that points/links (redirects) to your | | | | They should have an engineer around, or at least |
| main domain name (i.e. computers.com) only - It | | | | a book to hand, for example that can emulate |
| has no web space folder or bandwidth of its own | | | | general problems and/or fix general problems, |
| because it shares the same web space and | | | | within a reasonable length of time in order to back |
| bandwidth allocated to your main domain name. | | | | up their claims of 99% uptime. Or put another |
| A parked domain name is typically set up when | | | | way. They should not flog you off with excuses |
| you want a.co.uk and for example to go to the | | | | when things go wrong and when they cannot fix |
| same web space. So if you have as your main | | | | your, general, problem. As an inexperienced |
| domain name and computers.co.uk as your parked | | | | website owner you might delete a folder/file one |
| domain name, visitors who type computers.co.uk | | | | day that breaks some part of your blog for |
| into their web browser will be sent to the same | | | | example. Having a good web hosting provider that |
| web space that is using and therefore see the | | | | can guide you towards fixing that blog is a sign of |
| same website content (the same web pages, | | | | quality. |
| video and so on). | | | | General Notes |
| A Parked Domain should only cost you the normal | | | | Some control panel tools can be substituted by |
| price of an extra domain name (i.e. £5 a year). | | | | downloading/installing, updated, versions of them |
| 1 - 3 Parked Domains | | | | or by downloading/installing similar tools to them. |
| FTP Accounts | | | | For example. If your control panel comes with the |
| Having a FTP (File Transfer Protocol) Account | | | | Blog called WordPress 2.0.5 (old version) you could |
| means you can use a web browser (i.e. Internet | | | | delete it from your website (making the control |
| Explorer) or a FTP Program (i.e. FileZilla or | | | | panel side redundant) and then download/install |
| AceFTP) to transfer your web pages, and so on, | | | | WordPress 2.9.2 (latest version at present time). |
| from your computer to your public_html | | | | The same applies to other tools. |
| sub-folder (website). | | | | You could replace your mailing list with phpList |
| Depending on your web hosting package and its | | | | 2.10.10 for example. Although your web hosting |
| Control Panel you might be able to create | | | | provider may seem to give you a lot of control |
| additional Anonymous Log-In FTP Accounts or | | | | panel tools, a lot of them might be out-of-date by |
| FTP Accounts with UserName & Password so | | | | as much as a couple of years. It depends how |
| that you can set up a FTP Account for your | | | | good the web hosting provider is at updating |
| members for example - This is good if you intend | | | | control panel tools. |
| to allow your members to upload content to your | | | | |