How to Choose the Best Web Hosting For You

To answer the question "how do I find the bestmy website will never be down for more than
web hosting to suit my needs?" you must first0.1% of the time. You really don't want people
know what web hosting is and what it's all about.going to your website and not being able to
It can all be pretty confusing for the beginner.access it - there's nothing more annoying!
There's lots of information about web hostingNext is cost. That's pretty simple really - you
services available on the internet, but a lot of it isdon't want to be paying any more than you have
full of technical mumbo jumbo written byto for web hosting. You've got better things you
technogeeks that are out to prove how smartcould be spending your money on right? However,
they are, that the average person wanting to putdon't let cost be your only decision maker - you
up their first web site or blog doesn't really wantwant the reliability and support as well!
or need to know.And then there is support. You want good
In short, web hosting is something like yoursupport 24/7. Not just on week days from 9 til 5.
computer hard disk, it provides storage for yourI've had that in the past and you know what?
website files in a place where other people canYour problems won't happen between 9am and
access them easily via the internet. The5pm. They'll happen in the weekend and the
difference here is that the computer hard disk isevening and on public holidays! You need good,
located inside a server computer somewhere elsefriendly, reliable support. Especially as a newbie.
in the world, that belongs to a web hostingNot knowing what you're doing means you will
company and the server computer is connectedreally need some support at times, and it's a good
to the internet. Whenever an internet user (likefeeling when it's there, let me tell you!
us) requests a file (web page) the serverAnother criteria I would suggest for any web
computer fetches the files and sends them to ourhost that you are considering is that they use
internet browser - for example Internet ExplorerCPanel. Cpanel just makes looking after your web
or Firefox.site easier! It has lots of neat little software
The web hosting company rents you space onprograms that make things really simple - like
their hard disk, for you to put your web site filesinstalling WordPress (Word Press is great for
on so that people can access them via thecreating blogs or web sites - it makes it really
internet.easy! Even my old Mum and Dad use it) for
So now that that's all clear (I hope), we need toexample - it takes a couple of minutes and it's
look at what we're wanting to achieve with ourdone and then you can start working on your site.
website. If it's your first site, you've maybe got aIt also makes it a whole lot easier for the not so
vision in your mind of what you want to have ontechnically minded to do scary things like move
your web site. For most people when they startyour Word Press blog to another web host!
out planning their first web site it's not a huge planOther stuff to consider are things like email
and their web site won't initially require a hugeaccounts - how many do you need? Are you
amount of resources. That can definitely changegoing to use email addresses with your domain
over time, but if you choose a good hostingname on them or are you going to continue to
company you can start off with a beginners plan,use whatever you're using now? (Your domain
and then if and when you find that you requirename is the address that you want for your web
more, you can upgrade. You're not stuck withsite. For example if you wanted your site to be
your first choice! Remember that - so don'tyou could have email addresses such as '' or '' etc.
stress over making the wrong choice.You get the picture). Some basic plans only allow
Even most small business owners thinking aboutfor one email address, some more.
putting up a website for their business, usuallyDomains -while we're on the subject! Most basic
won't require any more than a basic plan - atplans will allow for one domain to be hosted. That
least initially anyway.means one website address. If you only want one
In my view, especially for the newbie, the mostthen that's fine. If you wanted to put up a couple
important things to consider when looking for theof sites then that's something you need to
best web hosting for you are:consider because with some account types you
* Reliabilitycan host a number of accounts or even unlimited
* Costnumbers. Remember tho, you can always
* Supportupgrade if you need to later.
Lets start with reliability. Whether you're a mumHow to choose the best web hosting for you
at home putting up a blog with recipes on it, or aSo there's the basics and I hope it helps. Shortlist
small business owner advertising their businessa few web hosting companies and then compare
online, you want a reliable web hosting company.what they're offering and I'm sure you'll find the
Good companies will guarantee their uptime - thatbest web hosting to suit your needs. When and if
means that they guarantee that the population ofyour needs change, then look at it again. If you've
the world will be able to view your website atgot questions go to my forum at and ask away.
least for the amount of time that their guaranteeI'll do my best to answer and if I can't, hopefully
states. For example the hosting company that Isomeone else will.
use guarantee 99.9% uptime. That means thatAnd have fun with your web site!