| There are many web hosting companies out | | | | you a specific package. What you should be |
| there offering their services. Simply enter a | | | | looking for is a hosting provider that will give you |
| search into Google and you will be bombarded | | | | a breakdown of their different packages. They will |
| with thousands of companies claiming to have the | | | | explain that for a certain price you will get this |
| best hosting packages. The trick is to be able to | | | | much bandwidth, this many email addresses and |
| identify which company will be the best to go | | | | so on. A good hosting provider will have on call |
| with when hosting your website. | | | | support via telephone or email that is prompt and |
| First of all, remember to steer clear of companies | | | | responsible. Some good hosting providers even |
| that offer free web hosting. There is always a | | | | offer training courses to assist you in learning how |
| catch. Sure, you may not have to pay for | | | | to manage your site. |
| hosting, but think about it carefully. How is the | | | | A good, reputable website hosting provider will |
| company covering their cost for hosting you? | | | | have a portfolio of sites that are hosting with |
| They are plastering advertisements all over your | | | | them. If it makes you more comfortable you can |
| website! This takes away from the | | | | contact one of their clients to find out how reliable |
| professionalism and attractiveness of your site, | | | | their support is. |
| and will deter internet browsers. In addition to this, | | | | Beware of hosting providers that force you to |
| there is always a limit to your free hosting | | | | sign a contract for hosting. They may wish to tie |
| package. In some cases you may not be able to | | | | you into a hosting package for a year, with the |
| have lots of graphics or flash images on your site. | | | | payment requested up front. If you commit to |
| You may have a very low space limit, which will | | | | this, you may find after a month or two that you |
| be irritating if you are planning on having a large | | | | are not entirely happy. Perhaps there are frequent |
| site with lots of information. Another downside is | | | | email problems and the support desk of your |
| that these free web hosting plans may not supply | | | | hosting provider is never available. You may find |
| you with an email account that you can use with | | | | that your site is sometimes down without |
| your domain name. Sometimes they do, but they | | | | warning, or you run out of space and are unable |
| will only give you a handful of email addresses | | | | to contact anyone to purchase more. A good |
| with a tiny amount of space. | | | | web hosting provider will allow you to pay for |
| Of course, if you just want a simple personal site | | | | your hosting on a monthly basis, with the option |
| without email addresses, perhaps a free web | | | | to opt out whenever you wish. You can also pay |
| hosting plan will be convenient for you. On the | | | | up front if it is more convenient for you, but are |
| other hand, if you want to start a business site, it | | | | able to get refunded if you are not happy with |
| is better to find a hosting provider that will offer | | | | the service anymore. |