| Every web host should have a list of features. | | | | there are times they do not know there is a |
| While many of these features may be the same | | | | problem with part of a server. Being able to talk |
| web host to web hosting service, there are | | | | to a real human is important, so check to see if |
| important ones you need to get online quickly and | | | | they have live support 24 hours a day 7 days a |
| easily. When you are getting started online, the | | | | week. |
| features may seem foreign and you may not | | | | Do they have a Control Panel? |
| know what to expect. | | | | The most popular control panel is cPanel. This is a |
| What is the price? | | | | very easy to use Control Panel with enough |
| As an individual or small business then you should | | | | features to make your online life a lot easier. |
| be at shared hosting. Even if you do not see | | | | While there are other control panels, as the most |
| those words you can tell from the price, in which | | | | popular one, you will find it easier to ask other |
| you should expect to pay $4 to $15 a month. If | | | | people online for help. |
| you find a web host service for less money be | | | | How many domain names? |
| aware that it may also provide less services and | | | | You are probably thinking that you only need one |
| features. | | | | for your website. Later you might find you want |
| What is the server uptime or availability? | | | | another, or several. Most hosting service offer |
| This is a number that will be shown as a | | | | unlimited domain names and sub-domains. These |
| percentage. A server that is up 99.9% is | | | | typically look like http:// subdomain.example.com, |
| considered being available 99.9% of every day. | | | | where sub-domain is the sub-domain. |
| This means an average of 8 seconds a day or 4 | | | | What other features does it have? |
| days a year. Any web host that claims 100% is a | | | | You want to consider what you want for a |
| web host you should avoid. Most will say 99.9%. | | | | website. Then consider your needs and compare |
| How is their support? | | | | those against what the web hosting service |
| If your website goes down, or crashes, or locks | | | | offers. It may be that they have more than you |
| up, you want support. There may be times when | | | | need or they may be missing one critical factor. |
| you load a site and in the end it does not work | | | | These are just guidelines to help you decide what |
| right. While sometimes it may be the installation, | | | | host you need. |
| sometimes it is an issue with the server. Then | | | | |