Web Hosting Guide
Web hosting is an important business decision in a world where the internet is indispensable. Deciding the web hosting service that would display your Web pages to the internet is crucial to your business. This guide tells you all that you wanted to know about web hosting.
What are the different kinds of web hosting services?
Dial-Up Access: All dial-up access providers in the UK provide web hosting services. But very few of them handle both dial-up access and web hosting well. Go for a large company that makes special provisions for web site hosting.
Developer's Hosting: It is now becoming common for web site developers to host their clients’ web pages. This is often on a computer in the corner of the office. This customer-focused service is better than dial-up access but it has some limitation like price, smaller connection to the Internet backbone and dependence.
Web-Hosting Only: Web developer magazines are full of advertisements of companies that are dedicated to web hosting. They provide many other services without compromising on speed.
Industrial Strength Hosting: You might have to spend more if you have a high traffic website. Go for the largest national companies that offer you reliable services, of course at a price!
What are the features of a web hosting service?
Number of clients per machine: Make sure the number of business clients assigned to each computer is within manageable limits.
Space: Although a 5 MB space is usually enough for web pages and graphics, make sure mail, log files and system programs are not counted in this space.
Virtual Hosting. Go for an ISP that offers a "virtual domain" which means you can have your own domain name such as http://www.yourcompany.com. Don’t be satisfied with less (like “vanity domain”) because this investment goes a long way in promoting your company on world wide web.
E-Mail Aliases: Ask the number of e-mail addresses you would be allowed like careers@yourcompany.com and response@yourcompany.com.
Mailing list management programs like Majordomo for newsletters and auto responders.
Tip: Web hosting services differ in speed, space and advanced features like virtual hosting and mail management. Buy the best your company can afford.
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