Archive for February, 2009
Easy Tips on Choosing Great Web Hosting
For your personal website, you want now more than ever to ensure you’ve got stable, fast hosting that is loaded with features. If your hosting server goes down every day, as far as your visitors and search engines go, there’s no point in your site even existing. The problem is that picking a good host to someone who doesn’t have experience can be quite tricky. To make sure everything goes as cleanly as possible, here are a list of simple suggestions, tips and tricks to make sure your get the most value for your dollar.
There is a common stereotype that setting up and running a website is a pricey or expensive process. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Web hosting needn’t be expensive. There’s a ton of trusty web hosting services will host your entire website for less than 5 dollars every month! As long as you don’t have a gigantic website that takes on hundreds of thousands of visitors every month, one of these hosting services will be all you need to get started.
In the past years, you used to have to buy a domain name (often for around $100 each), and then go out and pick your hosting plan. Well, not anymore. Any decent web host will provide you with a domain name free of charge. And these aren’t just .info or .us or some random type. They are .com, .net and the like.
Remember that you can’t really trust most reviews out there. Many of the main review sites on the internet are simply owned by the hosting companies in some way. They’re just trying to steer you towards their own company! It’s best to ask someone who’s been there if you require an honest review of the hosting service.
Always read up on the fine print of your hosting plan. Often times, the rate may be low, but if they charge $150 just to activate the account, it’s not so cheap! A quality host won’t have an activation fee (or if they do, it will be relatively cheap).
Make sure the company offers proper support. Anymore live chat options in addition to 1-800 numbers are the industry standard.
Also consider what features you need. Is your site going to have PHP code? What about ASP? CGI scripts? Make sure the server will support the types of coding you need. If you don’t know what these are, then don’t worry about it, since you obviously won’t be needing this type of support.
Now all that’s left to do is start looking at some hosting sites!
This article was written by Ryan Bauer. Check out these hosting services: Super cheap web hosting and also this one, which provides hosting with a free domain.
Online Cheap Web Hosting – Is it Really Cheaper?
The exceptional mushrooming of cheap online web hosting has only added to the competition and has forced many hosting service providers to slash their prices. Many such companies provides hosting at such a low price, that many people will register without second thought. Sometimes a hasty decision can turn out to be an expensive one for the sake of saving a few bucks.
Even though the claims made by a online cheap web hosting company can be genuine, you should take care of a few following points:
Many online cheap web hosting providers do not use quality software and hardware for networks and servers. As your business grows and traffic to your site increases, more reliable and good quality resources are very important. A “server down” message in the middle of a potential business deal of sale can drastically start to affect your business.
Explore the brochure or the website of your potential hosts to verify customer testimonials, user feedback to see if it can really fulfill the promises of unlimited disk space, tempting bandwidth and connection speed. It can truly become an expensive choice if you start losing out on sales and business because of constant “server down” issues, low download speed and improper service only to save a few bucks.
You can even go as far as asking for a demo of an existing site hosted with the same company. Compare then how this site compares with the requirements of your site.
You can also try to register your domain somewhere else even if your online cheap web hosting provider offers free registration. That would mean that your business is not only controlled by one company.
Click Here to see how to go about choosing the best hosting with the 3 Top current choices.
Which Websites Require Web Hosting With MySQL Database and PHP Support
If you have ever searched for web hosting service you have probably noticed that some companies offer not only hosting for static HTML pages but also provide PHP support. Most of the web hosts which come with PHP support also offer access to the MySQL database. There are websites which need them and websites which can be run without them. This article explains which types of websites need these features.
PHP and MySQL support is required if you are going to run any CMS — content management system. These systems make possible to run a website without editing the HTML code. Site owner only has to install the CMS script or use a web hosting company which comes with preinstalled scripts. When is the script installed the site content is added from the admin area. Webmaster fills in fields like page title and page content and the script will using PHP language store these data in the MySQL database. When people visit the website the PHP is used again to load the data from MySQL and create the page for the visitor. Examples of content management system are joomla, mambo or wordress blog.
Another type of website which requires PHP and MySQL support is forum. All registered usernames, passwords and posts are stored in the database. Using PHP and MySQL is the best way how to allow people to add messages to your website and edit them if necessary. There are many free forum scripts like PhpBB, Simple Machines Forum or PunBB.
If you are not going to run big discussion with your visitors but still want to give them the opportunity to write a message on your website then the best solution is a guestbook. There are some guestbooks which don’t need MySQL. They are powered by PHP and store the data in a file. This way of storing data is not recommended for security reasons but it is quite popular solution for newbies because these guestbooks doesn’t require any installation. Webmaster only link to the PHP file and guestbook is ready to use. On the other hand there are PHP and MySQL driven guestbooks which work in the similar way like previously mentioned scripts. This solution is considered more safe but needs at least small knowledge of PHP scripts installation.
Very popular are contact forms. If the webmaster don’t want to reveal his email address in order to avoid the spam in his mailbox he can use so called mailform. These scripts are written in PHP but don’t need MySQL support. Contact form works with the data filled by the visitor and sends them to the selected email address.
You don’t need to be PHP expert to enjoy such scripts. All scripts mentioned above can be downloaded for free from many websites. Search for something like “free php scripts” or “php scripts library” in google and you will find a lot of them.
There are many other ways how to use PHP and MySQL and it is not possible to mention all of them in a single article. But the overview above should help you to understand what you can do if you can use these features.
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3 Simple Tips on Choosing the Right Web Host
Choosing a great web host can be a major challenge. Every webmaster, be they new or a seasoned veteran, has had trouble at one time or another selecting the right hosting for their website. Even experienced web designers have trouble sometimes determining what features are most important for them when choosing a web hosting provider.
While the first thing that new webmasters look at when searching for hosting is price, veterans know that quite often price is less important than reliability and service. Sure you can find some great bargains on hosting, but is that what you really need?
Determining Your Hosting Needs
The very first thing you should do when shopping around for web hosting is determine, as closely as possible, what your needs are. Every site is a little different in this respect, and you should not go into it blindly. One of the easiest ways to do this is to write down what you think you are going to need in regards to features for hosting.
If your site is a blog or simple html, you may only need the features that are commonly offered with shared hosting. However, if your site is going to be more resource intensive, have multiple returning visitors, or require minimal downtime, you may wish to take a look at getting a premium hosting plan.
So go ahead and make a list of all the things that you think you need now, and what you believe you’re going to need in the future. While most web hosting companies have different plans you can upgrade to as your site grows, it’s always a good idea to select a hosting plan that will cover your website’s expected growth for the next six to twelve months. This will help you cover any unexpected growth and traffic spurts you may experience.
Web Hosting Resources
There are many different resources on the web where you can find information about web hosting companies, including web hosting review sites and web hosting forums. Some of the most valuable review sites and forums are ones where people give their honest opinion about a particular hosting company. Check out a few of them before deciding which web host to go with.
Although there are hundreds of different resources devoted to web hosting, it’s important for you to remember that ultimately, the decision of which web host to go with is up to you. If you realize you have made a mistake in your choice of web hosting providers, then select a different one. Since most web hosts will help you move your site for free, changing hosts isn’t that big of a deal.
Final Thoughts
While most hosts advertise 99.9% uptime, multiple redundancies, and daily backups, keep in mind that sometimes, stuff just happens. Always keep a backup of your site on your personal computer just in case. Don’t make the same mistake I’ve made in the past and rely only on the web hosts backup. If you expect to have a really busy website, schedule an automatic backup and keep it in a safe place. It will save you a ton of aggravation in the future.
Over the last 15 years I’ve spent thousands on web hosting, and have experienced both the best and the worst in the web hosting industry. To help you find a good web host, I’ve compiled a list of web hosting providers who consistently provide great service at atHosted.com.
Security in Shared Hosting
The entire framework of internet is based on a secure structure. A security breach in network or servers can lead to possible unauthorized access to hosting server and to confidential information. An insecure system also allows viruses and threats to access your server or systems and cause irreparable damage.
While getting your site hosted, check that your host ensures security for its servers and for the personal data of its customers. Security is particularly important if you get your site hosted in shared and virtual hosting. A few points that can ensure you a secure hosting of your website are discussed as below.
- If you use Linux based hosting, ask your host to use cage structure. It ensures that your site is completely isolated and private from other sites on the network.
- Whatever software and other programs are installed on your server, ensure that all these are properly configured to eliminate all known or reported exploits, or ambiguities. Searching forums and search engines can be a great resource for information like this.
- Regular and periodic maintenance and audit of servers and network should be part of your host’s security policy. It includes checking if the physical devices on the network or server are secure enough, and that proper firewalls are maintained to prevent hacking or unauthorized access.
- The server or its parent environment should not have any programs or scripts that have any scope of potential security breach.
- Ask your host if there is some documentation on security policy, and stay updated on such security policies.
This article was written by the experts at Hosting Choice. Find the Best Hosting at great prices. We have reviews on all cheap web hosting providers. Don’t trust any other web hosting review site, we’ve got real unbiased user reviews!
Web Hosting Basics – What to Look For in a Good Web Hosting Provider
So you’ve got an idea for a website, but don’t know where to start? You’re not alone. Every day thousands of new webmasters, like yourself, get confused when trying to find a good web hosting provider and understanding what all the listed features of the available hosting plans really mean. While I don’t have enough time to go into major details here, hopefully I can help make your passage through the muddy waters of web hosting a little easier.
First, you need to realize that not all web hosting providers are the same. There are many reasons for this, but let’s face it, the number one reason is there are too many part time web hosts out there, and part-timers just can’t put the time into their hosting company to really make it successful. There are exceptions to this, like in anything else, but it’s just a simple fact of hosting.
So how do you determine what hosting company to go with?
Well, there are many different hosting review sites available that could help you make a decision, but ultimately the choice is going to be up to you. Don’t be afraid to try out several different hosts to find one you really like. If you choose the wrong host to begin with, it’s not a problem, since most hosting providers will help you move your site to their servers.
Some of the things you’ll want to look for in a good host are:
How Long Have They Been In Business?
You can usually determine this by looking around their site, but sometimes, you’ll just have to pick up the phone and call. The longer the web host has been in business, the more likely they’ll have the experience and knowledge needed to ensure their servers stay up and running with minimal problems.
Do They Have A Phone Number Listed On Their Site?
I’ve discovered over the years that if the hosting company doesn’t have it’s phone number listed prominently on their site, then you are better off going to a different provider. If they list their number on their site, then give them a call and ask them a few questions. Are they friendly? Does it seem like they are genuinely concerned with helping you? Did they take the time to answer all of your questions or did they seem like they were rushed? This is one step that will certainly help you weed out the web hosts you don’t want deal with.
Is Their Technical Support In House or Outsourced?
For the person new to web hosting, this can be an incredibly important question to answer. Sooner or later, you’re going to need to use your web host’s technical support, and it will definitely help minimize frustrations and misunderstandings if your web host’s technical support is in house.
Are Their Hosting Plan Features Comparable To Their Competition?
For someone new to web hosting, determining what all the features mean can be more than a little confusing. But don’t let all the mumbo jumbo technical jargon get in your way of making a decision of which host to choose. Most of the reputable hosting providers today have pretty much the same standard set of features. Unlimited Space and Bandwidth, MySQL databases, Host Unlimited Domains, etc. Just compare the different plans and choose the one you think is best. You can learn what all these features mean AFTER you get your hosting set up. And remember, you can always change hosting providers later on if you feel you made the wrong choice.
Over the last 15 years I’ve spent literally thousands of dollars on web hosting and have first hand experience of just how bad web hosting can get. To help you avoid the pitfalls of choosing the wrong web host, I’ve put together a list of the best web hosting providers that I’ve personally tested and use. You can see who made our list at: http://atHosted.com
Free Image Hosting
Many companies provide free image hosting service where you can upload your pictures to an internet website without any cost. You can use such a service if you cannot afford to buy web space and your objective is served by sharing pictures.
Many users all over the world use it as an advertisement for their images, or to reconnect and stay connected with other people. Since it is free of cost, it acts as a kind of social networking platform though can help your business too.
One of the ways to add your pictures is to browse your computer and select the images. Some services enable you to upload pictures in different formats such as JPEG, PNG, TIFF, or others. Read the instructions carefully for file type and file size before trying to upload an image. Sometimes, there are options to make some payment for large size files of pictures; you can use this option for heavy images such as in .BMP files. This is a mutually beneficial option for you as well as service provider.
While uploading, you can also see the HTML code of web page. If you know HTML, you can work on the code for basic formatting of images or gallery. Some services show images in the form of small thumbnails. User clicks on any thumbnail to see enlarged view of selected picture.
This is great if you want to share an image with a friend or colleague. If your posting the image to a public place, remember to check the “keep forever” box on the image. This ensures the image will be around for future visitors.
This article was written by the experts at Hosting Choice. Find the Best Hosting at great prices. We have reviews on all cheap web hosting providers. Don’t trust any other web hosting review site, we’ve got real unbiased user reviews!
Shared Web Site Hosting Services – What is That?
If you are looking to save money on your web hosting then you need to think about using a shared web hosting service for your website. You probably seen this before but wondered what that really means. It has nothing to do with sharing websites or anything like that. It is all about server space.
See, with a shared web site host you will be sharing space on a large server platform. You will have your own partition to keep your site separated from others. You will all shared the cost of that server and that keeps the price down. Think about it, why pay $20 a month for 50GB of server space? It may sound like a good deal but there is now way you are going to build a web site that big. You will be lucky to create a web site that uses 1% of that space and that will take hundreds or even thousands of pages to do that. So why pay for space you will never use.
Imagine how many people could share that hosting server? This is why shared hosting services were started. By allowing others to share the server you can spit the cost of hosting and make everyones payments much cheaper. Plus you have the ability to host multiple domains on your hosting service. Your cost could be around $5 a month or less. You could have 4 domains hosted for the same $20 a month. You can create 1 main web site then direct three other web sites to you main site. This can really give you the chance to build up backlinks and increase your traffic.
Plus, you still get all the benefits of dedicated web hosting like the use of PHP and Mysql Data Base. As well as Front Page, email addresses, site builders and lots more. More shared web site hosting services use Linus operating system servers and LAMP software bundles that are very reliable. Now, more shared web hosting offer more bandwidth use than ever. That means you will not have to worry about traffic restrictions shutting down your site.
So as you can see, shared hosting is one of the best ways to get a good deal on hosting. If you are putting together your first web site and low on cash this is the best option for you. Even if you already have a hosting service take a look at how much space you have used so far? You might find it better to move your site to a shared site to save on hosting.
Ready to create your website? Want to save on web hosting now? Then don’t hesitate any longer. Check out what shared hosting can do for you by going here to cheap web hosting. Once you set up your account learn how to create websites that makes money for years to come by clicking: http://www.allproman.com/membership-website-software/
Super Green Hosting Review
These days many folks are rushing to start their very own websites and share them with the world. It’s true that you can use free hosting services to get your site up and running, but to truly have the freedom to customize your site and provide value to your visitors, you will need a professional web hosting account. But did you know that your web host can damage the environment? A lot of people do not realize the true impact the servers have on the environment. The average server produces the same emissions as a 15 mpg SUV let alone the data centre where the server is located which consumes on average as much electricity as 30,000 households. So while you are hosting your website, you could be damaging the environment as well.
Super Green Hosting is one of the first green web hosting companies in the world. It is dedicated to helping its customers host their sites in a way that is not harmful for the environment. It also engages in tree planning projects to help make our lives a little bit greener. So you could say its packages are designed for folks who are passionate about the green movement.
Super Green Hosting provides a free domain to all customers. You get to keep your domain for free for the duration of your contract. In addition, you can host an unlimited number of domains on your hosting account. You also get an unlimited number of databases and e-mail accounts with your hosting account, and there is no limit on how much server space you can use for your websites, and there is no bandwidth limit neither.
Super Green Hosting provides developers and designer with tools that they can use to design sophisticated websites. As a customer, you gain access to PHP, MySQL, CGI, and CRON as a part of your hosting package. In addition, you can instantly install Wordpress, PHPBB, and other software packages using your hosting interface.
Super Green is an unlimited eco-friendly hosting service that puts no limit on the number of domains that you can host or the amount of server space that you can consume. It is designed for folks who are interested in designing complicated websites, but at the same time care about the mother nature as well. If you are a website owner and passionate about saving the environment, Super-Green provides you with plenty of features to host your website and save the environment in the process.
Not Sure About Green Hosting
If you are still not sure about what you receive with your Super Green Hosting package, log on to http://www.webhostbot.com to read a comprehensive review.
Find You a Good Hosting Company
A particular web site would find a certain web-hosting service ideal. The same thing would not be true for other websites because other websites would have different needs.The things you would need to look for with web-hosting services is how long has the company been established. A good web-hosting company with years of experience can deal with any difficulties that can arise being it’s on your part or there part. Years of experience means that the company has encountered a lot of problems so they should know how to solve any problems you have.
Before signing up to any web-hosting companies you should make sure they can give you 24 hour support and support in tutorials. When designing your website your hosting company should give you a free programme to design it on. They should also show you how to design it with a video tutorial and a written guide so it would be easy for you to use.
Make sure you chose a web-hosting service that would provide you with significant features that you can use your self using there tutorials. A good web-hosting service would certainly use shopping carts, inventory and payment software. These services are offered on all good and reliable web-hosting services but be sure all these features are easy to handle.
To make your choice easier join forums that discuss web-hosting companies this will show different web-hosting companies that can offer you the thing you would need for your website. Also remember the people in the forums are most likely to be signed up to the hosting company he or she is telling you about so ask them as many questions you can.
Find your web-hosting company at http://www.top10hosting2009.com