Finally decided on something to base your business on and ready to start building the web pages? Getting through the first aspects of starting you internet business can be a struggle. Getting all your ideas into an organized layout etc etc. Well now that you have all your ideas organized what to do next?
The most important thing you will need to have for a successful internet business is what type of web hosting you will choose to host your web pages.
Why?
Well for one, your web host will have all your html pages, all graphics, scripts etc. What happens when your host goes offline? Does your website stay up or go down? It goes down. When your website goes down, you lose customers, no sales during the downtime meaning a loss of potential income.
Take time to find a good host that will suffice every aspect of your business. Do some research and ask some questions.
If you are looking for a shared hosting solution, find out if the host is overselling its servers. Overselling is when a company packs too many customers on one server, putting strain on the server resources. Shared hosting is not recommended for business type sites that need performance for its users, but it will suffice a business just starting out.
Another type of hosting solution is a dedicated server. A dedicated server is a server dedicated to only you. It is the most expensive out of hosting solutions, but will provide the most stable environment. No one else has an account on the server, so all server resources are for you. A managed dedicated solution is when your host will install operating systems, upgrades to software, or security fixes for you. You can call them any time to fix a problem because that’s what you pay for.
A step below a fully dedicated server is what is called a VPS or Virtual Private Server. A VPS is almost like a dedicated server but the physical server will have a few other users on it. You still have full control over your section of the server, you can install anything you want or upgrade. The server resources are shared among users, but many web hosts guarantee you a fixed amount of resources dedicated to your account.
If not wanting to shell out a pretty big check on web hosting for a starting business, I would recommend at least starting out with a virtual private server. Once you outgrow the VPS you can move onto a dedicated server of your own.
Before signing up to any web host, do some research! Find several hosts that have what you are looking for and search for reviews, your internet business depends on it. Cheaper is not always better at least in webhosting!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Web Hosting And Domain Names, Where To Start?
When you make the decision to start a website for your business, it is a big step. Going from the world of offline business where clients are limited to geographical locations to online where the entire world is a potential client can be overwhelming.
There are many things to take into consideration. You have the products to sell, and the design of the website all planned out, now it is time to put it all together by choosing a web hosting company.
The first thing you should decide on is a domain name. This is perhaps the single most important decision you can make. You want something that is professional; the domain name will reflect the nature of your business. Avoid using cute names; people tend to skip to the next website.
Try to choose a name that is short and easy to remember. Think about your customers when they try to reach your web site. Will be easy to type? Can you spell your domain name at the phone without much trouble? This is going to be your presence in the internet from now on, so choose wisely.
Choosing the web hosting company that is right for you is a long process. There will be millions of options, it is important to ask questions and that the web hosting company answers those questions adequately.
The most crucial point of any web hosting company is their reliability. If the site does not offer enough space, then your website will be shut down for all or part of each month. This is not the goal you have set for your business. Ask the web hosting company if it offers an uptime guarantee. Usually if a company offers a guarantee of this type, their service is reliable.
When you are new to Internet marketing, you will have a lot of question. Sometimes the questions you need to ask will not be during business hours. It is important that customer service is available by phone, email, or even a chat window twenty-four hours a day to answer any questions that you may have.
Another service that is just as crucial as the rest is the storage and bandwidth that your website will need. Most likely, you will not know what your website is, but the web hosting company will. If you want a flashy site, you will need more bandwidth. It is important that you know before hand the ins and outs of web hosting companies.
A good way to find your answers is to do some research. A Google search will yield you all of the information you need. The world is your potential client, reach out and make contact. It will ensure the success of your business.
There are many things to take into consideration. You have the products to sell, and the design of the website all planned out, now it is time to put it all together by choosing a web hosting company.
The first thing you should decide on is a domain name. This is perhaps the single most important decision you can make. You want something that is professional; the domain name will reflect the nature of your business. Avoid using cute names; people tend to skip to the next website.
Try to choose a name that is short and easy to remember. Think about your customers when they try to reach your web site. Will be easy to type? Can you spell your domain name at the phone without much trouble? This is going to be your presence in the internet from now on, so choose wisely.
Choosing the web hosting company that is right for you is a long process. There will be millions of options, it is important to ask questions and that the web hosting company answers those questions adequately.
The most crucial point of any web hosting company is their reliability. If the site does not offer enough space, then your website will be shut down for all or part of each month. This is not the goal you have set for your business. Ask the web hosting company if it offers an uptime guarantee. Usually if a company offers a guarantee of this type, their service is reliable.
When you are new to Internet marketing, you will have a lot of question. Sometimes the questions you need to ask will not be during business hours. It is important that customer service is available by phone, email, or even a chat window twenty-four hours a day to answer any questions that you may have.
Another service that is just as crucial as the rest is the storage and bandwidth that your website will need. Most likely, you will not know what your website is, but the web hosting company will. If you want a flashy site, you will need more bandwidth. It is important that you know before hand the ins and outs of web hosting companies.
A good way to find your answers is to do some research. A Google search will yield you all of the information you need. The world is your potential client, reach out and make contact. It will ensure the success of your business.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Important Things to Consider when Choosing a Web Host
A Web host company will provide you with space to host your A domain name and a whole host of scripts from forum software to shopping cart integration.
If you want to be seen on the internet you will need a web host, but do not just go picking any host. You need a reliable web host who offers a quality service. So here comes a few of my own personal needs before i sign up with a web host.
Price, Ok this is not the most significant factor when choosing a web host, but we do not want to be paying stupid prices for a service we can get just as good from someone else at half the price.
Experience, This is one of the things i expect from a web host, Yes every company has to start somewhere but why should you be the one to suffer if someone does not have the experience to keep your site online at least 95% of the time.
Reputation, as anyone who has a buisness knows reputation goes a long way, make sure you choose someone with a good one.
Infastructure & Adaptability, A good webhost will already be planning for the future, they need to be able to upgrade to the latest and fastest equipment as and when it is needed. New things come out on the internet all the time and you want your provider to be able to offer advice and support if needed.
Support, Most websites now offer 24/7 support online and offline, make sure the one you choose also offers the same support, no point having customers if your site is down and your web host is unavailable.
So with all that in mind take your time and shop around, use google and make use of the review sites that are out there.
If you want to be seen on the internet you will need a web host, but do not just go picking any host. You need a reliable web host who offers a quality service. So here comes a few of my own personal needs before i sign up with a web host.
Price, Ok this is not the most significant factor when choosing a web host, but we do not want to be paying stupid prices for a service we can get just as good from someone else at half the price.
Experience, This is one of the things i expect from a web host, Yes every company has to start somewhere but why should you be the one to suffer if someone does not have the experience to keep your site online at least 95% of the time.
Reputation, as anyone who has a buisness knows reputation goes a long way, make sure you choose someone with a good one.
Infastructure & Adaptability, A good webhost will already be planning for the future, they need to be able to upgrade to the latest and fastest equipment as and when it is needed. New things come out on the internet all the time and you want your provider to be able to offer advice and support if needed.
Support, Most websites now offer 24/7 support online and offline, make sure the one you choose also offers the same support, no point having customers if your site is down and your web host is unavailable.
So with all that in mind take your time and shop around, use google and make use of the review sites that are out there.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Domain Name Web Hosting And Beyond
Domain name web hosting is one of the typical considerations in the field of domain name. As such, many companies that are concerned about domain name in general, now provide some services for domain name web hosting. However, even if the domain name web hosting is such a very common event in the field of domain name, still many people are not aware about the nature of this thing. Given such fact, it is then a just move to present even only the basics of domain name web hosting for the people to acquire some levels of knowledge about the domain name web hosting.
So what then is the domain name web hosting?
According to certain resources, the domain name web hosting which is also called as domain name hosting is actually the process of renting space on a web server and applying the user’s own domain name to that space. In simplest terms, the domain name web hosting involves the act of giving the domain name consumers with space in the domain hosts computers which are known as servers. But speaking of servers, many people asked some questions on why those host computers are called as servers? Well, they called servers for the main reason that they serve the details that they carry to the web. As such, anyone that is using the internet will be able to view the site.
The domain name web hosting is in fact offered by certain web hosting providers that publish the web information on their high speed servers that are constantly connected to the internet and thus makes the web site visible. So, as it is mentioned above, due to the domain name web hosting, the web site will be always at hand and will become available for the clients and customers.
For further information, there are also some instances in which is the domain name web hosting companies offer emails to go along with the domain name web hosting account. With this function of the domain name web hosting alone, the domain name owner will then be allowed to accept an email by applying their domain name.
Today, as the impact of the domain name continue to become widespread, many companies that cater to domain name web hosting surfaced bringing certain level of developments on the field of domain name web hosting services. Some of these domain name web hosting companies are even operating online providing several products and pricing that vary widely. However, in terms of those domain name web hosting companies, it is still an important move to consider that a certain domain name hosting company that you may be using has been around for a while as these companies regularly come and go.
So ensuring that you pick up a reliable domain name web hosting provider must be the first priority when evaluating domains and web hosting. And since that today almost any computer can be transformed into a web server and anyone who is using the internet or with an internet connection can claim to be a domain name web hosting provider, you should then choose a provider that is based on really high quality and professional way of service. The notions as monthly price and range of provided domain name web hosting services are also very significant in choosing the best provider. So lastly, it turns out that you should closely check the technical capabilities of any possible domain name web hosting provider.
So what then is the domain name web hosting?
According to certain resources, the domain name web hosting which is also called as domain name hosting is actually the process of renting space on a web server and applying the user’s own domain name to that space. In simplest terms, the domain name web hosting involves the act of giving the domain name consumers with space in the domain hosts computers which are known as servers. But speaking of servers, many people asked some questions on why those host computers are called as servers? Well, they called servers for the main reason that they serve the details that they carry to the web. As such, anyone that is using the internet will be able to view the site.
The domain name web hosting is in fact offered by certain web hosting providers that publish the web information on their high speed servers that are constantly connected to the internet and thus makes the web site visible. So, as it is mentioned above, due to the domain name web hosting, the web site will be always at hand and will become available for the clients and customers.
For further information, there are also some instances in which is the domain name web hosting companies offer emails to go along with the domain name web hosting account. With this function of the domain name web hosting alone, the domain name owner will then be allowed to accept an email by applying their domain name.
Today, as the impact of the domain name continue to become widespread, many companies that cater to domain name web hosting surfaced bringing certain level of developments on the field of domain name web hosting services. Some of these domain name web hosting companies are even operating online providing several products and pricing that vary widely. However, in terms of those domain name web hosting companies, it is still an important move to consider that a certain domain name hosting company that you may be using has been around for a while as these companies regularly come and go.
So ensuring that you pick up a reliable domain name web hosting provider must be the first priority when evaluating domains and web hosting. And since that today almost any computer can be transformed into a web server and anyone who is using the internet or with an internet connection can claim to be a domain name web hosting provider, you should then choose a provider that is based on really high quality and professional way of service. The notions as monthly price and range of provided domain name web hosting services are also very significant in choosing the best provider. So lastly, it turns out that you should closely check the technical capabilities of any possible domain name web hosting provider.
Friday, June 25, 2010
What Is Reseller Web Hosting?
Introduction
Shared and Reseller web hosting have many similarities, many web hosts offer both shared and reseller hosting. The main difference between the two are in the names ‘shared’, you are sharing resources, which is the same for ‘reseller’ in a way but yo can resell the server resources. You can create your own web hosting accounts and share your allocated server resources with your clients.
The host still remains in control of their server and are responsible for updating server software and maintaining the server. The host will usually also provide support to the reseller, so if there are any issue or faults the reseller will be able to contact the host.
Do I need a Reseller Hosting Account?
Most personal and small business users will have no use for a reseller account, a reseller account is useful to those users who have a number of web sites and want to save money, as a reseller account can be cheaper than purchasing multiple shared hosting account.
With a reseller account you can also sell hosting, so this can be a relatively cheap step into the hosting business. You have the flexibility of controlling your own clients, creating, suspending and terminating accounts. You also have the knowledge that the server is being maintained for you, so you only have to worry about your clients and web site.
The Benefits
If you own a number of web sites, using a reseller account can save you money, and you can create accounts when you need them and share the resources between your web sites easily. You can find reseller hosting accounts with plenty of bandwidth and disk space for around $25 - $50 a month, which can be a big saving if you have a number of web sites needing hosting.
You also don’t have to worry about the maintenance of the server, since the web host should have this covered. You should also receive technical support included with your account.
If you have plans to start to own web hosting business, a reseller account can be an easy first step in the hosting industry. It is a relatively low cost solution, meaning you can concentrate primarily on building your business slowly and generate a steady monthly income. One of the biggest mistakes new hosts make is try to accomplish too much in a short period of time. This can lead to unhappy customers and evidently losing clients.
The disadvantages
Potential clients may not be totally confident purchasing a hosting account from a reseller, because you in affect are the middle man. If a problem arises with the server or a customers account, they need to contact you and if you are unable to deal with the problem yourself, you would in turn have to contact your host. This can be a long process from initially receiving the first support request to getting the problem resolved. However if you have proper customer support in place this shouldn’t be a major problem.
As a reseller like I said above you have limited access to admin functions, and if you have experience with the control panel and server software you may find this annoying. The only thing I can suggest is asking the host if it would be possible for them to enable your account more with admin privileges. The worse thing the host can say is ‘no’, so it’s worth a try.
Final thoughts
In my opinion reseller hosting is worth the money you can pay out, it is a good step in selling web hosting and if done properly enables a small business to generate a profit from reselling shared hosting accounts.
If you have high bandwidth or disk space requirements reseller hosting may not be the best solution, possibly a dedicated server would be better suited if you have the technical knowledge.
Shared and Reseller web hosting have many similarities, many web hosts offer both shared and reseller hosting. The main difference between the two are in the names ‘shared’, you are sharing resources, which is the same for ‘reseller’ in a way but yo can resell the server resources. You can create your own web hosting accounts and share your allocated server resources with your clients.
The host still remains in control of their server and are responsible for updating server software and maintaining the server. The host will usually also provide support to the reseller, so if there are any issue or faults the reseller will be able to contact the host.
Do I need a Reseller Hosting Account?
Most personal and small business users will have no use for a reseller account, a reseller account is useful to those users who have a number of web sites and want to save money, as a reseller account can be cheaper than purchasing multiple shared hosting account.
With a reseller account you can also sell hosting, so this can be a relatively cheap step into the hosting business. You have the flexibility of controlling your own clients, creating, suspending and terminating accounts. You also have the knowledge that the server is being maintained for you, so you only have to worry about your clients and web site.
The Benefits
If you own a number of web sites, using a reseller account can save you money, and you can create accounts when you need them and share the resources between your web sites easily. You can find reseller hosting accounts with plenty of bandwidth and disk space for around $25 - $50 a month, which can be a big saving if you have a number of web sites needing hosting.
You also don’t have to worry about the maintenance of the server, since the web host should have this covered. You should also receive technical support included with your account.
If you have plans to start to own web hosting business, a reseller account can be an easy first step in the hosting industry. It is a relatively low cost solution, meaning you can concentrate primarily on building your business slowly and generate a steady monthly income. One of the biggest mistakes new hosts make is try to accomplish too much in a short period of time. This can lead to unhappy customers and evidently losing clients.
The disadvantages
Potential clients may not be totally confident purchasing a hosting account from a reseller, because you in affect are the middle man. If a problem arises with the server or a customers account, they need to contact you and if you are unable to deal with the problem yourself, you would in turn have to contact your host. This can be a long process from initially receiving the first support request to getting the problem resolved. However if you have proper customer support in place this shouldn’t be a major problem.
As a reseller like I said above you have limited access to admin functions, and if you have experience with the control panel and server software you may find this annoying. The only thing I can suggest is asking the host if it would be possible for them to enable your account more with admin privileges. The worse thing the host can say is ‘no’, so it’s worth a try.
Final thoughts
In my opinion reseller hosting is worth the money you can pay out, it is a good step in selling web hosting and if done properly enables a small business to generate a profit from reselling shared hosting accounts.
If you have high bandwidth or disk space requirements reseller hosting may not be the best solution, possibly a dedicated server would be better suited if you have the technical knowledge.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
How To Choose Your Web Host
1. Use a popular web host.
That cheapo one might be an uncommitted reseller. I used one recently. Very cheap, and very helpful. Then my site went 'missing'. By the Grace Of God I was able to get in contact with the owner, and make a backup, before the service was closed down. I found out later he had only about six customers.
Use a popular web host. Avoid ones that are trying to attract customers by undercutting rates to silly levels. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
2. Their Google PageRank gives a clue as to how popular they are.
This will irk the smaller hosts, but if your site is a serious one, put it on a serious host. Web hosting costs peanuts these days. People can be funny about spending an extra $5 a month. You'll wish you'd paid $500 when your site goes skew-whiff, and you can't get a reply from their technical support.
3. Send them an email or two. See how long it takes to get a reply.
This can be very revealing. If they take two days to get back to a potential customer, how long do they take to answer their _existing_ customers?
4. Check out their forums; how busy are they? They don't have a forum? Next!
They should have enough customers to run a forum, and care enough to have one. Reading it can give you a clue as to what their support is like. Likewise, see when they had the last news update on their site. If it was long ago, they may be moribund.
5. Technical Support.
This is as important as the features they supply. It's no good having a Virtual Private Server for $10.00 a month if there's no one there to answer your emails when the hard-disk fails.
6. Features.
Most geeks favour Unix. It's been around longer, and is more stable. Web hosts offering Unix variants like Linux have always been cheaper. They also seem to offer a wider range of toys. I need SSI (Server Side Includes), SSH (secure Telnet), 10 MySQL databases, Cpanel, PHPMyAdmin and a UK IP number. And you can get this for $15 a month.
Things like MySQL databases, Cpanel and SSH access are real sticking points for a lot of web hosts. If they're generous with these, you've found a rare jewel.
7. Word Of Mouth.
Webmasters are always asking about web hosts on webmaster forums. Find a few recent threads, and note who gets the most votes. Search engines, on the other hand, have been spammed by some hosts. If you do a search on 'the best web hosts' or 'top 10 web hosts' you'll get puff pages. Recent opinions from professional webmasters are the best.
That cheapo one might be an uncommitted reseller. I used one recently. Very cheap, and very helpful. Then my site went 'missing'. By the Grace Of God I was able to get in contact with the owner, and make a backup, before the service was closed down. I found out later he had only about six customers.
Use a popular web host. Avoid ones that are trying to attract customers by undercutting rates to silly levels. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
2. Their Google PageRank gives a clue as to how popular they are.
This will irk the smaller hosts, but if your site is a serious one, put it on a serious host. Web hosting costs peanuts these days. People can be funny about spending an extra $5 a month. You'll wish you'd paid $500 when your site goes skew-whiff, and you can't get a reply from their technical support.
3. Send them an email or two. See how long it takes to get a reply.
This can be very revealing. If they take two days to get back to a potential customer, how long do they take to answer their _existing_ customers?
4. Check out their forums; how busy are they? They don't have a forum? Next!
They should have enough customers to run a forum, and care enough to have one. Reading it can give you a clue as to what their support is like. Likewise, see when they had the last news update on their site. If it was long ago, they may be moribund.
5. Technical Support.
This is as important as the features they supply. It's no good having a Virtual Private Server for $10.00 a month if there's no one there to answer your emails when the hard-disk fails.
6. Features.
Most geeks favour Unix. It's been around longer, and is more stable. Web hosts offering Unix variants like Linux have always been cheaper. They also seem to offer a wider range of toys. I need SSI (Server Side Includes), SSH (secure Telnet), 10 MySQL databases, Cpanel, PHPMyAdmin and a UK IP number. And you can get this for $15 a month.
Things like MySQL databases, Cpanel and SSH access are real sticking points for a lot of web hosts. If they're generous with these, you've found a rare jewel.
7. Word Of Mouth.
Webmasters are always asking about web hosts on webmaster forums. Find a few recent threads, and note who gets the most votes. Search engines, on the other hand, have been spammed by some hosts. If you do a search on 'the best web hosts' or 'top 10 web hosts' you'll get puff pages. Recent opinions from professional webmasters are the best.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Web Hosting Testimonials Help You Choose
No matter what kind of company or business you are exploring, at some point, they will receive some sort of feedback. If they are doing a good job with their business, then the feedback should be positive. Customers will comment on any aspect of a product or service that has touched them in both the wrong and/or right way. They may find a company's customer support is top-notch or perhaps a business has delivered or fixed a particular service on time or even better, earlier than expected.
Either way, this valuable praise and information received from customers is used to benefit the progress and future of a company. This information becomes especially helpful to customers that are weighing the pros and cons of a competitive line of business, such as web hosting.
How To Use Positive Feedback To Your Advantage
When a company receives positive feedback from the customers they serve, there are two main ways they utilize this information for the good of the business. Positive feedback can be used to enhance already existing products or services, as well as create more options for customers to choose from. The second way companies use positive feedback to their advantage is to use the kind words they receive about their business as a marketing tool. This is accomplished through the display of an online testimonial.
Web hosting testimonials allow potential customers to see how convenient, fast, reliable, cost-efficient or beneficial a particular service can be. This could be the defining piece of information about a company that makes a consumer choose a particular web-hosting provider.
Testimonials also make comparison shopping a much easier task. Sometimes the most reliable details about a web-hosting provider come from peer reviews. This is because potential customers become well informed about a web-hosting provider by learning how others who have used these services have faired. Reading testimonials may draw attention to a particular issue or feature that they may have not noticed at first glance, making decisions easier to accomplish.
What Makes the Most Believable Testimonials?
When it comes to viewing the comments left by satisfied customers, you should know that anyone can post a quote on their website with a random name attached. The more information that a company website provides with their testimonials, the better. Every extra tidbit of info or detail presents a more reliable testimonial. For example, Jane Webber from College Park, Georgia looks much better than a quote posted by J. Webber or Jane W.
When a testimonial offers additional information, such as a corresponding email addresses, this is especially helpful to potential customers. If any questions should arise regarding a web-hosting provider, individuals may contact someone who can provide additional information before a purchase is made. This not only delivers a link to positive promotion, but also builds a more reliable bond between customer and company. Most of all, the potential customer can feel more relaxed and satisfied on a web hosting choice when they have had all of their doubts satisfied.
One of the best, most reliable features of a testimonial is the inclusion of a photo accompanying direct quotes and customer details. This establishes increased human interaction with someone who has actually had success with the web-hosting provider in question. Putting a face to the product is a helpful way for customers to note that people just like "you and I" have found this particular web hosting provider a success.
Either way, this valuable praise and information received from customers is used to benefit the progress and future of a company. This information becomes especially helpful to customers that are weighing the pros and cons of a competitive line of business, such as web hosting.
How To Use Positive Feedback To Your Advantage
When a company receives positive feedback from the customers they serve, there are two main ways they utilize this information for the good of the business. Positive feedback can be used to enhance already existing products or services, as well as create more options for customers to choose from. The second way companies use positive feedback to their advantage is to use the kind words they receive about their business as a marketing tool. This is accomplished through the display of an online testimonial.
Web hosting testimonials allow potential customers to see how convenient, fast, reliable, cost-efficient or beneficial a particular service can be. This could be the defining piece of information about a company that makes a consumer choose a particular web-hosting provider.
Testimonials also make comparison shopping a much easier task. Sometimes the most reliable details about a web-hosting provider come from peer reviews. This is because potential customers become well informed about a web-hosting provider by learning how others who have used these services have faired. Reading testimonials may draw attention to a particular issue or feature that they may have not noticed at first glance, making decisions easier to accomplish.
What Makes the Most Believable Testimonials?
When it comes to viewing the comments left by satisfied customers, you should know that anyone can post a quote on their website with a random name attached. The more information that a company website provides with their testimonials, the better. Every extra tidbit of info or detail presents a more reliable testimonial. For example, Jane Webber from College Park, Georgia looks much better than a quote posted by J. Webber or Jane W.
When a testimonial offers additional information, such as a corresponding email addresses, this is especially helpful to potential customers. If any questions should arise regarding a web-hosting provider, individuals may contact someone who can provide additional information before a purchase is made. This not only delivers a link to positive promotion, but also builds a more reliable bond between customer and company. Most of all, the potential customer can feel more relaxed and satisfied on a web hosting choice when they have had all of their doubts satisfied.
One of the best, most reliable features of a testimonial is the inclusion of a photo accompanying direct quotes and customer details. This establishes increased human interaction with someone who has actually had success with the web-hosting provider in question. Putting a face to the product is a helpful way for customers to note that people just like "you and I" have found this particular web hosting provider a success.
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