Hosting Your Website

Selecting a Hosting Service for Your Business

To have your website available to all users on the Internet, you will need the website files (.html and graphics files) moved to an Internet server, to "host" them (or "serve" them) for all to see. While there are options for technical folks to configure their PC's to host these files, it is unrealistic for a beginner, or anyone without a fast connection and always-on dedicated PC to configure as a server.

Today there are so many hosting services available that it can be difficult to choose one if you are not experienced. The plans vary on costs, payment options, add-ons like email accounts, support, and the control panel for managing the setup.

For retail websites, you want additional services. A retail website, offering many products, will need a catalog management feature for product inventory, shopping carts, order, shipping and payment processing. I used a very simple one that I won't recommend due to very limiting features and support. Then I used Yahoo Merchant Services and found them to be excellent, if somewhat complicated. I explain in more depth in Internet Retailing.

There are services providing free websites "profiles", like MySpace.com. They do not give you an account to serve your website files, only a profile page which you create in their "friends" network. Not what you need, but cute.

Ok, now there are social websites and blogging sites springing up all over. They give you options you might want to consider.

You can get a FREE hosting account for website files too. They present ads on "your website". You may have seen some sites with them. My first website over ten years ago used such an account. (I think it was geocities.) If you are willing to display ads from other sources, go ahead and get a Free account. It can be a cost effective way to learn webmastering and get started on your first website.

DO NOT USE them for a website business though. Your credibility is too important to risk using a free hosting service.

HOSTGATOR Hosting Service is My RECOMMENDATION

When I found Hostgator has all the services I want, plus hosts multiple domains all under one price, I had to check them out. For around $10 a month, I have several different websites. They also have a starter program for less than $7 a month, and support for all the scripts and tools you need. I am very pleased with their helpful support service too. Their online chat has never failed me, and it's free.

The Hostgator control panel is easier to use than the others I've used. They have easy to read statistics on your website traffic too. And they still have those extra tools, like a sitebuilder. Get started here Hostgator when you are ready.

Save Money and Skip the "cookie cutter" Template Website Hosting Offers

For more help with your website design, please check out My Minisite Network. I include a pre-design questionaire (specifications) which will help to get started your website design as soon as you have decided on your product line.

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