When you have something important to share with the world, a website may very well be your best bet. Whether you are sharing products and services or just random thoughts, the internet is easily one of the most effective channels. Before you can get the word out, however, you must first have reliable web hosting service. This article is packed with information that will make it easier to understand the different factors that you must consider.
You can almost always save money on your web hosting by paying in advance. Discounts for multi-month and yearly packages are common. However, you don’t want to lock in with an unreliable host. Try out a new host for a month or two before you lock in a long-term commitment, and check out the cancellation and refund policy beforehand.
Go for Linux hosting unless you need to use certain applications or server-side languages. Linux hosting has a better reputation for uptime, stability, and resource use. Shared hosting that runs on Linux tends to be somewhat cheaper, as well. There are, however, certain applications that need Windows hosting, including Plesk, Microsoft Access, Silverlight, MSSQL, and ASP.net.
To get the most out of a free web host, you’ll need to back up any data and files related to your site. Because free web hosts don’t generally offer any guarantees about backing up your data, if anything disappears, it will be on you, and not on them.
Redundancy, redundancy, redundancy. This is a factor you should consider in a quality web host. With your valuable information and business demanding consistent uptime and stability, it is crucial that your host has some level of redundancy in place, such as power, data and even environmental protections. You need to have a good idea of how your investment is being protected.
Go for a web host that has a good track record of reliable uptimes and quick page loads. It is frustrating for your visitors when they see that your website loads slowly or even not at all. If you are running a web business, this can be detrimental. So do your research, and choose a web host that can guarantee near 100% uptimes.
Look for a web host that lets you create your own customized error pages. In case your site is not accessible, you will be able to apologize to your visitors and perhaps redirect them to your Facebook page. Instead of getting frustrated at the usual error message, your visitors will appreciate you apologizing to them.
If you want to add different features to your site such as a chat room, a bulletin board or a contact form, you should look for a web hosting service that supports CGI scripts. If you don’t know how to create these scripts, some web hosts can provide you with templates.
Now that you have a deeper understanding of some of the best practices for web hosting services, it will be easier to get the job done–whatever the job may be. Whether you are looking for ways to connect with customers or keep in touch with friends and family, reliable and efficient web hosting will help you to stay connected.