Choosing The Best Hosting Package

Just how do you choose the best hosting package? We think you'll find these insightful tips very useful:

Yahoo - Undoubtedly the web's number one host. If you are thinking about setting up an e-commerce venture then I would recommend creating a Yahoo store as a great starting point. Free Domain and pretty much unlimited pages. Ready made site building tools along with instant traffic. Superb 24 hour help and back up. Not the cheapest but overall great value. Well worth a try! Rating 4.5/5  MORE YAHOO SPECIAL OFFERS

 

 

Easy CGI - Reliable and Affordable Web Hosting - $

 

Easy CGI say what they do, they make it easy. They offer advanced web-hosting with 100GB Disk Space and 1,000GB Transfer offered in their basic package. Prices start at just $7.96 and they also offer dedicated servers. Live Chat is available and they also have a Web Hosting Guide which is well worth a read if you are new to choosing the correct web-host. Rating 3.5/5

 

 

OneWebHosting offer a similar deal to Gate.com. However, they also offer a free domain and a site builder too, so when you add in the first two months free, it all amounts to a very reasonable package. I like to spread my hosting around (different IP addresses and all that) and I have some of my sites hosted here, so far without a problem. Well worth checking out. Rating 3.5/5

 

 

HostGator are one of my personal favorites. You can host unlimited web-sites for just $10 a month. Perfect if you want to create a heap of smaller sites on a budget. They also offer shared hosting, which starts at $6.95 a month. They also offer a cheap way to get into the reseller market, with reseller hosting packages starting at just $24.95 per month. Their dedicated servers seem too expensive and you can definitely find cheaper alternatives, but for the smaller end of the market, I always recommend having a few sites with the 'Gator! Rating 4/5

 

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IX Webhosting - These boys are cheap! I didn't have the greatest experience with them, but that was a few years back and I think they've tidied up their game considerably since then. Prices start at just $3.95 per month and that is certainly one of the cheapest offers around. Their other packages also include free domain names, which can save you around $20. At the time of writing they had over 170,000 domains resident on their servers, so these guys are no slouches. Overall, great value for money and well worth a try.  Rating 4/5

 

midPhase - Cheap Web Hosting

And the winner is…..midPhase. These guys rock. Not outstanding on price at $7.95 a month, not outstanding on space at 20GB, but take it from me, their customer service is OUTSTANDING. No sooner have I hit send on my e-mail it seems like an answer is in my inbox. Look, I have now set up in excess of 100 web-sites and I know how frustrating it can be when things that should be working, don't. That is especially true when you're setting up web-hosting, Even if you're the cause of the problem, you need answers…and quick. The whole project can't move until your hosting is working correctly. These guys bend over backwards to help you. I love them! Highly recommended. Rating 4.75/5

 
Important factors in selecting a web hosting package include the percentage of server uptime. 99% uptime should be the minimum standard for server uptime you will accept. 
Obviously, the higher the downtime of a server, the lower the potential for traffic at your web site. Traffic is just too hard and too expensive to get for your visitor to receive the dreaded 'web-site cannot be found'. Any potential for that visitor evaporates in that moment.
 
Another consideration is how much space is provided for the files that will make up your web site. How much bandwidth is in your package? Monthly bandwidth is the amount of data transfer allowed for visitors to view and use your web site.
 
The amounts vary considerably and you need to be careful when you are making comparisons. The important question answer is how much do you NEED? There is no point in buying an eight bedroom house if it is only you and the cat. The same applies for web-hosting. Best guess how much you're likely to need and then use that as the benchmark. Don't forget to leave a little wriggle room.
 
However, it is important to get as much server space and bandwidth as you can. This will allow for necessary updates and increased traffic to your site as it becomes more popular.
 
It is equally important when purchasing web hosting that CGI access is provided; along with features such as MySQL, Real Audio, Real Video, and Cold Fusion (which some companies sell as an add on component).
 
In truth, the same rule applies, figure out which 'add-ons' you really need. This is becoming less of a hassle because a lot of 'add-ons' are now included as standard. Again, don't get confused by the length of the list, just focus on the bits you need.
 
A crucial feature necessary for doing ecommerce is SSL, or Secure Socket Layer. This encrypts all order and credit card information until it reaches you. An SSL certificate can be purchased from most web hosting providers. Displaying it on your ecommerce web site verifies that your site transactions are safe and secure. The other alternative to this is to simply outsource your shopping cart and payment provider.
 
Most important of all, you need to choose a hosting provider that offers prompt and attentive customer service. When you have a hosting problem, you need it resolved and quickly. But there are many very good service providers to choose from. If you do your homework, you’ll find some good deals that will fit your budget and give you the service that you and your visitors deserve. And the winner is…..midPhase.