Are you just starting out, or have you had a Web site for years and need a new host?
Web hosting is an essential part of getting your Web site online to be
seen by everyone around the globe. For anyone who might not know what a Web
host is, it is a company that can provide you or your business with a
space to host your Web site and domain name (which is your name on the
Internet, like lockergnome.com). The Web hosting company also has the equipment to put your
Web site on a high speed Internet connection. They can also provide
instant access to your site all the time for anyone in the world. It is
almost like having your business open all the time.

They are many options when you are looking for a Web host, and many features
offered that you may or may not need. I would not recommend basing
your search for a reliable Web host on price, because some hosts promise service for as little as $1.00 a month, but then you probably won’t get many features or support. I have worked with a few companies in the past that
offered the world and lacked in the support department. You could call, many times, and still
never get anyone to answer your questions or concerns. Therefore, support
should be your main goal when finding a Web host. Spending a little more to
have a live person there 24/7 or, at least, a reasonable portion of the day is better
than paying cheap and getting no one.

When considering a Web host, make sure they can support your Web site that you
created or you had designed by a Web development firm. Many companies offer
the same features and support programming languages, but still ask someone
or look at their Web site to make sure they will support your site.

They are two types of hosts out there: Windows and Unix-based. Windows systems can support your Web site if you run cold fusion, asp, access, mssql database and run IIS web server. On Unix servers, the Web host will support php, cgi/perl, python (in most cases) cpanel, Unix features like cron jobs, php, MySql databases, and will run Apache Web server.

So when choosing a company, take the options above and below into
consideration before signing up with any Web host.

• Space
• Bandwidth
• Features
• Pop3 e-mail accounts
• E-commerce features if needed
• Mail features if they offer spam protection software