Finding a Web Host that Fits your Needs

Web hosting services range from those with simple, pre-set tools for beginners who do not know HTML programming to those that offer broad flexibility to set up a site like you want. The first type is very easy to use, but doesn't necessarily offer many options. The second type requires some web programming skills, but offers just about all the options you can think up.

There are a number of things you should ask yourself before choosing a web host for your site.

Would free web hosting work for me? Free hosting services generally place ads on your sites to pay expenses. Free hosting services that do not place ads on your sites may not be around long, as the cost of doing business quickly overwhelms the ability to provide free services.

Will I mind paying extra if traffic to my site increases and I exceed my bandwidth limit? Some hosts issue surcharges in such cases, and some have flat rates for these occurrences. If you only want a small personal site or blog, this probably won't even be an issue.

How much disk space do I get for the price? Most web sites need 10 MB or less of disk space. A service that offers 200 MB or 500 MB may be offering you more space than you'll ever use.

Will I want multiple domains and sub domains? You will if you want to sell web space. subdivide your site, or host many sites. Find out if these features are included in the basic price of service, or if they charge extra, and if so, how much.

Is the cost of customer support included in the host's fees? For novices and veteran web site authors, 24-hour support and quick response to your questions are reasonable to expect as part of the cost of doing business with you. Some even suggest calling the 24-hour help line at an odd hour (such as the middle of a weekend night) to find out how quickly they respond.

Do I need features like anonymous FTP, an email autoresponder, or mass email capabilities? If so, how much am I willing to pay per month for these services? Some web hosts offer site statistics, blog creation, shopping cart setup, and even Google or Yahoo advertising credits as part of their services.

Will my site be doing actual business with customers? If so, does this host offer Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) for secure transfer of information? SSL security provides you with the "https://" part of your site. You need this if you plan on processing credit cards, if you have an online store, or if you process data such as postal addresses, birth dates, or ID numbers.

Do I want to administer the site myself, or am I OK with having web-based administration? Web-based administration works well for simple sites or blogs, or for people who have no knowledge of HTML programming.

How many sites will be sharing the server with me? If it is a high number, will it slow down use of my site? The more sites sharing a server with you, the more likely you'll have to put up with someone who is a bandwidth hog.

What kind of connection does the server have with the Internet? For most web sites, a T1 connection is sufficient, but for optimal speed, a T3 connection is faster. Some hosts offer "fractional" use of T1 or T3 lines. Speeds range from 128 kbps for a fractional T1 connection to 45 Mbps for a full T3 connection.