When you're planning on setting up a website and shopping around for a web host, you may find all the technical terminology a bit confusing at first. Not to worry. In reality, it isn't all that complicated to find out what you need to know. Some of the questions you need to ask related to your business and others are related to the web hosting industry. Let's look at some common questions that generally arise n related to webhosts and webhosting.

1. First of all, what is a Web Host?

A web host is a service provider that oversees many different websites on a server. A host provides the home or platform on which your website resides. Most reasonably sized web hosts typically have different hosting packages available based upon size requirements. They may have shared or dedicated hosting facilities as different options as well. The type of hosting package that you choose will depend on what you require for your website.

2. Where Is Your Business Going?

If you have recently started your business, keeping costs low is no doubt one of your current top priorities. However, if you see your business growing rapidly in the future, you will need to keep in mind how this may affect things such as your website and website hosting package and plan accordingly. There are many good entry-level and basic web hosting packages on shared servers but many have a limit on the bandwidth available to you. If your business is successful and expands rapidly, you may find that you need to enlarge your hosting package. Not all web hosts offer upgrade facilities and this in turn can make it an arduous task to upgrade your web hosting package. Your best option is to choose a package that can accommodate your growth.

3. How Much Do You Really Know About Web Hosting?

It is not unusual for the average business owner to have a limited or rudimentary understanding of web hosting and web design. If you belong to this group, then you'll want to sign up with a web hosting provider that has the technical knowledge and experience that you can rely on. Ideally, and if your budget allows, you will want to choose a web host that offers a managed hosting service. What this means is that they will take care of all the web server maintenance and most related issues, thus ensuring that you have maximum up-time on your website.

4. Are Free Hosting Packages Worth It?

While there are certainly some good free hosting companies out there, you need to think carefully before signing up for one. More often than not, these hosting packages are free because the hosting providers are selling advertising space on the websites they host. This means that you may not have complete control over the content on your website. In addition, free hosting packages generally have limited support services and can generally not be upgraded to other packages.

5. What Are the Differences Between Shared and Dedicated Hosting?

Dedicated hosting means that your website is allocated its own unique server. This means that you have a greater level of control over your website as well as improved hosting efficiency. You can also ensure higher security levels on your server and you'll have more flexibility in the way you manage your website; however, this is considered a premium and you will pay accordingly for this option. Dedicated servers are quite expensive which is why the option of shared servers became available. A shared server is exactly what it sounds like: it hosts several different websites. The capacity of each is limited and because there are different site owners accessing the server, you have lower levels of security and also less control.

6. What Is an E-commerce Website?

An e-commerce website is another way to describe an online store. They require specialized hosting and web design to ensure they run efficiently. The web host you choose should be experienced with hosting e-commerce sites and be able to provide you with technical support should you choose to go this route with your business.

7. What Is a Marketing or Corporate Website?

This type of website is a shop window for your business as it showcases who you are and what your business is about. While it may involve less than an e-commerce site, it still requires that you choose a reliable web host.

8. What Makes a Web Host Reliable?

One of the most important considerations when choosing a host is the level and efficiency of the technical support provided to you. No systems are flawless.Things can and will go wrong, and when they do you need to have the problems dealt with as quickly as possible. A reputable hosting provider will have technical experts available on their support desk who can assist you with most any problems. The stability of the server is the other important consideration. A well-maintained and managed server shouldn't ever go down (within reason of course) and this is what you want from a web host - a website that is accessible 24/7.

9. Website Security?

Web hosts employ various security measures to ensure the stability of the server. As the owner of a website, it is vital to maintain a good level of security on your website as well. This may include having a reputable anti-virus suite installed in your system. You may also choose to use spam filtering and spyware hunters. It is important to keep it constantly updated to keep your system protected.

10. So, Where Do You Find a Good Web Host?

Your web designer will probably have a hosting provider that they have an established relationship with. It is a good idea to follow their recommendations. You can ask colleagues and business associates which company they use, their user experience is a valuable asset to have when you're in the choosing stage. Lastly, you can search online. When you've settled on some choices that may suit your needs, look up the prospective hosts and read reviews of their service. There are many sites on the internet that specialize in reviewing webhosts, use the information provided to your advantage.

By understanding the basics about web hosting and web hosting service providers, you can easily select a web host that is best for you. Your business will flourish, your time won't be tied up dealing with issues related to your site and, more importantly, your customers will thank you!