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Choosing a Web Host

By Dan Grossman

Choosing a web host can be one of the most important decisions you make when creating a website. A web host is a company which stores your website on their servers. Your web host needs to provide everything your site needs and will need, at an affordable rate. I've broken down the basics of choosing a host into 4 items:

1. Platform - There are two main platforms to consider when choosing a web host, each very different. Unix and Windows NT. Unix is generally more reliable and more affordable, suitable for most sites. If you're using the site for email or as a personal site Unix is definitely more affordable. Windows NT is more appropriate if you need ODBC for a database-driven site, and Windows NT works better with Microsoft Frontpage. However you can still build database-driven sites using PHP on Unix if the host supports it.
2. Features - When choosing a host features is probably the second most important thing to look at, even before price. If you need certain things, get them. A host which supports multiple domains and features like SSI, PHP, and ASP can save you work in the future as you learn more advanced languages and develop a larger site. Make sure the host offers FTP access, POP email accounts, and your own CGI-bin as almost every website owner needs these eventually.
3. Support - Customer support is VERY important when choosing a host. Look around their website and see if you can find a phone number for support, as email is not always quick enough when your business site is losing customers and sales. A good host should offer 24/7 tech support through email and telephone.
4. Price - How much you pay depends on the host, what features they offer, how large your site is, and what needs your site has. Usually you get what you pay for, so if you're running a website for a business selling products you're not going to find a suitable host for $20 a month. However if you're running an informational or personal website that would be fine. Expect to pay at least $10 a month for a small site, $50-$150 for a site with more advanced features like databases and shipping cart software, and $250+ for a dedicated server.

Taking these 4 basics of choosing a web host into consideration, you should be able to find the host which is right for you. It is a good idea to shop around, and compare many hosts before choosing one, you may just find the perfect one for you.

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