Choosing a Hosting Service: A Checklist for Business Owners

For a website to appear on the Internet, you require a "server" that is usually provided by a web hosting company. Hosting companies are paid monthly, quarterly or yearly. Some companies come with guarantees, too. Recommendations from other business owners and web designers are excellent ways to find a good hosting service.

One of the primary features I recommend is that the hosting companies can grow with you. If they only offer one package, and you need more, your web site maybe down for up to 2 days and/or you may have to change the code on any forms you use to match the new "server settings".

Don't be afraid to read a hosting service's subscriber information, FAQs (frequently asked questions), note areas or bulletin boards on their sites.

A good hosting company offers as many of these basics as possible:

  • This is a hosting company I can easily afford.

  • They offer a Money Back Guarantee.

  • They have information on their site about server uptime/downtime.

  • The company contacts me, at my primary email address, when/if there are any server problems. (Could be problems when they're updating their server, hurricanes, etc.)

  • They offer your own IP address http://postmaster.aol.com/info/ipexpl.html

  • They provide at least 5 POP email accounts (example yourname@yoursitesname.com) Your email accounts should include Alias Accounts, which look like a POP account to the person sending you an email; however, the address is actually an "alias" that's forwarded to any other email account you choose. And when you send an email back to the original sender, it is the forwarding email account, NOT the yourname@yoursitename.com that the sender receives.

  • There is a Web-based Email system (a place for you to read your email online). If not, my favorite is www.e-mol.com

  • An easy system for email forwarding (and vacation notice) capability.

  • 24-hour customer service, by phone, even if it's a long distance call, is best!

  • 50 mg space (the space you need for a 100 page website with each page being approx. 8x11)

  • 2 Gig Data Transfer/month (this will be enough for quite a while!)

  • Front Page Extensions ? only necessary if you create a web site with MS Front Page

  • Cgi/PHP/MySQL (or asp availability). Check with your designer to see what you'll require for forms to be created).

  • Easy Control Panel: This feature is especially important if you want to maintain your site or have someone else easily maintain it. It's the one place to visit when making changes to your site, add addresses, etc

  • Statistics - Does your hosting companies plan include monthly and yearly statistics on each of your web pages? Will you know how someone found each of your web pages?

  • Secure server, Shopping cart (and other things you'll need to set up a merchant account system)

  • Server type: The type of server a hosting company you choose, should take into consideration the programs you will run for things like your shopping cart, affiliate program, web site pages, etc. If you're using ASP, JSP, PHP, CGI, PL, or CSS, these programs will influence the choice of a server and vice-versa. Your hosting service may use Windows (which for example accepts ASP but not PHP), Linux or Unix-based (Apache/FreeBSD/etc.) servers.

  • Password Protection ? If you have plans to create a membership are or client's only area of your site, this is something to consider.

  • Newsletter or announcement list

  • Auto-responders (not usually available on very low cost hosting packages)

Special thanks to wise-women.org and HTML-on-the-WEB@yahoogroups.com for some assistance with this list.

About The Author

© 2004 Maria Marsala, Business Builder and former Wall Street Trader. "Powering-UP service busine$$es and their owners". Providing articles, tips, classes, and resources for owners of service businesses. Learn more at http://www.ElevatingYourBusiness.com.

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Web Hosting: Which Is The Host With The Most?

So you want to publish a web site do you?... Read More

Which Is The Better Server Operating System, Unix or Windows?

Anybody who decides to get a web hosting service or... Read More

Managed Hosting

Managed hosting is a dedicated server that is accompanied by... Read More

Setting up Your Personal Server

There are many things to consider when setting up your... Read More

Demand Unlimited Auto-Responders with Your Hosting Accounting

AutoResponders are nifty scripts that run in your web server... Read More

GBs and Gbs of Web Hosting

What is web hosting you ask? Web hosting refers to... Read More

Tips About Low Cost Web Hosting Services

Here are some things you should know before finding a... Read More

Web Hosting Providers - Find A Newbie Friendly Web Site Host

If you're about to set up your first web site... Read More

Web Hosting Bandwidth -- How Much Bandwidth Is Enough?

Bandwidth in its simplest terms refers to the amount of... Read More

4 Tips to Find the Web Host That?s Right For You

Choosing to make a web site is a very big... Read More

Windows vs Linux : Hosting

The Basics of Linux & Windows :Linux (and its close... Read More

Is Free Hosting Really Free?

Sooner or later, as everyone finds out, nothing in this... Read More

Web Hosting Solutions In Birmingham

Once you have a website you then need to think... Read More

Hosting Your Way All The Way To The Bank

Let's face it, the Internet is here for good. Today's... Read More

The Top 15 Essential Ingredients of Every WINDOWS HOSTING Plan (Package)

First things First. Why would you like to have Windows... Read More

Choosing The Wrong Server Will Literally Make Or Break You

Choosing the right web server will be one of the... Read More

How To Change Your Web Hosting Provider ? Step-By-Step Guide

Whether you are disgruntled with the level of service your... Read More

Linux Servers: Do You Understand the Difference?

First of all, some people are worried that they will... Read More

Choosing a Right Hosting Solution

You must have done all the hard works for developing... Read More

7 Key Points to Consider When Choosing a Web Host

With literally thousands of web hosting companies in the industry... Read More

Woe the Web

Finding a good and reliable web hosting company is like... Read More

More Profits in Your Website Hosting Business

If you run a website hosting business, you already know... Read More

How To Choose A Web Host That Meets Your Needs

One of the most difficult choices you have to make... Read More

Reseller Web Hosting - A Cheaper Alternative?

There comes a time when the internet bug hits us... Read More

The Problem with Free Web Hosting Plans

In my opinion, free web hosting is one of the... Read More

How to Move Your Domain Without Any Downtime

With a little advanced planning, moving your domain to a... Read More

Free Web Hosting - Why Might It Be A Bad Idea

When talking about free anything the legitimate question that first... Read More

Choosing Your Web Hosting Reseller Software

As a web host reseller, one of your most important... Read More

What to Look for in a Free Hosting Provider

The first thing that you must realize when looking for... Read More

Beware of the Hidden Perils of Low Cost Hosting

Some folks classify low cost web hosting on the same... Read More

Reseller Hosting: The Good and The Bad!

Reseller webhosting can be a great way to earn some... Read More

Web Hosting Services Absolutely Necessary for Your Websites Success

Web hosting services play a vital part in your website's... Read More

Reseller Hosting Explained

Reseller Defined:The term Reseller according to the dictionary means to... Read More