A beginners guide to shared web hosting
Shared hosting is where multiple web sites are
housed on the same web server. In short, shared web hosting enables many sites
to share bandwidth,
disk space and server resources and consequently the costs that
shared hosting
can be provided at is also lower as opposed to the costs of running a dedicated
server. For this reason
Shared hosting, also known as budget web
hosting, is usually low cost and is therefore appropriate for small business
owners who are not able to shell out the money to purchase, nor require the
features that
come with running dedicated servers.
Benefits
of shared web hosting
Sharing web hosting enables web masters to host
their site(s) on a state of the art server at relatively low monthly fees. The
servers provide sites with good uptime guarantees and unlimited connectivity. This
is a great option for small and medium sized businesses as they can have their web site up and running
quickly without having to learn the latest technical
capabilities, nor risk spending a large amount of money. An additional benefit is the speedy setup time and good after sales support that usually comes with shared hosting packages.
Choosing
a shared hosting provider
Deciding on a shared hosting provider can
sometimes be a real challenge due to the large amount of choice that is now present on the Internet.
However below are some important factors worth considering when making your selection:
-
- Uptime/reliability is one of most important factors to consider when
choosing a web host. Check the host's track record
when it comes to server uptime.
- Features. Are all features and coding language support you require
provided? It's best to check such things early on in order to save you frustration
later in moving your site to another web host should you find out a key feature
you require cannot be provided by the host.
- Technical support. Check the level of technical
support provided so that you can take maximum
advantage of your online presence
and ensure any server issues you encounter are dealt with in a timely and
efficient manner.
- Reviews - Check what other people are saying about the host and the service they offer. You can usually find reviews
on shared hosting providers by carrying out a quick search in Google.
- Finally cost. Although in the current economic climate, everyone is looking to save as
much money as possible, the lowest
cost is not always the best
option as you may find yourself paying a higher price
later. Take cost into consideration with the above points in order to help you choose
the best shared hosting provider for you.
