How to setup a Web Host for your website.

If you’ve never setup a web hosting for a website before, it can be daunting. There are literally hundreds of thousands of webhosts out there all claiming to be the best. But how do you know which webhost is best for you?

In this post, my aim is to help you not only understand what webhosting is, but help you get started with a reliable webhost.

Wait a minute…What is Web Hosting anyway?

Webhosting is simply the service that allows your website files to be transferred to your visitor upon request of your website. Web host computers are on all the time so your website may be accessed by at anytime of day. Take a look at the illustration below:

HostGator.

Most companies let you pay by the month or by the year. If you are paying by the year you will most likely receive a discount.

Methods of payment are almost always Major Credit Cards & PayPal.

Features

The features you will need will depend greatly on what you plan on doing with your website. However, the majority of web applications will need:

• PHP Version 5 (A programming language that runs web applications like WordPress)
• Database (Either MySQL or MS SQL Server)
• Email Hosting

Other things that are important are:

• Bandwidth: the amount of information that can be sent to your visitors each month. Now unless you’re running large website with thousands of visitors and/or many large files such as videos, you should not have to worry about this too much. But a good Host should give you between 10,000 and 30,000 GB (gigabytes) of data per month for about $5-10 dollars/month.
• Storage: Again, unless you’re running a huge website with thousands of files, video and other content, this should not be a major concern. But as a ballpark figure, between 30-40 Gigabytes of space for $5-10 dollars a month.

Unix/Linux or Microsoft Server?

Linux (or it’s parent Unix) and Microsoft are two operating systems for hosting your website. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. I tend to lean more towards Linux & Unix hosts for a bunch of reasons but the right one for you depends on what you plan on doing with your website.

For simple websites it wont really matter. For more complicated websites such as WordPress Blogs, Content Management Systems, and other more advanced web solutions it may.

If you are in doubt, your web developer or whoever is looking after your website should be able to asses which option is best for you. If not, contact me and I’ll do my best to help you.

Customer Service & Tech Support

Web Hosting support is one of the things that is sometimes overlooked… Until a problem arises. But customer service, especially tech support, is a major piece of the puzzle when it comes to a good hosting solution.

Recently, I had problems with one of our client’s hosting companies whose name I’ll leave out. It took over 28 hours to get a response. Then we were sent on another 10 hour wait for another setting to be changed (which by the way, should have been enabled anyway). I can’t describe how frustrating this was for me and the client – especially since they were losing potential sales!

If you are concerned with a particular hosts Customer Service, the best thing you can do is “Google it”. Use a term like “ Hosting Company Customer Service Reviews” or something similar.

Now I can’t say enough about our partner company HostGator. There tech support is second to none.  I’m NOT just saying that because we are partnered with them. The speed, quality and friendliness of customer support are second to none. For example, when I click the button “get support” on their homepage, the response is almost instantaneous!

OK Got it! Now How Do I Set It Up ?

The following link will open a new window to a screencast that shows you exactly how to sign up to a webhost for your website. Just click and watch.

How To Setup A Webhost Screencast