Cheap Web Hosting Review

Effectiveness of Web Hosting Directories (WHDs)

2005-10-08T14:00:00.000+05:00

John is very happy today, for the first time in his life he has created his very own website. Now he is looking for a web host so that he can put his identity on the net. Casually he asks his friend Mac about it. Mac tells him that web-hosting directories are the best place to look for a web host. Getting curious John then asks Mac what exactly a Web Hosting Directory is. Mac responds that web hosting directories are a web hosting marketplace where prospective hosts list their products, plans, prices and other important information so that according to their requirements, customers can choose a suitable plan. Along with the details, it also contains web hosts? rankings. John is now extremely happy as his dream is finally going to come to fruition. Like John, there are many beginners who are in search of a reliable web host and come across web hosting directories. Here a new question arises: Are these web hosting directories really trustworthy sources for novices like John? To find an answer it?s very important to understand the working of WHDs.

Basically web-hosting directories are of two types: paid WHDs and free WHDs. For paid directories, either web hosts pay a set amount for placing their banners on the site, or they pay commission if they get customers via that medium. On the other hand, free WHDs like www.askwebhosting.com and www.hostbyte.com etc. web hosts list their services without paying any fees.

Some people believe that paid WHDs are very easy to manipulate as the ranking of web hosts can be changed in unfair ways. Others have the view that WHDs that are actually free reflect the true ranking of web hosts companies. Whatever the case may be, paid or free, people should believe the web hosts rankings only if they are based completely on votes of customers who have actually given their remarks and have left their website address as well.

It is not possible for any web hosting company to have 100% positive reviews. It is also observed that at times customers who are satisfied with their web host forget to express their opinion about that host. However, a biased customer who is not satisfied with their web host does not forget to mention their opinion of that web host. This implies that a negative review doesn?t always reflect the true picture of a web host company.

No doubt web hosting directories are very useful if the newbie like John wants to compare prices and features of different companies. But, when it comes to choosing a web host he/she should make an intelligent choice by referring to other resource sites (forums etc.) as well.

Priyanka Agarwal
M6.Net
http://www.m6.net

Is Free Hosting Really Free?

2005-10-08T13:48:00.000+05:00

Sooner or later, as everyone finds out, nothing in this world is free. Although there are literally hundreds of Free Hosting adds surfacing on the Internet, no one can stay in business very long giving it away. So how can hosting services offer free hosting?

Easy.

One way is to make some of their money from registering your domain name. Domain registration is a necessary step for any future web site owner, (some low cost host play a numbers game between your monthly cost and your yearly domain registration fee, for example: $5/month and $30 registration fee, or $7/month and only $6 to register, or...... you get the picture).

Another way they make money is to add advertising onto your web page. They will get paid either each time the banner is shown, or each time someone clicks on the advertisement. Some will offer extra add ons like Spam or Virus Protection, Domain Theft Protection, or other services at an additional cost. Of course if you feel you have need for these services, then you should purchase them.

There are also limitations such as storage space, bandwidth, number of email accounts, and so on, in hopes that you will need more later and decide to upgrade.

So are the so called Free Hosting Services even worth the time to consider?

Sure they are! There are situations where someone may not need tons of storage, bandwidth, email, and so on. Just find a host that offers what you need without to many compromises. One such host that I use quite often is doteasy.com. No banners, only a yearly domain registration. And for me, they've always responded to my questions within 24 hours by email.

So if your new at web page development, just want your own personal web page, ect., and don't really have that intensive of system requirements, then Free Hosting is the way to go.

Author is owner of HomeRunBusinesses.com

Bound To Your Old Expensive Web Host by Fear?

2005-10-08T13:35:00.000+05:00

You're not alone! Many people are bound to the old web host they've used for years because they're afraid of the hassle of switching. Customers will pay rates three or four or even ten times greater than what they have to, just because they're terrified that switching will be too complicated or that they'll end up losing their site altogether.

New customers just coming online and setting up sites for the first time may automatically assume that expensive prices and brand names, such as Yahoo or MSN or MasterCard automatically mean better service.

Think again!

While you should never base your hosting choice on price alone, you should certainly make your return on investment a priority. You can easily find plenty of space for your site with all of the features you need (and many you don't) for less than $10 per month ? with discounts for paying quarterly or yearly.

So what should you look for when choosing a hosting company?

SPACE: Most websites use less than 100 megs of space. Unless you're planning to build a large community or upload entire albums of photos, 50 - 100 megs is probably plenty. Start there - you should be able to upgrade at no additional charge should you need more.

EMAILS: Your new host should offer Pop3 emails. If you're running a home based business, you want at least 10 - more if you have staff under you or family and friends who would love to use your email address and effectively advertise for you every time they send out an email. Your new host should also offer web-based emails, so that you can check your emails when away from your home.

SUPPORT: Can your new host answer your questions within 24 hours? If not, look elsewhere. Your new host should offer some sort of live chat capability during regular business hours as well, and a 24-hour a day help desk where you can email in questions. If you don't have a contact email and some way to reach someone during business hours - look elsewhere. Email their support or use their chat live capability before agreeing to their service - you want to see if you'll be treated rudely or gently. These are the people you'll be dealing with if you have snags - you don't want the support to make life MORE frustrating!

USER FRIENDLY RATING: What kind of control panel do they offer? Do they offer a demo? What options do you have on the panel? Do you have free 24-hour FTP access so that you can make those 4 am site edits? What about a site builder, bulletin boards, or chat rooms - how easy will it be for you to interact with your customer using your new host's services? Will you have access to popular features such as PHP, CGI, ASP, Java scripts, Perl scripting ? can your new host handle it if your web page incorporates these things?

Now that you've decided to make the change and you've found the host you love, HOW do you go about it?

First, make sure that all of the files that have created your current site are on your computer so that they can be moved. If you created your own pages using something like FrontPage or SiteBuilder or Dreamweaver, you have these files. If you used a web based builder, you'll need to download each and every page of your site along with their dependent files to a folder on your PC.

This probably sounds harder than it is. You can either use an FTP tool to download files or download them using the ?File ? Save As? method outlined below. Should you choose to FTP your files down to your computer, you?ll need an FTP tool. TUCOWS.com offers a free version at http://www.tucows.com/preview/195136.html

Should you choose the ?File ? Save As? method, simply follow these steps. First, go to your browser - most people use Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, or Mozilla. Find your toolbar and look for the "File" button - you'll need this. Now go to the first page in your website. Once it has fully loaded, click on "File" then "Save As" and save the file and all dependent files to a folder on your website. Do this for every page. You'll then have possession of your website. It's always a good idea to keep your site backed up to your computer in a separate folder, as well.

Once you have your files, you'll need to make sure any other files on your web host are backed up. If you use web-based mail, forward your emails to an 'off-network' email address or archive your emails to your computer's hard drive. Once you change hosts, all those emails on their mail server will be deleted. Now, upload all of your new files to your new host's servers. Your new host should provide you with the FTP info needed to do this and/or live support should walk you through the steps in case you get stuck. The next thing you need to do is create an email account to match each email account from your old web host. If you had three accounts named info, sales, and support, make sure you have matching accounts on the new servers. This way you won't have bouncing emails later when the switch goes through. Now, change your domain name's name servers. Your new host should give you the information for this, as well. You will probably have a primary and secondary name server.

If you registered your own domain name, your registrar should have a management area. If you registered your domain name through your current host, make sure that you have access to change these items once you've moved. You never want to lose control of your domain name!!

The name server change will take 24 - 48 hours to propagate so that your domain name is pointing to your new servers rather than the old ones. You may wish to initiate the change earlier in the week rather than on a Friday because then you?ll have to deal with a longer waiting period. Allow at least a week before canceling your old host so that you can make sure everything works properly on your new host, that you didn't forget any email accounts or old files and that your new host is living up to your expectations.

If you want to leave your host before your next billing cycle, be extremely careful. If your cancellation date falls after your normal monthly billing cycle date, you?ll be billed again for that month's service and most hosts do not give refunds for less than a month of service.

Now that you know what to expect and have a better handle on changing your name servers, check out what the web has to offer - your bottom line will be glad that you did!

About The Author

Danielle Bailey created The Chayton Group at http://www.ChaytonGroup.com to be a complete, affordable online business solution. Whether you need web design or web hosting you won't find a company more committed to helping you get it for less.

danielle@chaytongroup.com

How to Achieve # 1 on Free Hosting

2005-10-08T13:24:00.000+05:00

A domain name and paid hosting are considered essential for an internet marketer.Majority of the websites that are successful have their own domain name and a paid host.However , is it possible to run a successful website on free hosting ?

A lot of people will answer no to that question.But it is very much possible if the right marketing techniques are applied.First of all , what is free hosting ? A website is basically stored for free on a company?s server and in return some will put their ads on your site for free.

This can be very annoying indeed sometimes.In the case where there are two or more pop-up ads displayed , some people will not bother to look at your content.

Another thing to look at is that you will lose some credibility. Having a website on free hosting will not show you up as being truly professional. People will wonder what are you doing with your revenue if you generate any.

Still, this can be overcome to a certain degree. How can this be done ? Simply. By giving your visitors the best quality information as possible. Make that the best original content.

Optimising your website is also key. Title, description and keywords tags are very important to your site?s success. The title, description and keyword tag combination can send your ranking mile high. Test several variations and see which one works best.

Link popularity can make or break your website. Almost all of the major search engines use this as the main factor when giving you a ranking. You need to find quality websites similar to yours to link with. The more quality links, the better it is for you.

So, you still don?t believe it is possible ? My very first website is hosted free on the Geocities network. It has achieved #1 and top ten positions in dozens of search term categories on MSN, Google, Yahoo, Lycos, Excite and AOL.com.Plus two awards.

A domain name and paid hosting are considered essential for an internet marketer. However, if these are not in place your website can still be successful. All you need to do is apply yourself and the right marketing techniques.

P.S. A little secret here. A positive mindset is the best marketing tool you possess. Learn to use it wisely in your marketing campaigns.

� Nicholas Dixon

*****************************************************
Nicholas Dixon is a Jamaican webmaster, writer and affiliate marketer. Find out
how you too can create an online income with our list of highly recommended
programs by visiting http://WWW.Oceanroc.com/affiliate-directory
*****************************************************

Confessions and Tips from a Top Web Hosting Salesman

2005-10-08T13:15:00.000+05:00

Have you ever gone car shopping with a former car salesperson? Their industry and sales knowledge is powerful information vital to the average buyer. Gaining their street smarts and savvy gives the buyer an edge. This "edge" can be the difference between getting good value and being taken advantage of.

As a former top web hosting salesman, I have decided to come forward and shed some light on the industry. The rapidly growing world of web hosting, domain names, and basic web design is still a mystery to many interested people. My intent is to help you understand basic "do's and don'ts" in order to help you make a better more-informed decision.

When I got into this business several years ago a close friend if mine had paid $35 for a domain name and had monthly expenses of $20 for simple hosting. By quickly checking the domain name I discovered it was in the hosting company's name and not the actual owner of the website! I also quickly realized that this $275 annual expense was available at less than $100.

Not controlling your domain name can become a huge problem to website owners even though it is the smallest annual expense. You can be "held hostage" by hosting companies who control your domain name. This is how they keep you paying more than you should monthly, because you cannot leave! Make sure you are dealing with a reputable reseller or actual Registrar when you buy your domain name. Also consider buying the name for 5 or 10 years for $40-$80. If your email address changes or the credit card expiration changes, you can accidentally lose the name and have fines of $200 to get it back. Be wary of free domains and free web hosting, as you still get what you pay for. For more info on the subject refer to DomainInformer.

Not having the username and passwords to access the web hosting accounts is another huge mistake many buyers make. If your web designer turns up missing, and you cannot gain access to the files you bought and paid for, then you cannot leave that web host. This is the most common problem I encountered in my selling names, sites, and design! By the time you realize you are over-paying, you are frustrated because you are powerless. Do not trust anyone to keep this information for you. The relationship may change and you will be glad you are independent, informed, and in control of the situation.

Finally you also need to keep a copy of the files on your hard drive and/or backed up on a CD. This way if the web host loses the files or your designer is MIA you have a backup plan. Be sure the domain name is registered with you as the administrative contact, and that you have all username/password combinations for names and hosting accounts.

When you are a prospect everyone acts professionally, but what about after you are a customer? To be really comfortable with your web host make sure they give a 30-day money back guarantee. Load the files and see what kind of performance and customer service you get for a few weeks. If they promised 24/7 customer care on the 3rd ring and you are getting voice mail or being on hold for 15 minutes... you will be free to leave!

Web hosting is simply space in a computer where your html documents and jpeg. images are stored. Good web design allows for easy navigation through the written words and the pictures you want the world to view. What you need to be concerned with is the speed with which your website loads and the amount of uptime your host claims to give. When traffic is a heavy a slow loading website will frustrate interested viewers, and cause them to leave. In addition the host needs a backup plan for power and Internet connectivity. Many top hosts claim 99+% uptime year round. Get details about top hosts at HostReview.com.

Things to consider when buying web space are as follows: Will you utilize a database for a dynamic searchable site? Are you going to have a store, selling products online in a shopping cart? Are you going to have Unix or Windows based hosting? Do you need a secure site (static IP) needed to enter sensitive information like social security or credit card numbers safely? How much space do you need for large audio and video files, versus pictures and text only? And what is the difference between shared and dedicated hosting?

To answer all the above simply I will paint some broad stokes below. More knowledge about technical info can be found at WebKnowHow.net http://www.webknowhow.net People are unclear on the differences between shared and dedicated hosting. Most everyone starts with shared hosting as it is more affordable and works fine. In a shared hosting environment, the computer space is sliced up and "shared" among many small sites. Shared hosting ranges from a few dollars a month for a simple site to as much as $30-50/mo if you are selling online. Dedicated hosting usually begins at $59 and can easily reach $200/mo. and more.

If your site ever gets really popular and/or you have many transactions happening you to will move to a dedicated server. Dedicated meaning that all of that computer's resources are allocated to you alone. If you do not know how to configure the server then you will need technical assistance in the form of an IT employee.

This technical expert will monitor the data center operations; of your hosting company to make sure data is backed up and protected by firewalls. Firewalls protect your computer from being "hacked" into unauthorized people. Another option you may consider is an emerging trend known as "managed dedicated servers". The host helps to manage the servers daily operation, in order to help the novice operator.

Both shared and dedicated hosting requires a decision between Unix and Windows. This has been compared with people's preference to Ford or Chevrolet. Some people grow up and get used to one and prefer it for some reason. Others know both and utilize what will be best in each situation.

From the viewer's perspective, both Unix and Windows look the same. If you are going to use ASP (Active Server Pages) you will need Windows. Unix utilizes PHP instead of ASP, and is generally more stable and affordable. This is because the license fees paid to Microsoft increase the hosting company's overhead and they pass that on to the consumer.

Many PC users have Front Page design software from Microsoft included as a gift in their original purchase. Unix hosting now includes front-page support for well under $10/mo. So you can utilize design software you already have, and host for under $100 per year.

Dreamweaver is the other popular design software program you should investigate if you are thinking about doing website design. Be wary of friends or relatives who will do the design for free. If they are gainfully employed, the tasks that they are paid for will take priority, which places unnecessary strains on the relationship. More info on web design and search engine optimization can be found at http://www.promotionworld.com/.

We also need to understand the relationship between the static IP address, using a database, and using eCommerce features to sell products online. IP addresses help identify where the actual end user is located physically. This is important if we need to locate to the original sender of a message or a live user creating havoc on the Internet.

Many of us have bought an airline ticket online by now. You may have noticed the screen that alerts you to the fact your connection is secure. This secure certificate assures a computer user that it is safe to enter credit card info and buy without fear of someone intercepting your sensitive data.

The static IP allows authorities and credit card processors to track storeowners and their computers to insure 100% honesty. Most shared web hosting sites share IP addresses as well. This is fine for a simple informational website with just pictures and text.

Dynamic sites are capable of storing your name and user profiles at an initial visit. This allows the site to "recognize" you on a subsequent visit and quickly load the profile for instant access. Dynamic sites also search for products or names in the company's stored database. Searching for different items quickly and the site saving all your personal information, is a direct benefit of a database.

Most initial sites will not use static IPs or databases unless you are going to be selling online. These stores are referred to as eCommerce web hosting and are the most expensive of all. Monthly charges can easily exceed $50/mo when you consider all expenses of the static IP, payment gateway, merchant account, and shopping cart.

Buyers add items to their "shopping cart"; it totals shipping and taxes and charges your card. Merchant account banks process your buyer's online purchase, charging 2-3% fee total to send money to your bank. You are then free to ship the product they bought.

My personal website has lots of pictures and text, yet is barely over 50 MB in size. 1 GB (1000MB) of storage, now is available for $10/mo, and has 20 times the storage I need. Large video files such as streaming video and audio are the largest users of space. 200MB and 10 email addresses are going to be as much as many small sites will ever need. Often of you prepay the year you can get a free month or the setup fees waived. Also find a host who pays you to refer friends, and you can get free months that way.

I hope this information helps you better understand the power of the Internet. We are all connected through this World Wide Web, and it is your right to benefit in every way possible. Come on, jump in, the water's fine...

About The Author

Jamie Chantiles is Director of Sales for DevStart. He has been featured in magazines and on TV as an expert in peak performance. His speciality is in increasing productivity and attaining peak performance by harnessing the power of your own brain. Jamie has worked in the web hosting industry, selling and training for the last 2 years. Read more stimulating, probing and revealing articles on HostReview (www.hostreview.com).

jamie@devstart.com

Cheap Internet Hosting, Business Web Hosting - Choosing The Right Web Host Package

2005-10-08T13:07:00.000+05:00

With literally hundreds of web hosting providers competing for your business, it may be confusing to find the one that's right for your web site. A few key considerations can help you narrow down your choices to the most affordable and best options to meet your personal, professional or business web page needs.

What kind of web site are you planning?

Your personal web page has far different needs than your professional web page and that needs a different style of hosting than an eCommerce storefront. Most web hosting companies offer plans sized to fit any size of style of web site. Which plan you choose depends on what you intend to do on your web site.

Personal Web Page Hosting

There are dozens of free servers that will host your personal web pages for free, and many of them offer most of the perks that you get with a paid web hosting account. If you want a personal web page without the ads, though, you can find web page hosting for as little as $4.95 a month with no advertising, and with support for things like PHP and mySQL. Many affordable web hosting packages will even register a domain name for you for free.

Professional Web Page Hosting

If you're setting up a web site for a professional firm, you'll definitely want to opt for a web page hosting provider that offers excellent support, free or cheap domain name registration and a good web site builder with professional looking templates to make creating your web site easy. If you're planning to take orders or any sort of customer information via your web site, you'll also want a web hosting provider that offers you secure server access (SSL). Depending on the features you choose, you can pay $4.95-$29.95 a month.

Business/eCommerce Web Page Hosting

If your business web site is more than informational web pages about your business, your web hosting package should include eCommerce software like a shopping cart, a checkout, a payment system and SSL access. You'll also need more space and bandwidth allowance than a typical personal site. You'll find many affordable eCommerce web hosting packages starting at around $14.95 a month.

Enterprise Level Web Page Hosting

Do you need space for your business to collaborate on projects, store information for easy retrieval and to track orders, deliveries and work hours? You'll want to find a web hosting company that specializes in providing enterprise level web hosting solutions to large businesses. Your web hosting account should include the highest level security access to keep your important information safe, 24/7 customer support and tools to make access easy for all your employees. Affordable enterprise level packages start at around $99 a month and range upwards from there depending on the amount of customization and use your web pages will get.

To view our recommended web hosts, visit, Recommended Web Hosting Companies.

Carrie Reeder is the owner of eZerk, an informational website, with articles and the latest news about various topics.