I would like to start a small business web site. I will need help designing the site and I have been told that I will need web hosting. Can someone explain what hosting includes and what I should expect to pay for hosting per month?
Robert S
Favorite Answer
I recommend one of these: http://www.hosttell.com/
Powweb has the best offer right now. It's on a 50% sale - $3.88/month ($46.56/year), and you get a free domain from them. (like www.mywebsite.com)
Their hosting plan includes web builder, so you can create your site just by drag and drop (without any programming), or you could install Wordpress (easy, one click install from their control panel), choose a theme that you like, and start adding content.
Anonymous
Hosting is the computer your site is on. It includes the server and all the software (either php and MySQL - my choice - or IIS (ASP) and MSSQL), tech support, backup power, data backup, backup lines to the internet, etc. What you're interested in is the amount of database, the amount of storage (disk) space, the amount of bandwidth per month.
What you buy is pretty much disk space and data quantity. You can start with a $4/month plan and step it up whenever you need more bandwidth. (The cheapest plans usually include more disk space than a business site needs.) I've been with GoDaddy for years and have no complaints, but look around. If tech support won't talk to you to get your business, they probably won't once they've gotten it. (Domain names, OTOH, are the same no matter where you buy them. It's like a Hershey bar - they all come from the same factory, so shop by price.)
No one is going to "help you" for free, any more than you'll give your services or products for free. Building a website is a business. You usually don't get high quality at low price. Find some sites you like and look for the email address or site address of the company that built it, down near the bottom in a small font. Contact them. You already know that they're capable of building a site of the quality you want, so it's just a matter of how long and how much - and whether they can give you a site you can maintain without having to call them every time you have a price change. (Once the site is running, you should be able to change prices, products, whatever you need to change, by yourself. There should be a page, or a few pages, for you to do that sort of stuff on. And strong security to keep anyone else from being able to use those pages.) And you should have a written contract, spelling out exactly what you're going to get, and exactly what you're going to pay, and when. (If they want to obfuscate the code [it makes the pages load a bit faster], you should be getting the unobfuscated files too. ALL files, and maybe written instructions. Maybe 3 months of free support, or a week of training. Have it all spelled out in the contract before you make your final decision.)
Anonymous
With so many web hosting out there I am sure you are confused on which to choose. You should be paying less than $10 per month for decent shared hosting account. If you need to sell products online, you need a shopping cart or storefront feature. If you also prefer design templates ready to choose from, you find the most suitable host for you at http://www.bestecommercehosting.org - this is the easiest path as you pay only once for storefront, design and hosting.
If you want to get your own custom design, and then put on a web host - there are too many web hosts out there. Each with their own benefits and problems. So I suggest you do the following:
1. Go to the webhost review sites such as webhostingjury, hostingsthatsuck.com or webhostinggeeks and list down about 3 common top hosting companies.
2. Next, for each web hosting X, do a “X sucks” search on Google. Read some complaints and see if you may encounter the same problems like them. Some of the complaints may relate to certain groups of users only such as VPS, dedicated server users or resellers. So you may not be affected if you are not from these categories.
3. Eliminate those hostings you feel uncomfortable with, and look for the best bargain hosting for your money.
You can start with Justhost, Fatcow and Inmotion as they are some of the best.
Good luck.
Anonymous
It depends on what you're doing, and what you know. If you know nothing at all, well, it still depends on what you'd like to do.
If you're just looking to put a brochure-type site up with some basic methods of contact, on your own domain, plan on around 100 bucks per year. With that, you can get hosted on a Linux server that will handle everything you need. You should be able to get some databases in there with that, and have the capability to put up dynamic content with PHP (or a few other options).
If you want a site that people can buy things on, that is dynamic, that handles purchasing and information...basically, an interactive online business..you can still do it for cheap, as far as hosting goes. You will need to find a reputable consultant to get the whole thing off the ground though, and that will cost you a few grand at least.
You will see, while you shop, Windows and Linux hosting environments. A Linux environment is generally MUCH cheaper, and you don't need to worry too much about the difference so long as you are not putting on a major website.
Personally, I recommend Bluehost.com for hosting. I've been with them for 3 years, and they have always made me happy. Their entire operation is based in the US, and they are dirt cheap. Also, you don't have to worry about bandwidth or storage, since they give you an unreal amount of it.
Web Head
You will need both a domain name and hosting. these are generally sold together and you need not pay more than 7$ per month.
I am a professional web designer and I will design your site very inexpensively.
Whether or not you use my services, take a look at my site for a list of the best hosting deals which I recommend to clients.
http://www.samwilson3d.com
hosting includes hard drive space for your files as well as pre-installed software to help your files work correctly, you will probably also want database support which is often needed for dynamic websites you can update and maintain on your own with no coding needed
This database support is included in all of the hosts listed on my site.