How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Cheap Hosting

There is no denying it, the trendiest outlet these days is clearly the World Wide Web.  This internet resource has become a reliable medium for the latest breaking news and the place to go for the best deals on an endless catalog of products and services.  You can hop online to do your banking, catch up with the latest gossip or even leave a Tweet let people know you just went to grab a carton of milk.  If you are trying to make a presence in the internet world, web hosting is a service you need to learn more about.  The problem is, there are so many providers and types of services that choosing one often becomes a task that grows bigger than it should be.  When it comes to cheap hosting, you need to focus your eyes on the overall picture, rather than the low price.  This is the best way to avoid the scams and marketing ploys.

Get Useful Features and Resources

Though abundant, not all cheap web hosting plans are created equal.  Some are loaded up with features while others are lacking severely and basically give you what you pay for.  If your web presence relates to business aspirations, there will be some features you can’t afford to miss out on.  This could be anything from PHP or Perl scripts to multiple email accounts or advertising tools.  Two of the most essential components you definitely need to consider are storage and bandwidth.  Your cheap hosting plan isn’t worth much if you don’t have enough space for your content or enough transfer to support your traffic needs.  Only you know the components it takes to make your site a success.  Therefore, it is up to you to find them in an affordable hosting solution.

Don’t Overlook Security

Most customers don’t look for security features in a cheap hosting package but you should.  Websites and servers are being compromised all the time, a factor that means you need to be prepared for the worst.  Even if you don’t know a thing about website security, it is crucial that you sign up with a hosting company that does.   If not, you are leaving yourself wide open to a variety of exploits that range from SQL injection and cross site scripting to viruses and DDoS attacks.  All it takes is one successful attack to cripple your website and possibly put you down for good.  Unless you want to be another statistic, make sure your low-cost hosting solution comes with adequate security.

Conclusion

If you are like most customers, then you are probably seeking a high quality hosting plan that comes at a cheap price.  In order to get the reliable service you’re after, you must have a company that can assure a high level of availability, smooth performance and responsive support to aid in your time of need.  When dealing with a respectable, well known hosting provider, these qualities are not all that hard to come by.

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Jul 03, 2009 : Cheap Web Hosting No responses yet

Seven Common Web Hosting Mistakes to Avoid

Web hosting services are extremely beneficial for the business or individual looking to establish a web presence.  However, this market consists of many pitfalls and without taking precautions, you could fall right through.  Here are seven common mistakes you want to avoid when looking for a web hosting provider.

1.) Take the Price Bait

True, hosting plans are generally affordable these days.  At the same time, you should know that the cheapest price usually doesn’t translate into the best service.  There is nothing wrong with purchasing the so-called “cheap” plan, but use your instincts to make sure the host isn’t sacrificing quality for that low price.

2.) Fail to Define Your Website Requirements

One of the worst things you can do is enter a web hosting contract without knowing what your site needs.  This could end up costing you a lot of money and grief in the end.  To avoid this, jot down and seek all the features and resources your site needs to successful.  Moreover, put emphasis on a host that provides an easy way to upgrade as your needs increase.

3.) Excuse a Poorly Designed Site

More than likely, you are looking to create a professional website to promote yourself online.  If this is the case, then why would you choose a web host whose site lacks professionalism?   A hosting company that does not take the time to properly design their site probably cannot provide the tools you need to create a professional site of your own.  They don’t care about their own image so, why would they care for yours?

4.) Put Too Many Eggs in One Basket

On the surface, hosting multiple websites on a single account appears to be a good idea.  Unfortunately, this is often not the case.  If you intend to generate money from one or more of your websites, you may want to strongly consider running them on separate servers.  Just think if something happens to the provider’s server.  Can you really afford to have all your sites down at once?

5.) Fall for the Testimonials

It is refreshing to see positive feedback on the web host you’re looking to do business with.  That doesn’t mean you should always take all hosting testimonials at face value.  Many companies have been known to toot their own horn so you need to be very cautious when approaching testimonials.  Instead of putting all your faith in what you see on the company’s website, get out and comb the web for some genuine customer feedback.

6.) Rely on Someone Else to Backup Your Data

Most web hosting companies backup their servers and customer data on a regular base.  The key term here is most.  You should never rely on a web host to perform such critical tasks.  If you really want the ability to restore your data, back it up yourself.

7.) Trust that a Host Utilizes the Latest Technology

CheapHostingRUs optimizes its servers with load balancing. SuperIncredibleHost fights network attacks with DDoS protection and intrusion detection.  That doesn’t mean the host you’re looking into takes the same precautions.  Never assume that a prospective hosting company is using the necessary technologies and security mechanism to keep you protected.   If not, you just could be in for a rude awakening.

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Jun 15, 2009 : General No responses yet

What Makes Web Hosting So Cheap?

The internet garnered worldwide popularity in the mid 1990s.  In those days, web hosting was out of reach for the average consumer as only businesses and those in the higher tax bracket could afford the services.  Needless to say, there were far fewer websites and almost everything on the web was commercial or business related.  So, what changed?  How did we get to the point where nearly anyone can afford a web hosting plan?  The simple answer is evolution.

Both the internet and the closely tied World Wide Web have grown immensely over the years.  And because web hosting is the only industry with the power to instantly connect people to the world, it only makes sense for this market to evolve as well.  This industry allows people from all over to take advantage of free email services, business tools and an arsenal of features that suit personal and business needs.

The Evolution of Affordable Web Hosting

From the very beginning, the web hosting field was thoroughly analyzed in attempt to make the process less complex.  As more breakthroughs were made, the potential grew and more companies appeared on the scene offering service.  This expanded the market and enhanced the field at the same time.  From server space and bandwidth to database management and development tools, the industry experienced a major overhaul that began to offer both power and simplicity.   Larger than it had ever been, the web hosting game quickly became all about who can offer the best service at the cheapest rate.  From there, the competition commenced.

Once it became known that there was a faster, easier and more affordable way to communicate, people flocked to the internet.  Because this opened up endless business opportunities, the need for web hosting services became even greater.  Seeing the potential to make substantial income, web hosting companies began to market their packages at competitive prices.  In the beginning it was mostly large organizations that could afford to offer hosting services.  The demand for web hosting led smaller companies to lease servers and slowly but surely, everyone began to comprehend the technology behind it.  Competition heated up to the point where some providers even offered service for free, relying on the support of advertising just to get a piece of the action.

Web Hosting Today

Today, web hosting is a prominent industry and cheap services are abundant.  Take a trip around the web and you will find a variety of companies offering service for under $10 per month.  Technology has made it easier to manage and now everyone from novice to experienced webmasters can excel.  The popularity of web hosting has played major a role in developing various industries.  Online gaming, web design, freelance writing and many sectors have flourished because of the great demand of web hosting services.

There have been several factors to play a hand in cheap web hosting but just like most industries, it all boils down to evolution.  And while it has come very far, the field still isn’t perfect and there are surely more advancements to come.

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Jan 23, 2009 : Cheap Web Hosting No responses yet

Cheap Web Hosting Companies on the Rise

Web hosting solutions have become a necessity as more individuals and businesses look to leverage the benefits of the internet.  The mere possibility of establishing a strong identity in cyberspace and capitalizing off its popularity is what drives many people to a website.  With  millions of people surfing the web at any given minute on any given day, the potential for success is tremendous.  Those dabbling in the world of web hosting for the first time often desire something more simplistic, mainly because they lack the experience of designers and seasoned webmasters.  Traditionally, the more simple the hosting solution, the less expensive it is.  Web hosting services come in many different varieties and one variation grows more popular by the day - cheap web hosting.

The Evolution of Cheap Web Hosting

Cheap web hosting has become more common and also more advanced.  In the past, this type of solution pretty much lived up to the name, offering nothing more than a bare bones package that was only suited for personal needs.  Now cheap hosting services are offered by some of the most prominent names in the business.  Companies like BlueHost, HostGator and LunarPages are all respected in the industry for their reliability yet have also made a name from services that easily fall under the cheap bracket.  Each company offers a platform that is ideal for individuals wishing to creating a website, providing enough tools that allow them to make their mark on the web.  No longer do they have to worry about space as allotments of server capacity are generous.  Whereas technical support and reliability were once non-existent, cheap hosts now make it a priority to house the best equipment in world-class data centers with trained professionals on stand-by to deliver quality customer support.  Cheap web hosting services still offer simplicity, yet with more power as control panels and development tools have evolved dramatically.

Lower Cost Does not Always Equate to Reduced Features

Cheap web hosts use much more than an incredibly low price to reel in new customers.  For example, many companies offer special deals and promotional packages for new or transferring clients and loyal subscribers.  It is not uncommon to find a cheap web hosting plan that comes attached with free domain names, marketing tools and advertising credits.  For someone with business aspirations, the offering of multiple email accounts and e-commerce features is often too good to pass up.  Today’s web hosting companies have capitalized on technology, providing the luxury to start out cheap and then upgrade as your needs and requirements increase.  More than likely, they have a package that is more robust to suit those demands, perhaps a virtual private server or even an enterprise-class solution such as a dedicated server.  When considering all the possibilities for enhancement, it is safe to assume that cheap hosting will always appeal to a wide range of customers.

Although cheap web hosting is prevalent, such deals do not always equal the best bargain.  This is why it is best to do your research and seek out the most reliable service.  The cheap host that ensures reliability with a platform that enables growth is the one most likely to enjoy customer loyalty.

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Jan 14, 2009 : Cheap Web Hosting No responses yet

Can You Survive with Cheap Web Hosting?

There are a variety of solutions on the market but cheap web hosting is often the best way to go for individuals and small businesses.  You will find that today’s budget deals offer many of the same features and services as high-end solutions.  Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to sacrifice features, resources or quality to save money on a web hosting plan.  By doing a little research, you can find yourself a good web hosting plan that can be easily afforded by almost anyone.  Several individuals and businesses have made the most of cheap hosting and you can do the same.

What to Look for in Cheap Web Hosting

Since you are looking for cheap web hosting, it is pretty safe to assume that you’re out for the best price.  While very important, price is actually one of the last things you should consider.  Whether for personal or business matters, bandwidth and disk space is something you definitely need to keep an eye on.  Most small companies and personal users especially, do not require a large amount of either resource.  Selecting a web host that offers a generous but adequate amount of bandwidth and storage can save you a few dollars on hosting.   A good company will allow you to upgrade to a more robust package as your needs increase.

Apart from the resources mentioned above, here are a few more essentials you need in a cheap web host:

Control Panel: Almost all web hosts offer some type of control panel software.  This is where you will spend most of your time so it is vital to choose a program that is both powerful and easy to use.  You can get a feel for different control panels by testing demo versions.

Flexibility: Cheap web hosting is nothing like operating your own server but a little flexibility isn’t out of the question.  The best way to assure flexibility is to choose a provider that allows your site to grow.  This means they provide you with enough to start out with and enable upgrades at a reasonable price.  We recommend that you inquire within the company to learn what costs are associated with package upgrades.

Support: One aspect you can never be without is reliable technical support and customer service.  Make sure that the professionals behind the scenes are on standby to address your questions and concerns.  Look for a company that offers support 24/7 whether its via phone or email.  You can get a feel for the service by sending an email to test their response time.

Finding a Cheap Web Host

Before committing to any particular service, it is always best to look around and compare different companies.  There are thousands of web hosting providers on the market and choosing the first one you come across is often a bad move.  By taking a little time to research, you can find a host that offers all the features, flexibility and support your website requires.

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Jan 08, 2009 : Cheap Web Hosting No responses yet