Last Updated: May 22, 2012

January 11, 2011

Cheap Web Hosting Could Cost More Than You Think

If you are considering building a website then you will need a hosting account. This is quite simply space on a remote server where you can store your site. Cheap web hosting is a very popular option because individuals and businesses alike try to save money when possible. While a web presence is essential for any business, by choosing cheap hosting you could actually be causing your business more harm than good.

ISP Free Hosting Accounts

If your ISP (Internet Service Provider) offers a free hosting account then you could consider this option. Free hosting is fairly useful and reliable. However, it will have a number of limitations. Firs and foremost, the size of bandwidth and sotrage will normally be very small. It’s also not often possible to set up domain names to work with these accounts.

Reliability not Cost

The reliability of web hosting is actually much more important than the cost. You will need to ensure that your web host is reliable so that your website can actually be accessed when people visit it. Some cheap hosts use old antiquated servers which crash frequently. This can put your website at risk and also upset visitors.

In addition, some cheap hosts might be very slow. This could cause you to lose many visitors as often they will not waitiuntil your site loads.

What to Look for in a Host

There are several aspects that you need to look for when choosing a web host. If you choose carefully then it's possible to find a cheap web host who will be able to provide everything that you need. If you're new to the Internet then it can be overwhelming to decide exactly what you need from a host. Thus, we have provided the checklist below to help you understand what you should look for.

  • Reliability - Choose a host with an uptime guarantee. Although no host will be able to guarantee 100% uptime most will promise 99.8% or higher up time.
  • Storage space - Depending on the type website your hosting you will need a certain amount of storage space. Choose a host that allows for easy upgrading to the amount of storage space you need, when you need it.
  • Bandwidth - The bandwidth will affect the number of times that you can serve your site. If you have a very popular website then you will need a lot of bandwidth.
  • Price - When you have found a reliable host it is then time to look at price. Also look at the cost of upgrading at a later date.

How to Choose a Host

With so many different web hosts on the Internet it can be difficult to choose the right one. The best way of doing this is to read independent reviews on the Internet. Don't be too alarmed by the odd negative review but if every review is negative then this could be cause for concern. By doing your homework and shopping around it should be easy to find a host which offers good value for money. Not all cheap web hosting accounts are bad, but you do need to be cautious.

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