Web Host Tips

To see our web hosting plans, click here.

For a list of web hosts we recommend, click here.

What is a web host? A web host stores the web site you create on their servers and transmits it to the internet so that when someone types in your domain name, your web site appears. For this to work your domain name must either point to or be parked on the web host's servers.

Here are some things to consider when you choose a web host:

	1. If you don't have a lot of web pages or graphics on your web site, the standard or economy version of most web hosting plans should provide you with plenty of space. As a guide, 30 pages with one or two graphics on each page will be about 1.5 mb of space. This web site currently uses less than 5 mb.
	2. It is very important that the web host you choose provides fast and quality support. If you have a problem with your web site you want help now, not in a day or two. Some web hosts advertise 24/7 support, but are actually only around Monday-Friday. To see how responsive a web host you are considering is, call them late at night or on weekends to see if they are really there. If they only offer e-mail support, e-mail them and see how long it takes for them to get back to you. If you send the e-mail on Saturday and they don't get back to you until Monday, that isn't good.
	3. Don't transfer ownership of your domain name to a web host. If you do and ever become dissatisfied with the web host's services, you are stuck. You aren't able to take "your" domain name with you to another web host because the name doesn't belong to you anymore. It's theirs. So you are either stuck with service you don't like or you have to start over with a different domain name at another web host.
	4. Don't transfer control of your domain name to a web host. In these cases you still own your domain name, but it still isn't smart to do. Of course we hope that you keep your domain with us, but there are a couple of better reasons than that to do so. If you are unhappy with your web host's service and want to go to another web host, you will need to get them to release your name to the new host. They have no incentive to do this. Some web hosts, not all, have been known to drag their feet and take weeks to release a name. If you use our hosting service this isn't an issue because you retain control of your domain name at all times. Another reason not to transfer control to someone else is that if you do, it almost always will end up costing you more. Web hosts make their money through domain name renewals. Some charge as much as $70 for this. Almost all charge more than our $12.75 renewal fee.
	5. Don't sign a long term contract until you have used their services for a while. Some hosts give a discount if you pay six months or a year in advance. Pay monthly for at least the first month or two until you are sure that you like them.

	We hope these tips help you choose the web host that is right for you. Click here to see our web hosting plans.