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Finding the Right Web Hosting Company

It's actually easy to find a web hosting company — a search on line will yield dozens of results — but to compare and choose a company is not as easy. Web hosting companies differ widely in their pricing, services, features and ease of use. In general the four most important considerations will be cost, features, reliability and support.

For most people who just want a basic web site, price is perhaps the most important considerations. Many simple website hosting sites will host your web site for just a few pounds a month — a good rule of thumb is that if you are paying between £5 and £10 per month, you are probably going to get much of what you want in terms of space and features.

One disadvantage with many web hosting sites is that often the lowest charge is only available if you prepay for several months or a year. There are often several different prices for different "levels" of service with extra features, more space, etc.

Many people prefer to pay on a monthly basis even though it may be slightly more expensive — this way they are not obligated to a long term commitment. Make sure the charge is refundable if your site doesn't work out or you just don't like the web hosting company.

Another thing to consider is the amount of space you will be allocated on your site. Disk space can be confusing to those who aren't technically minded. In fact most basic web sites use less than 5 mb of web space, which is the equivalent of about 150 web pages.

Don't be tempted by web hosting companies who offer unlimited space or a large amount of space such as 500 mb — but for a higher price. Chances are you just won't need all that space so why pay for it? On the other hand, if you want your site to expand over time, try to choose a plan that will allow you to add more space to your site when you need to.

The look of your web site is also important. Many web hosting companies offer a wide range of basic designs (often called templates) which you can choose from and then personalize as you like. Most of the designs offer a wide array of colors, styles and layout.

All of these web site design programs of course, claim to be easy to use and as you might expect, some are easier to navigate than others. Many hosting companies allow you to "test-drive" the web site design program before you commit to it and get an accurate idea of what your finished web site will look like.

Try to determine how easy or otherwise it is to contact somebody — by phone or by email — if you have a technical problem or other question. Ideally, technical help should be available — as part of the package — 24 hours a day. Some of the cheaper web hosting packages may not offer comprehensive customer service.

Finally, consider some of the extra features that you may or may not need on your web site. Do you need statistics on the number of visitors to your site, the capability to take credit card orders for merchandise, a certain number of email accounts and the capability to host live chat sessions or forums?

Your web site is important to you — it's the first impression that many of your customers or visitors will have. With a little time and research, choosing the right web hosting company will ensure your site is a success.

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