Numerous web hosting companies offer shared hosting, reseller hosting, VPS and dedicated server hosting services. When choosing a provider, it is very important you understand the features and associated clauses of any package that interests you. The available features must be able to serve your needs.

If you’re just starting out on the internet, have a tight budget and envision your website will not be attracting a lot of traffic, we recommend you look for a shared hosting service provider. But if you have friends or clients who will also need servers to host their sites, you might as well consider signing up for a reseller account. Becoming a reseller will help you to make extra money to maintain your hosting account. On the other hand, a VPS or a dedicated server is your best option if you want more control, intend to host mission-critical applications, or envision your site will be driving a huge amount of traffic. But bear in mind that a VPS (virtual private server) and a dedicated server costs a lot of money.

Factors That Will Guide You To Make The Right Decisions:

Going for what you need and not what you want will surely make hosting your website a smooth experience.

1.       Server Platform: The two (2) main server platforms are Windows and Linux. If your site only has ordinary HTML web pages, it can be hosted on any of the two server environments without any issue. But if you have ASP web pages, bear in mind that Linux servers do not have support for the language. In the latter case, Windows hosting is right for your needs. If you are going to be using the popular Content Management System (CMS) and blog platform WordPress, you will need a Linux platform. Most people use Linux.

2.       Cost Of Hosting: The average cost of hosting websites on shared servers range from as low as $3.00 to $14.00 per month, depending on the available features. A reseller account costs between $20.00 to $100.00 per month, depending on the bandwidth limit, disk space and other features. A VPS can cost between $19.00 to a little over $200.00, depending on the available CPU, RAM, disk space, IP addresses and bandwidth limit on the package. A dedicated server hosting costs between $150.00 to about $400.00 per month, depending on the available CPU, memory modules, hard drive, bandwidth, control panel and the number of dedicated IPs. Your needs and budget will help you to decide on the right hosting package and company.

Web Hosting Features:

  • Bandwidth Limit: It is important not to take your hosting provider’s bandwidth limit lightly. This feature stipulates the limit of requests your account is allowed to make within a specific time. Make sure the hosting firm you choose provides enough bandwidth to accommodate your site’s traffic. If you’re attracted to a host that offers tiny bandwidth limit simply because of its tempting hosting cost, you risk account suspension when it exceeds its usage quota. Some major companies, such as Bluehost, implement CPU throttling technique that drastically slows down the loading of websites on web browsers, whenever they exceed their bandwidth quotas. The majority of shared hosts promise “Unlimited bandwidth”, but in reality there is nothing like that. Finding out the hidden clauses attached to that term will help you to ascertain if it will serve your needs. Most people starting out will still have their hosting needs met by an Unlimited Hosting package.
  • Disk Space: Severe competition has driven many shared web hosts to promise “Unlimited Disk Space” to potential clients. But that does not mean that a shared hosting account is allowed to occupy the entire hard drive of a server. Be rational and find out the clauses attached to the offer, in order to be well-equipped. For reseller, VPS and dedicated server accounts, the information is clearly stated on the package features.
  • Control Panel: A web hosting control panel makes it easier to effectively manage one’s account. The most popular control panels on the Internet are cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin and H-Sphere. Majority of hosting clients tend to prefer cPanel to other software, because of its ease of use, among other benefits. cPanel is a good choice for both novices and web-savvy professionals. However, some opinions differ on this matter, as some prefer Plesk to cPanel.
  • FTP Access: Every hosting provider that is worth its salt must provide FTP access for clients to upload their files and to make site updates. This is a right and not a privilege. Never sign up with a host that does not offer FTP access, no matter how cheap the package is.
  • Database: A database like Postgres, MySQL and MS SQL is required to power content management systems. Every good shared host offers a certain number of allowed databases. Compare the number of databases you intend to use with the number the host you’re about to choose offers.
  • Minor Incentives: Some good web hosts offer at least one (1) free domain throughout the duration of hosting account. You might want to consider such company, if it offers the features that appeal to you. But never sacrifice the features you need for a free domain registration. Another incentive is ads coupons given to hosting clients. Some firms give provide free advertising on Adwords, Yahoo and Bing joint advertising, MIVA, etc. If you intend to promote your products and/or services through paid (Pay Per Click, or PPC) advertising, look for a web hosting firm that offers better free coupons.

In addition to knowing the platform, cost and package features, make a list of possible hosts. Proceed to find out what real clients are talking about them in webmaster forums. Read both the positive and negative remarks written by their clients, in order to ascertain if their offers are real or mere marketing hypes. Check out our list of top Unlimited Web Hosting Packages from the top web hosting companies.