Is Your Web Host Too Good to be True?
When searching for a hosting
company, make certain to stay away from web hosting deals that seem too good to
be true. If
the package sounds too good to be true, chances are it is. There are several respectable
web hosting companies out there working diligently to operate a good business.
You will come across the good and the bad in the web hosting industry. Luckily
for every one poor hosting company there are many more companies that know what
it takes to operate a hosting business. The other day I came across a link in
the deals section for an unlimited web hosting plan. I have seen the word
“Unlimited” used several times in web hosting marketing and it
bothers me, along with a few more things.
First of all, the web pages on
this site did not work properly. This should be a red flag that you might not
want to do business with this company. If they can’t get their site to work
properly then why should they be concerned with yours? The only part that
seemed to work was the Paypal link for you to pay for
Web hosting.
Another thing that annoyed me was that they were offering a
“lifetime” membership for the low price of sixty dollars. This is an
example of another “too good to be true” promotions. A web server cannot really
be run in such a manner.
So remember to watch out for these “remarkable” deals. There are folks out
there that only want your money, and not your business. Thankfully though there
are a lot more honest and hard working folks that hate these practices as much
as me such as iPowerweb,
The Quantum
Host, and APlus.net.
Even if it takes a little longer, or costs a little more, take the time to find
an all around good web host. Do your homework, and you will be happy for many web
hosting years to come.
About the Author
Hosting with Energy!
Web Hosts: Helping Us Navigate Through This Future Techno World
Computers, Internet, Web sites…what do they all mean? Hey, you’re probably not a technophobe, I mean you own a microwave right? Just push a few buttons and the food cooks itself-easy. Now, they tell you the best way to share information, have a business, and generally communicate in life, are on the Web. I don’t know about you but for me the Web conjures up visions of a giant spider whose sole intention is to turn me into a tasty appetizer. Computers scare me. People say they’re the tool of the future, but I find them to be quite alien, especially compared to my lawnmower! All the technical jargon associated with these machines, it’s like you have to have a university degree in Information Technology just to turn one on.
The key to solving the riddle is just to go back in time. Not easy?! Think about our ancestors, the prehistoric cave-dwelling hairy folk. How did they get the job done each day? Tools… Tools. A man had his stone axe to kill the wild beast; a woman had a basket to collect fruits and vegetables. Sounds a little sexist, but fortunately times have changed in a number of ways. In our modern society the main tool has become the computer and anyone can use it. In the old days a boy’s father would teach them how to throw the axe. These days Web Hosts exist to help people get acquainted with the Internet in much the same loving parental role. These companies provide knowledge and access to all the fundamental ways of taking part in using the space age super-tool. I’ve heard that having knowledge about something is half the battle of getting a job done. Having a Web Host is like meeting your mentor, the wizard who shows you the simple way to navigate through this new techno-world.
If you are a small business, a major company, or just an individual looking to spread a message to the rest of the world, the Internet or World Wide Web is your necessary gate of entry. Communication through Web Sites and Email systems is your means to partaking in the ‘new’ world. Whether you are searching for information, selling a product or idea, talking to friends, or just browsing through the ‘shop’ of life, Web Hosts are here to help you make the journey as enjoyable as possible. No more scratching your head in befuddlement, now there’s a star lighting the way through our fearful darkness.
About The Author
Jesse S. Somer
M6.Net
http://www.m6.net
Jesse S. Somer is a human analyst of the postmodern technical world. He hopes to bridge the gap of understanding between experts and novices involved within the computer industry.
Confessions and Tips from a Top Web Hosting Salesman
Have you ever gone car shopping with a former car salesperson? Their industry and sales knowledge is powerful information vital to the average buyer. Gaining their street smarts and savvy gives the buyer an edge. This “edge” can be the difference between getting good value and being taken advantage of.
As a former top web hosting salesman, I have decided to come forward and shed some light on the industry. The rapidly growing world of web hosting, domain names, and basic web design is still a mystery to many interested people. My intent is to help you understand basic “do’s and don’ts” in order to help you make a better more-informed decision.
When I got into this business several years ago a close friend if mine had paid $35 for a domain name and had monthly expenses of $20 for simple hosting. By quickly checking the domain name I discovered it was in the hosting company’s name and not the actual owner of the website! I also quickly realized that this $275 annual expense was available at less than $100.
Not controlling your domain name can become a huge problem to website owners even though it is the smallest annual expense. You can be “held hostage” by hosting companies who control your domain name. This is how they keep you paying more than you should monthly, because you cannot leave! Make sure you are dealing with a reputable reseller or actual Registrar when you buy your domain name. Also consider buying the name for 5 or 10 years for $40-$80. If your email address changes or the credit card expiration changes, you can accidentally lose the name and have fines of $200 to get it back. Be wary of free domains and free web hosting, as you still get what you pay for. For more info on the subject refer to DomainInformer.
Not having the username and passwords to access the web hosting accounts is another huge mistake many buyers make. If your web designer turns up missing, and you cannot gain access to the files you bought and paid for, then you cannot leave that web host. This is the most common problem I encountered in my selling names, sites, and design! By the time you realize you are over-paying, you are frustrated because you are powerless. Do not trust anyone to keep this information for you. The relationship may change and you will be glad you are independent, informed, and in control of the situation.
Finally you also need to keep a copy of the files on your hard drive and/or backed up on a CD. This way if the web host loses the files or your designer is MIA you have a backup plan. Be sure the domain name is registered with you as the administrative contact, and that you have all username/password combinations for names and hosting accounts.
When you are a prospect everyone acts professionally, but what about after you are a customer? To be really comfortable with your web host make sure they give a 30-day money back guarantee. Load the files and see what kind of performance and customer service you get for a few weeks. If they promised 24/7 customer care on the 3rd ring and you are getting voice mail or being on hold for 15 minutes… you will be free to leave!
Web hosting is simply space in a computer where your html documents and jpeg. images are stored. Good web design allows for easy navigation through the written words and the pictures you want the world to view. What you need to be concerned with is the speed with which your website loads and the amount of uptime your host claims to give. When traffic is a heavy a slow loading website will frustrate interested viewers, and cause them to leave. In addition the host needs a backup plan for power and Internet connectivity. Many top hosts claim 99+% uptime year round. Get details about top hosts at HostReview.com.
Things to consider when buying web space are as follows: Will you utilize a database for a dynamic searchable site? Are you going to have a store, selling products online in a shopping cart? Are you going to have Unix or Windows based hosting? Do you need a secure site (static IP) needed to enter sensitive information like social security or credit card numbers safely? How much space do you need for large audio and video files, versus pictures and text only? And what is the difference between shared and dedicated hosting?
To answer all the above simply I will paint some broad stokes below. More knowledge about technical info can be found at WebKnowHow.net http://www.webknowhow.net People are unclear on the differences between shared and dedicated hosting. Most everyone starts with shared hosting as it is more affordable and works fine. In a shared hosting environment, the computer space is sliced up and “shared” among many small sites. Shared hosting ranges from a few dollars a month for a simple site to as much as $30-50/mo if you are selling online. Dedicated hosting usually begins at $59 and can easily reach $200/mo. and more.
If your site ever gets really popular and/or you have many transactions happening you to will move to a dedicated server. Dedicated meaning that all of that computer’s resources are allocated to you alone. If you do not know how to configure the server then you will need technical assistance in the form of an IT employee.
This technical expert will monitor the data center operations; of your hosting company to make sure data is backed up and protected by firewalls. Firewalls protect your computer from being “hacked” into unauthorized people. Another option you may consider is an emerging trend known as “managed dedicated servers”. The host helps to manage the servers daily operation, in order to help the novice operator.
Both shared and dedicated hosting requires a decision between Unix and Windows. This has been compared with people’s preference to Ford or Chevrolet. Some people grow up and get used to one and prefer it for some reason. Others know both and utilize what will be best in each situation.
From the viewer’s perspective, both Unix and Windows look the same. If you are going to use ASP (Active Server Pages) you will need Windows. Unix utilizes PHP instead of ASP, and is generally more stable and affordable. This is because the license fees paid to Microsoft increase the hosting company’s overhead and they pass that on to the consumer.
Many PC users have Front Page design software from Microsoft included as a gift in their original purchase. Unix hosting now includes front-page support for well under $10/mo. So you can utilize design software you already have, and host for under $100 per year.
Dreamweaver is the other popular design software program you should investigate if you are thinking about doing website design. Be wary of friends or relatives who will do the design for free. If they are gainfully employed, the tasks that they are paid for will take priority, which places unnecessary strains on the relationship. More info on web design and search engine optimization can be found at http://www.promotionworld.com/.
We also need to understand the relationship between the static IP address, using a database, and using eCommerce features to sell products online. IP addresses help identify where the actual end user is located physically. This is important if we need to locate to the original sender of a message or a live user creating havoc on the Internet.
Many of us have bought an airline ticket online by now. You may have noticed the screen that alerts you to the fact your connection is secure. This secure certificate assures a computer user that it is safe to enter credit card info and buy without fear of someone intercepting your sensitive data.
The static IP allows authorities and credit card processors to track storeowners and their computers to insure 100% honesty. Most shared web hosting sites share IP addresses as well. This is fine for a simple informational website with just pictures and text.
Dynamic sites are capable of storing your name and user profiles at an initial visit. This allows the site to “recognize” you on a subsequent visit and quickly load the profile for instant access. Dynamic sites also search for products or names in the company’s stored database. Searching for different items quickly and the site saving all your personal information, is a direct benefit of a database.
Most initial sites will not use static IPs or databases unless you are going to be selling online. These stores are referred to as eCommerce web hosting and are the most expensive of all. Monthly charges can easily exceed $50/mo when you consider all expenses of the static IP, payment gateway, merchant account, and shopping cart.
Buyers add items to their “shopping cart”; it totals shipping and taxes and charges your card. Merchant account banks process your buyer’s online purchase, charging 2-3% fee total to send money to your bank. You are then free to ship the product they bought.
My personal website has lots of pictures and text, yet is barely over 50 MB in size. 1 GB (1000MB) of storage, now is available for $10/mo, and has 20 times the storage I need. Large video files such as streaming video and audio are the largest users of space. 200MB and 10 email addresses are going to be as much as many small sites will ever need. Often of you prepay the year you can get a free month or the setup fees waived. Also find a host who pays you to refer friends, and you can get free months that way.
I hope this information helps you better understand the power of the Internet. We are all connected through this World Wide Web, and it is your right to benefit in every way possible. Come on, jump in, the water’s fine…
About The Author
Jamie Chantiles is Director of Sales for DevStart. He has been featured in magazines and on TV as an expert in peak performance. His speciality is in increasing productivity and attaining peak performance by harnessing the power of your own brain. Jamie has worked in the web hosting industry, selling and training for the last 2 years. Read more stimulating, probing and revealing articles on HostReview (www.hostreview.com).
jamie@devstart.com
Domain Name and Web Hosting Hell
Does GoDaddy really suck?
I am in the process of registering more and more domain names so it seems natural to look for the best pricing deal.
Registering multiple domain names can add up quickly, especially if you register both the NoDashVersion.com and Dashed-Version.com names.
Each domain name represents a new site concept which will in most cases involve the selection of a web hosting plan.
It also makes sense to pay a little less for web hosting right? After all, all these new projects add up.
How much do you really save?
The answer to this question depends on how much value we place on our time, and our ability to determine what other software tools are required to run the type of website we have in mind.
In other words, if we think that our time is valuable, we will not mind investing an extra $50-$400 per project per year, especially if there is a lot of value added services and software tools included in the price.
What’s the point in saving 50 bucks a year on some bare-bones web hosting if our time gets wasted with support issues or we need to buy additional products and services in order to run our site effectively?
Example of Web Hosting Hell:
http://www.godaddysux.com/web_hosting_hell.html
I do not know about you, but after I read one of these bad web hosting reviews, I start to become very cautious about that company. In this case, it is GoDaddy.
Research your new Web Host or Domain Name registrar
I remembered that GoDaddy has been mentioned a number of times in some of the Internet Marketing courses and SEO books that I own, so I decided to check GoDaddy out. By check them out, I do not mean just visit their web site, swallow their sales pitch and click through to the checkout patting myself on the back for a job well done.
I did a search at Google.com for the term godaddy review, and discovered some interesting results.
After reading a few of the results, I decided to search for the term “do not use godaddy” (this string was searched enclosed with “inverted commas”), and discovered even more negative feedback not only about their web hosting services but also their domain name registration and associated services.
Is it all about Price?
No way. Do we *really* save? On one hand it looks like a saving but on the other hand the saving can be offset by extra costs elsewhere.
As a result of this little study, I have no desire at this time to change my domain name registrar or my two web hosting companies that I use just to save a few bucks.
At the moment, I enjoy the following benefits from my web hosts and domain name registrar:
Everything works to my satisfaction 99.99% of the time
Very little support needed in the first place
Support queries attended to quickly
Support queries always solved to my satisfaction
I never suffer from emotional disturbance as a result of dealing with rude support staff
I am never accused of being the problem
Example of excellent support
I created a new directory and installed a PHP script on one of my sites. All the file permissions were set correctly and the files were uploaded in the correct format.
So I edited the HTML user interfaces and tried to upload them to this new directory. For some reason I was denied access to this new directory. Permission Denied!
I emailed my web host with a description of the problem and within a few hours my web host sent me an email saying that the problem has been fixed and that I can now proceed to upload into that directory. Wow!
A good Web Hosting and Domain Name service is worth it’s weight in Gold
Who really wants unnecessary dramas with web hosting and domain name registrars? Nobody does! (except those that cannot survive one day without chaos)
The peace of mind for a few extra bucks a year buys is priceless.
Besides, even if I select some of the platinum (no extras to buy) web hosting deals out there, it still only costs about 10-30 bucks a week to run a business on the Internet.
Imagine that, for a few extra bucks, I need not worry about: Content Management Software, web design, domain name registrations, expensive keyword research and SEO tools, search engine rankings, and the list goes on and adds up *real* quick.
Compare this to a regular bricks and mortar business where you pay thousands a month in rental fees just for a bit of floor space.
Sometimes it pays to do the sums. It might *appear* to cost more money at first, but does it really cost more after you calculate the out-going dollars over the whole year?
When I was in the process of building my first web site, I would not have had the capacity to answer that question because I had no experience. But you know that old saying:
“When someone with experience meets someone with money, the one with the experience ends up with the money and the one who had the money, ends up with an experience”
As a result, I have ended up spending thousands of dollars on eBooks, software, scripts, courses, private memberships, DVDs, VCDs, MP3s in an attempt to complete the Online Marketing mystery. This is all now part of my experience.
Conclusion
When we go looking to buy a car or a house, we do not base our decision on price alone. Otherwise we would all be driving around in smokey old $200 bombs. We look for features which we then translate in some way to benefits.
So why waste time looking for cheap-as-chips deals for the very important job of setting up an Online Business? We would do much better to look beyond price when buying services on the Internet.
Copyright 2004 Ed Zivkovic
About The Author
The author, Ed Zivkovic is based on the Gold Coast in Australia.
Contact details are available at his web site along with many helpful webmaster articles: http://www.ezau.com
Choosing the Right Web Hosting
Whatever type of website you want to host, choosing the correct host can be tricky. Most hosting companies offer you more than you will ever use, their sales staff recommend high-end packages for small websites.
Be careful when choosing, you will need room to expand but before you contact a company’s sales department; take a look at the size of your website. If it’s 10MB you wont need 1&1s Home package with 800MB for £4.99 a month!
Price and disk space aren’t the only factors to consider when choosing a host. Monthly transfer is how much information can be moved by both visitors and you; this may be from uploading and downloading files. Monthly transfer is also know as bandwidth and is slowly eaten up by every visit. I have seen many hosts offering more space then transfer! Don’t get caught out.
If you’re planning to install a forum or a content management system, they will both require a database. Linux and windows based hosts both handle MySQL databases, but Linux is usually praised as being the more efficient. Your host should allow you to add an extra database to your account with only a small fee, but you need to find out how many are included and how much upgrades cost before you decide on whom to hand your money too.
It is usually a good idea to use a company who you know is trustworthy, whether you know someone using them or have heard of their good services.
About The Author
Philip Wylie is the CEO of PWnet, a company offering web solutions to all types of business. For more information visit www.pwnet.org.uk.
sales@pwnethost.co.uk