The hardest part about choosing web hosting is understanding exactly what you need. Many hosts offer many different packages, all at different price levels. Will you need the highest plan? Will you need the smallest? Will you need something entirely different? The important thing about web hosting is that you have to have an understanding of what your website will consist of. Too often we simply decide we need a website, run out and purchase web hosting, but then it turns out we did not need everything we paid for, or we simply did not get enough.
To solve this problem, the first thing you need to do is have a good solid plan when it comes to your website. Even if you do not have the design detailed as of yet, it is important that you understand what you intend to include in your website. For example, is your website going to be graphic heavy? In other words, will you have a lot of flashy graphics, or do you intend to place a large amount of photographs on the website? For example, will you be running a photography website or perhaps you have thousands of products you want to put up for sale? These are all important to understand because it can affect the disk space level you want to choose.
Other aspects that can affect the disk space level include audio, flash, and video files. This typically run in the large megabyte range, therefore, may require more disk space than say a few graphics and text. If you do not understand how much space you may require, a good graphic or web designer will be able to help you in estimating the disk space you need.
Another important factor is bandwidth. Bandwidth is controlled by the number of times the data within your website is accessed and essentially downloaded to the viewers screen. Each time your website is asked to bring up the graphics, images, text, audio, flash, or video files, it will take up bandwidth. If you have a graphic or media heavy website and expect massive traffic, you will want high bandwidth. However, if you have low traffic and the website is mostly test, it is highly unlikely you will need a high bandwidth.
The next things to look at are the features of your website. Will you need MySQL databases, shopping cart, and other such tools? These can affect your disk space and bandwidth as well. However, some providers include these in the price.
Basically, you have to decide what your needs are and make sure your hosting provider meets those needs. There are so many considerations that it will be impossible to list them all. Again, if you need help determining your needs, talk to a reputable graphic or web designer, they will be able to help you through it.
Matt Colvin is an online entrepreneur that enjoys writing about a variety of internet based subjects. The top 3 webhosts that he would suggest for great hosting are linked below.
No comments:
Post a Comment