Author: Claudette Spedden
Article source: http://www.articlesmagazine.com/. Used with author's permission.
Let's face it, the Internet is here for good. Today's Internet
reminds me of the California gold rush. There is a ton
of moeny and opportunities to be made by everyone who
wishes to participate in this modern day gold rush. Most people
have been drawn to the Internet, because of the ability
to leverage their time and make money even while they are
sleeping. Which makes it an even better opportunity than the
gold rush!
Just like any offline business, an online business requires
an address, or place on the Internet where your Web site is
located. You can't have a Web site and just "stick it up" on
the Internet. Unless you own your own server, you use a
hosting company. A hosting company gives you an online
address. This online address allows the search engines
and
people seaching for your product or service the ability to
locate your website.
So what is all the confusion about regarding hosting sites.
Understanding a hosting provider's websites is equal to
speaking a foreign language. They are full of numbers and
letters and if you do not know what they are describing, it
can be confusing and overwhelming. For example: there is
50
mg space, and 2 gig data transfer, and front page
extensions, secure servers. What's it all mean?
In my humble opinion you don't have to be a brainiac to
have a great hosting service that serves your needs. You
want to be the recognized expert in your particular field,
and let the hosting company do their job, by providing
excellent hosting and service. All you need to have is a
general knowledge about what hosting is.
Let's start from the beginning. Think of a hosting company
as the highway department that allows the traffic, search
engines, and people access to your website. The reason
that
this is so important boils down to money in your pocket.
You could have the greatest widget the world has ever seen,
and if your site is down, and not operating, people will
buy elsewhere and what good is that?
First things first. Set an expectation that you will find
the "perfect" hosting company. If you search the
expectation that your job will be difficult, then that's
what will be your experience. The best way to find a good
hosting company is to ask other site owners and
webmasters
who they use. People love to share their knowledge and you
can often pick up many helpful ideas.
Once you find a company that looks promising, see what
kind
of customer service they offer. Having a "live" person to
talk to is a HUGE bonus and well worth any additional cost.
Talk to them on the phone, explain what you are doing and
ask them if they can provide what you are looking for. Are
they friendly, do they treat you like a human being, do they
make recommendations without being pushy? Are they able
to
grow with you, as your business grows? The answers to
these
questions will give you a good idea of how they do
business.
Now it's up to you to determine if it is a good fit. The author has been able to demystify "hosting" and break it
down into easy to understand language. She has shared
her insights with many colleagues and groups and enables
them to get clear around a normally complex subject.
Claudette Spedden is founder of Fast X Hosting an
excellent resource site dedicated to information on hosting
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