If you have never dealt with website hosting before, then some of the terminology can be quickly confusing. Disk space, bandwidth, FTP are just some of the things you will see on these hosting companies packages. So how do you decide which package is really going to be the best one for you to choose?
The thing about website hosting is that it is pretty much all the same. Most companies offer the same packages and features, so once you learn the terminology then it should make things easier for you. Here are some common things you need to be aware of:
Disk Space – This is the amount of room you are given on a server to put your website. So you need to make sure your site will fit and allow enough extra room for emails.
Bandwidth – This is the data transfer that is used when people look at your website in their browser. The more visitors you get and the larger the file sizes, the more bandwidth you will use. Many companies offer unlimited bandwidth so this should be an issue.
FTP – This stands for File Transfer Protocol and is basically the method used to get your website from your computer to your hosting account. A free program such as FileZilla is ideal for this.
Uptime – This is the overall amount of time that the hosting company keeps their servers online. This needs to be at least 99% to ensure your site is pretty much always online.
Email Accounts – This allows you to set up different accounts on the server. You may need extra accounts for technical support or customer support, depending on if you have a business website or a personal one. Most hosting companies offer unlimited POP3 accounts, so you can set up as many as you want.
Hopefully this information about website hosting will make it easier for you to choose the web host you need.