Weigh the benefits of web hosting before you buy.
Siri Stafford/Lifesize/Getty Images
If you have purchased a domain name to start a website, chances are you have compared various hosting services. Most companies offer a variety of Web space and bandwidth, but narrowing down a hosting provider can seem daunting. Pros and cons of Web hosting vary depending upon the type of site you create and the amount of traffic you hope to receive. Consider a few things to ensure your Web hosting company is well-equipped for the type of site you want to host.
Free Hosts
If you do not have a domain and simply want a blog, you can use a free host like WordPress, Blogger or Tumblr. These hosts limit the content you can create (no adult websites) and often have design or coding restrictions. You can create a basic personal website or blog on these hosts with little to no technical knowledge and they are recommended for personal sites. Keep in mind that you do not get your own domain name, email or FTP access. You agree to the company's terms when you sign up. Failure to adhere to the terms of service can result in account suspension or data loss.
Virtual Space
This is the amount of disk space you are allowed for Web pages, images and video. Most Web hosting companies offer a variety of packages tailored to a client's website needs. A personal domain may only have a few pages and images, while a business website can have dozens of pages, forms, images and videos. One con to a business website is you may require more space than most basic hosting packages provide. Some Web hosts specialize in businesses and give you enough space to make your Web presence known. The pros of having your own hosting are a domain name, POP3 email accounts, email forwards and FTP use.
Bandwidth
Web hosts limit the amount of bandwidth you use on a per-month basis. Bandwidth controls how much data your website can transfer. Most website owners do not come close to the amount of bandwidth they are allotted per month, but a often-visited site or a business may reach a monthly bandwidth quota early. Streaming videos, downloads and lots of images can eat your allotted bandwidth quickly. If a host claims to offer unlimited bandwidth, read the terms before signing up. Some terms of use offer good-faith bandwidth allotment, and if it is discovered that bandwidth is being abused or a large business is benefiting from unlimited data transfer, privileges can be revoked.
Website Content
If you have an adult-oriented website, you may have a more difficult time finding a Web host. Some everyday Web hosts do not host adult sites, so you may have to look for a company that specializes in the type of website you want to create. If your website contains other unfavorable topics, you may want to contact the Web host to see if it has a policy against the type of content your website publishes. Keep in mind that Web hosts are private businesses and reserve the right to refuse hosting to websites that are sexually graphic, hateful or discriminatory.
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Photo Credits
- Siri Stafford/Lifesize/Getty Images
