A web hosting company is one that provides server hard drive space for websites. It seems like everyone has a website these days so finding the right web hosting service is crucial. Companies that provide these services are popping up all over the Internet. Some are good and some are not. Some are expensive and some are free.
There really are companies out there that provide web hosting services for free. Some of these companies offer unlimited storage space. Does that sound like a great deal, especially if you're in business? That depends on the company providing the service and your website needs.
If you type the words "free web hosting services" into any search engine, you will get several pages of links to sift through. Choosing whether to go with the free service or not is a decision that only you can make. It will largely depend on the reason you have a website. Free web hosting services are great options for people that use their sites for personal use. They can work for businesses as well, but many times business owners feel more comfortable choosing a professional paid hosting service due to the most important factor to consider when choosing a hosting service of any type-dependability. The list below contains tips which will help you in your search.
· Does the hosting company have 24/7 customer service available? If you get stuck making changes in the middle of the night and don't know what to do, how will you get your website back up and running? Customer service is important during times like this.
· How much file space do they allow you? Any site that offers fewer than 5 GB for a business is not worth your consideration. If you have a business, you may want to consider having more than 5 GB of space available to you.
· Will you have access to CGI bin files? You may not understand the technical aspects of this question but it is important to have this access.
· How does their upload process work? Can you use FTP?
· How long has the service company been in business? If they have been around for several years, they are going to be more stable.
· Can you contact them by phone? Some small companies do not have customer service departments. You still need the ability to get in contact with someone by phone if you have any important questions or needs.
· What kind of security do they have? Hackers are everywhere and they may target your site. Sometimes they will try to hack into the server itself to gain access to your important files. What systems are replaced to keep your website and files secure?
· How reliable is this company? Is there a backup system in place in the event that the server with your website goes down? This is important because your customers expect your site to be there when they wish to visit.
Free Web hosting services can be a great option if the company is dependable. Do your research carefully. If you decide to free hosting service is your best bet, go for it. If you decide not to go with free web hosting, perhaps cheap hosting is really what you need.
Jason Kay recommends reading reviews of cheap hosting sites to find a affordable, reliable web hosting service that meets your needs.
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