If you decide you want to sell handcrafted items online, you might not be sure how to set up your website to do so. Your next priority would be to establish shopping cart functionality on the site. While some companies that offer web page hosting also offer this capability, some do not. Keep reading to learn more about website hosting and the features you might want and need from your host provider.
Find out what kinds of web pages you can create using each potential web host. Some free hosting sites don’t allow you to add your own unique language scripts. If your site requires scripting to run, you’re better off searching for some good paid shared hosting.
The features that hosting companies offer varies widely. When comparing hosts, be sure you are including the features that you need. A host that appears to be more economical may not be due to missing features in their plan.
Be sure to register the name of your domain separately from your web page hosting service. In case the service shuts down, or you have conflicts with the company, you will still own your own domain name and can just change to a new host. Your host will have the control of your domain registration.
Target Audience
As you shop for prospective web hosting services, it is in your best interest to go with a company that is headquartered in your target audience’s country. If your target audience is in the UK, your web host should have their headquaters in the UK, too.
Choose monthly payments instead of subscribing for a whole year. It is impossible to know for certain what will happen to either your website or your web host in the future. The quality of the hosting service could decline or your site could expand so much that you have to move it to another server. Unless your host offers your money back if you do not complete your year-long agreement, go with a monthly subscription.
When selecting a web host, figure out which one will give you in-depth information and data about how many visitors are accessing your site. Try putting a counter on your site to keep track of visits. Compare the information on your counter to the statistics your web host gives you. Being able to use this information to improve and grow your online business is crucial.
Do any of the hosts you’re choosing between offer your money back if you’re not satisfied? If you find the service isn’t working as well as you hoped, you should be able to get a refund. The time frame for this is generally 30 days. Some hosting providers make promises they cannot keep.
Make sure that companies you consider offer the features that you’ll need. Know what you want to avoid over or under paying for hosting features.
If you keep learning about web hosting, you are going to be a pro. Use the information laid out here to help you better understand, and you will discover that it is easier than you thought. Build up your proficiency one day at a time and you’ll find success eventually.
