Let's face it, the Internet is here to stay.
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. |