Unlimited Bandwidth Offers
The wily geniuses who work in the marketing departments of web hosting companies have come up with a very seductive offer to lure in potential clients. And as in most deals that scream ‘free’ or ‘unlimited’, the proposition of cheap and easy unlimited bandwidth for your web site might contain a few hidden land mines you need to uncover before signing on the dotted line.
There are two principles to keep in mind in terms of bandwidth. First, there is no such thing as unlimited. On shared web hosting servers or even a dedicated server for that matter, there will always be a limit to available bandwidth. The web hosting providers that offer an unlimited supply is just assuming you will not exceed a certain amount of bandwidth allotted to your site. Second, web hosts aren’t going to lose money on your web site. If you do exceed your bandwidth allotment month after month then you’ll most likely be hit with additional fees or fines, and/or you’ll be recommended to look for another web host.
This means you need to do your homework and find out what unlimited bandwidth in this context really means. Web hosts may force limitations on your traffic by restricting media or other large files. Or they may put a parameter on your bandwidth by allowing ‘unlimited’ bandwidth but charging heavy fees or fines after you exceed a certain amount of traffic.
If you are a little unsure about how much bandwidth you really need but you want to plan for growth and increased traffic then first calculate your current monthly bandwidth usage. This can be roughly estimated with the following formula:
Number of pages on your web site x 0.05 MB x Number of monthly hits
You can use this number as a starting point and make projections about growth so you can have a better sense of what type of plan you’ll want to put under contract. The point of your web site is to increase awareness and therefore traffic to your little corner of the Internet. Don’t limit yourself by cutting corners on bandwidth. While free web hosting plans are good in some cases, they generally have bandwidth limitations. The best web hosting providers in the industry will offer web hosting plans that meet your needs without charging you an arm and a leg.
Shared Hosting vs. Virtual Hosting
So what is better – shared web hosting or virtual web hosting? In fact, many may be wondering what the difference is between shared and virtual hosting. Whether you refer to a certain sector of web hosting as shared hosting or you prefer the more old school term, virtual hosting, it’s all the same concept wherein you pay to use or rent a certain portion of a server’s capabilities and storage. Shared hosting is the most typical route for companies to host their web sites simply for the fact that it’s a big leap from paying someone to use their server services to buying and maintaining all the technology involved in your own set up. In fact unless you are planning on running a mega-site with extra heavy traffic and/or enormous content, and you have the financial means to pay for the manpower to manage your own system, then there are few considerations outside of who are the best shared web hosts out there.
Since you typically share your server space with anywhere from 50 to 1,000 of your web host’s other clients, it’s crucial to find a company who keeps close tabs on the sharing of bandwidth and storage. A neglectful company who allows others to hog up your fair share or who overloads a server with too many clients could literally cause your web site to come to a screeching halt. Even a slow loading web site will send your users searching elsewhere.
Another possible pitfall to be aware of in shared hosting is the bad company of your server neighbors whose questionable content or spamming practices may get your perfectly legit web site blocked. The best web hosting providers are aware of web site content and prevent the problem of guilt by association, whereas free web hosting companies are famous for not monitoring content and becoming a haven for spammers and phishing schemes.
In addition to keeping a close eye on usage rates and content, a good shared server web host should provide security measures, redundancy, reliable and updated hardware and software, and if possible, 24/7 customer support, or at least monitoring. As reviewed by the website ‘100 Best’ the top rated shared web host is BlueHost for a combination of high-tech equipment, top-notch monitoring, and competitive pricing.
POP Email Accounts
POP (Post Office Protocol) Email Accounts are a basic feature with nearly any web hosting package. Depending on your provider and your subscription plan, you can receive anything from a handful to unlimited POP Email Accounts for use with your web site. These multiple accounts come in extremely handy when organizing or routing your incoming email messages to the correct task or employee. For example email accounts can be given specific names depending on the content or who the message may regard – customer service@yourcompany.com, accounting@yourcompany.com, or technical support@yourcompany.com.
It also creates a more professional and corporate appeal for your web site, and on the flip side, a central location for your employees who are checking and sending email but with security protected passwords for each user. Even if you are only a one or two-man show, the extra POP Email Accounts can allow you to assign your personal and business emails different accounts to help separate work from pleasure.
Since POP Email is a standard protocol for any transmission of email it is built into any mainstream Internet or email program including the reigning email application Microsoft Outlook. Since messages to a POP Email Account are stored on a server, software like the popular Outlook or similar programs will regularly check for new messages and download them to your computer or mobile device.
This is what separates POP accounts from webmail. Messages to a POP account can be downloaded and accessed via a client email program to be viewed on your home turf, whereas webmail can only be accessed through your browser in your webmail account – hotmail, gmail, Yahoo, or your web hosts webmail, etc. POP accounts lend themselves to more control of content, better spam and filter control, and overall flexibility as compared to webmail.
As you consider webhosts or as you evaluate your current provider take into consideration your email needs and what a given web host can offer you. The best web hosting providers generally offer unlimited POP email accounts with their web hosting plans, whereas free web hosting companies generally offer limited or no POP email accounts.
Reseller Web Hosting
Reseller web hosting is like subletting your rented apartment. In a nut shell, a web designer or anyone wanting to sell web hosting buys web hosting and domain name registration services from a web host and then re-markets these services for resale under their own company name. Obviously, this would not fly with just any web host but there are a number of web hosts who gladly promote and work with resellers. Furthermore, keep in mind that free web hosting providers generally don’t offer reseller web hosting options.
The upside for the web host is the unpaid marketing and sales staff in the form of the reseller who provides paying customers. For the reseller, it provides an opportunity to make a profit on each end of the process from web design to hosting. In many instances, designers would make recommendations or have a basic understanding of which web host will work in cooperation best with their site requirements. This way they receive compensation for promoting web hosting services without incurring the cost of becoming a full-fledged web hosting business and maintaining their own servers and equipment.
Be cautious in the contractual arrangements you make with a web host as a reseller. There are several server set-ups you may encounter from having a virtual dedicated server to cohabitating with your own server in the host’s space and under their watchful eye. In the latter arrangement, the web host typically provides technical support and/or server maintenance.
Either way have a firm understanding of the degree of control you will maintain in factors regarding the number of accounts available to you for resell, languages and applications the server can accommodate, extras available to your clients (like POP3 accounts, free domain names, technical support), and a user-friendly and effective site administrator.
And always, always, go with a reputable reseller web hosting company even if it means paying a little more. Beat the message boards for feedback, ask about money-back guarantees, get an overview of the operation and capabilities, look for straight forward pricing, and get an itemized quote for set-up, operation, overages, and when necessary expansion, to avoid hidden fees or unexpected charges.
Free CGI Scripts
A static web page that you view, read, and then click on an icon to read another page runs off a basic HTML structure. It is for all intensive purposes an Internet billboard. To create a more dynamic and interactive web site that allows your user to input and receive information, shop online, locate your business on a map with driving direction requires the addition of CGI Scripts. And free CGI scripts are the way to go.
Common Gateway Interface (CGI) and its incarnations – CGI Scripts, CGI Proxy, and CGI-bin – are not strictly a computer language but rather the intelligent mediator that allows HTML and other programs to play nicely. So rather than a language, CGI is lines of code usually written in Perl or PHP (although compatible with other languages) that communicates with script and the web and the user.
An HTML command simply requests a document from the server, but a CGI link accesses and runs a program from the server that handles a specific request. For example, your user clicks on an icon for the location and driving directions to your business. A CGI script is accessed from the server and displays an HTML that allows the user to type in a zip code for directions and a map from this specific location. After the addresses are submitted, the CGI accesses the server again to execute the program.
The CGI can complete several complex tasks at once. It can return the user request for a map and directions, another program can track the zip codes from where you are receiving these requests for marketing and research, another program can email the map and directions to the user upon request, and so forth.
The main idea to the CGI script is that each of these functions runs off a program from simple to complex that is located on the server not embedded into the HTML document. It may be displayed as HTML but CGI creates a go between so that the server can store and access the program.
The great part about CGI scripts are they are extremely useful, they increase the ease and usability of your web site ten fold, they are easy to install, they can be downloaded for free from providers all over the web, and you don’t have to be a computer programmer to have a great web site.
The tricky part is that CGI scripts do require server access. If your web host is not willing to comply you’ll have to look at other hosts who can support CGI programs. Be aware that most free web hosting providers do not support CGI scripting.
Dedicated Servers
Dedicated Servers – I don’t care if you’re talking computers or just life in general, there’s something quite appealing about the idea of dedicated servers. It sounds like something from the handbook of the fabulously wealth, and even in the case of the web world, it does require some cash.
A dedicated server means that you no longer have to share your bandwidth, disk space, IP address, or the disgraced ‘blocked’ reputation of your smutty server neighbor in a shared web hosting environment. Dedicated server means for the extra mullah, you have your own server, all your own space, and all your own problems. There is one tricky loophole to be aware of though; because in the instance of ‘unlimited’ storage on a shared web hosting server, you may actually have more space than your dedicated server which will have limitations – very broad limitations – but limitations none the less.
There are two basic set-ups that are offered through web hosts, managed and dedicated. The first is the full-service plan which includes the server and a system manager and usually is the more expensive option up front. If you are already staffed with employees who could handle these duties then the dedicated plan would be more up your alley. However, be sure what kind of help you can expect even with the dedicated option for set-up, security, support, and other problems that may arise.
Another main consideration when looking at a host for a dedicated server is what type of configuration option is available. Some companies offer a prescribed set of plans whereas others give more license in selecting your software, storage limits, administration controls, processor, support options, etc.
Your dedicated server puts you into the upper tiers in terms of cost for your web site – you are a whale, if you will. As such, many hosts throw in a few luxury bells and whistles that may sway you in your decision-making. Be sure to give more sway to those which will have a greater impact on issues like security, support, back-up, and guarantees. As always, go with a web hosting provider with a solid track record, proven reliability, and some staying power.
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Best Merchant Accounts
Merchant accounts provided by a bank or merchant service provider allow your business to accept credit cards. And in this ever-changing economy, ecommerce has become an essential part of doing business. The bank or merchant account provider serves as the middle man that makes credit card purchases possible between your on-line customers and your web site. It is a contract service that not only processes the transactions, authorizes the purchases, and transfers the funds, but the best merchant accounts also assume the responsibility of guaranteeing the funds.
Obviously, merchant accounts are an absolute necessity to conduct any type of transaction from your web site. For that reason, it is important that you are in league with a reputable and reliable merchant service provider that charges a reasonable rate for their services. The costs associated with a merchant account, or merchant account fees, include fees for a variety of services: per transaction charge (typically around $0.25), payment gateway fee, generating statements, account set-up, Internet rate (competitive rates range from 2-2.5%), retail rate (a percentage of your sales), technical support, etc.
It might seem like a long list of fees but there are many quality merchant account providers who waive set-up fees or will throw in little extras like search engine submission, shopping cart or other necessary software, or tech support. So don’t plan on paying every fee listed.
Keep the necessary costs of a merchant account in perspective as you realize the incredible ease this service provides, and not to mention the peace of mind. In real-time and with no extra set up on your end, your merchant account handles the complicated process of seeking authorization and checking funds from any financial institution your customers may request, get authorization, transfer funds and then adds a cherry on top by taking on all the risk of possible fraudulent purchases on stolen cards or insufficient funds.
You can run a search for the best merchant account providers, but it’s a good bet to start your hunt with Merchant Warehouse (866-396-4142), Charge.com or FreeAuthNet, all of whom are consistently well reviewed companies. Look for companies with a high approval rating and a willingness to provide prompt support and other extras.
FTP Web Hosting
With the prevalence of File Transfer Protocol (FTP) in transferring data from computer to computer, it’s important to have a grasp on the variety of functions FTP plays and how that will affect your selection of a web host for your web site. You don’t have to enroll in computer programming courses to feel qualified to shop your web host, but it doesn’t hurt to have a basic understanding of how FTP functions and what the term FTP or FTP web hosting can imply.
FTP was constructed on a client-server prototype and because of the easy access it provides for both user and server to trade, save, and change files, and the separate connections and control between applications on both ends, it has become a standard network protocol for use on the Internet. Understand that the term FTP has reference to each aspect of this connection including host, user, server and command.
When using FTP from the server-side a main concern is access and security. Because you can allow server access to a web site user with anonymous entry or by a more strict entry with username and password, it’s important to know what type of security measures are in place to protect yours and your client’s data. For that reason look for hosts who offer enhanced versions of FTP with added protection under the moniker SFTP (short for Secure Shell FTP) and FTPS (FTP over Secure Socket Layer). These additional protections will create a safer environment for file transfer.
Moreover, make sure your FTP storage is equally protected. In the face of a crash or other ill-dreaded catastrophe involving loss of data is their restoration backup support offered through the web host.
Always a concern in regards to FTP or any aspect of web hosting is capacity, particularly storage and bandwidth. Make sure you lock into parameters that are just reasonable for your current need but allows for growth and increased traffic to your web site. What type of guarantees or claims does the web host make in regards to their uptime and support, and just as important are their complaints about slow-poke upload or download times. In today’s Internet environment, if a web user has to wait more than a few seconds or has to make multiple attempts for access they will more than likely go browsing else where. Also be aware that most free web hosting providers generally do not offer FTP access to upload files.
Lastly, have an understanding if your web host prices on a tiered system of how and when you are bumped up to higher usage costs and what, if any, overage penalties you could incur. The best web hosting companies are priced fair and will work with you to make sure you get the best deal for your money.
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PERL Scripting
PERL scripting has become the go-to programming language for the best web hosting applications and web developers. Its vast popularity is a result of its highly adaptable and compatible structure. Even servers not using PERL are more than likely using a prototype of the scripting standard and in any case it’s smart to understand the basics of PERL and why it has ballooned throughout the web hosting industry.
It was developed by NASA systems administrator, Larry Wall, and has been dubbed the “Swiss Army Knife” of programming languages because it is so versatile and functional. This is due in part to the object-oriented approach which allows complex program operations without bogging down the functionality with messy code line after code line of tasks that are used in other languages like C or C++. Instead PERL takes a dynamic, server-side approach wherein it groups collections of cooperating objects which are each able to work together or separate from the other objects to fulfill tasks and carry out an action. This means a real-time response with independent applications that don’t require specialized and pricey servers. How do you beat a scripting language that is simple, fast, user-friendly, and cost-effective?
In the Internet-based technologies, PERL has been widely adopted even though it is mainly associated with a UNIX platform. It is available with the majority of other operating platforms as well. PERL scripting also expands options of cross-system use because it is not tied to the same restrictions as an interpreted language. Likewise, it is useful in implementing the bevy of operations associated with CGI programs – shopping carts, hit counter, maps, guestbooks, etc. – because it is a leading program in web site production and the overwhelming majority of CGI programs are written in PERL. It’s also used to back up CGI programs.
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Multiple Domain Web Hosting
If you are looking for the best web hosting provider that allows you to operate two or more web sites from the same account rather than spreading out your accounts among a handful of providers, then your ideal web host should offer multiple domain web hosting. For example, multiple domain web hosts could appeal to someone just looking to set up separate personal and business websites to an ad agency who manages the on-line marketing of multiple clients.
The big appeal for handing over all your web sites to the same host is ease, efficiency, and if you find the right provider, price breaks. It basically simplifies the process. There is one place to send the bill, one place to go to organize and edit content, one place to call if there’s a glitch or you have questions. You get the idea.
In terms of price break it’s comparative to shopping at a big box store as opposed to picking up the items on your list at individual markets. You might get a better price on one item on sale somewhere else, but to get everything on your list with a final price total for less and in the quantity you need, you might as well save the time and effort of running all over and get it one place.
Be advised though. Putting all your eggs in one basket, so too speak, with a multiple domain web host requires slightly more homework and planning. You’ll want to look at the schematics more thoroughly in terms of what technologies they support (i.e. they’re OS capabilities, scripting, POP3 accounts, subdomains).
Also take into considerations that even though you may be starting small now, what type of growth might the future bring. Ensure that your web host is willing and capable to handle an increase of traffic, memory usage, even the number of accounts you have under contract.
And, of course, scrutinize your plan when it comes to the almighty dollar. Does you web host offer free set-up, satisfaction guarantees, technical support and/or deal sweeteners like web site construction, free domain names, unlimited terms.
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