The type of hosting that a webmaster chooses depends completely on the type of site, the amount of expected traffic, and the requirements of the site’s visitors. The first step in the decision process is to decide on the type of hosting (shared and dedicated are among the choices). Next, is to choose the best provider. Finally, a plan needs to be chosen.
Types of Hosting
Different hosting types include shared web hosting, dedicated web hosting, and virtual private servers. Each of these types have different characteristics that attract webmasters for different reasons. Here is some information to help choose the type of hosting:
Shared hosting has more features compared to free hosting, including unlimited bandwidth, unlimited space and sometimes free domain names, and it is obviously more in demand compared to the dedicated hosting. Selecting shared hosting provides time for middles-sized websites to grow before the need for dedicated hosting.
For more advanced webmasters or users that need more security, bandwidth, and security, dedicated hosting, virtual hosting, or reseller hosting will be a better choice. Here is some information on the more advanced solutions:
-Virtual private hosting have many of the same features as dedicated hosting, but with costs being divided between limited users that rent the server.
-Dedicated hosting is for larger sites or sites that need more security, bandwidth, and flexibility. This is perfect for bigger sites or ecommerce sites.
-Reseller Hosting allows the user to lease hosting to other webmasters.
Choosing the Best Hosting Company
After knowing the type of hosting that will be needed, finding a reputable company is the next step. Be careful of fake reviews and testimonials from affiliates looking for commissions. Instead, go to forums to look through the replies on posts related to web hosts by real users. These will typically be more likely to be unbiased. Also, look at hosting comparison sites that only compare the hosting features, such as this dedicated web hosting comparison.
Selecting a Hosting Plan
The final step after knowing the type of hosting and the service provider is to choose a hosting plan. Some of the important points to know is the amount of traffic expected and the size of the website. If a website currently exists, the amount of current traffic can be easily assessed. Otherwise, the traffic will have to be estimated.
Either way, get more bandwidth than is currently needed, by purchasing more now, to create a buffer zone that will avoid downtime because of the bandwidth being exceeded. Also, depending on the size of the website, the amount of memory may be an issue. If you have a brand new site with little to no content, it is easy to accommodate your necessary space. However, most web hosts offer unlimited space, so this shouldn’t be an issue with most plans and it is better to go with them.
