Let's face it, the Internet is here. 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 cash in your pocket. You could have the greatest invention in the world, and if your site is down, and not working, people will buy elsewhere and what good is that? First things first. Have an expectation that you will find the perfect hosting company. If you go on the hunt with the expectation that your search will be difficult, then that's what will be your experience. The easiest way to find a good hosting company is to ask other webmasters and site owners who they use. People love to share their knowledge and you can often pick up many helpful hints. Once you find a company that looks promising, see what kind of customer support they offer. Having a "real" 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 wanting. Are they friendly, do they treat you like a human being, do they make suggestiong, 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 decide if it is a good fit. Claudette Spedden has created the Hosting resource site Fast X Hosting |