Top 10 Hosting Reviews - FAQ's
These are some of the more commonly asked questions that often arise when it comes to web hosting. We hope that
you will find these FAQ's helpful.
I don’t have a lot of money, can I get someone to host my website cheap?
What is really considered a budget host?
Who should be looking for a budget host?
How cheap can I get a website hosted for?
Do budget hosts offer quality service and uptime?
What features can I expect to get?
What if I start with a budget hosting plan and then later require more?
What platforms can I get budget hosting on?
What should I watch out for when selecting a budget host?
What shouldn’t I sacrifice in the name of price?
What features should I sacrifice to save money?
What is Ecommerce?
How do I know if I need an Ecommerce Host?
Do I have to accept credit cards?
What is shopping cart software and do I need it?
How do I accept credit cards?
What is a virtual Terminal?
Is PayPal a good way to accept credit cards?
What is real-time credit card processing?
Should I look into accepting checks online?
Do I need SSL?
What is Co-location?
Who needs Co-location hosting?
Who actually supplies the server?
Will a co-location provider make sure my machine stays online?
If something goes wrong with my server hardware, who fixes it?
Is there a limit to the size of my server?
What things do I need to take into consideration when selecting a provider?
I don’t have a lot of money, can I get someone to host my website cheap?
Yes. Depending on your web site’s requirements, you may be the perfect candidate for a budget web hosting
account. Back to Top
What is really considered a budget host?
A budget host, for the purposes of our comparisons, is defined as a web host provider that offers web site hosting
services for $3/month or less. All the hosting companies listed on this website offer budget hosting options.
Back to Top
Who should be looking for a budget host?
Budget hosting is used primarily for personal use and by small businesses. The best candidate for a budget web
host is a site that contains mostly static HTML pages, with a small amount of traffic. Size matters as well, since web
hosts offer limited amounts of disc space for the different services they offer. So, someone who has a large website, or a
very heavily trafficked site would not benefit from a budget web host account. Back to Top
How cheap can I get a website hosted for?
It is not unheard of to see websites available for as low as $3.00/month, or lower. Back to Top
Do budget hosts offer quality service and uptime?
In general budget hosting is simply a cheaper hosting plan offered by hosting companies for people or business
that don't require high amounts of disk space, bandwidth or programming. The plans usually contain many of the commonly
required features and are a viable hosting option. Our budget hosts offer quality service and many have 99.9% or higher
uptime guarantees. Back to Top
What features can I expect to get?
To be honest, there are a number of budget hosts who offer quite an impressive package at a budget price. Features
like database support, scripting, shopping carts, and email processing are available through most budget hosts. More
advanced features are available at some hosts, but usually at an additional cost. Back to Top
What if I start with a budget hosting plan and then later require more?
Most of the companies offering budget hosting can, upon request, upgrade your account to one that better suits
your requirements. Back to Top
What platforms can I get budget hosting on?
You can find budget hosting on both the Unix/Linux platforms, and the Windows platform. Services among the two are
very competitive, since most offerings and features are available for both operating systems. Web server software is
commonly Apache for Unix/Linux, and IIS for Windows. Back to Top
What should I watch out for when selecting a budget host?
The key thing to look for in any hosting provider is reliability. When selecting a host, check to see how long
they have been around. If the host has been around for a short time, it may not yet be an established company. If a web
host goes out of business while hosting your site, chances are you are out of luck, especially if you paid a year in
advance. Also, make sure your budget account includes technical support. Some hosts offer budget accounts for a good price,
but charge extra for support. Back to Top
What shouldn’t I sacrifice in the name of price?
There are a couple of things to consider carefully when selecting a host. First, you want to make sure the hosting
package you choose offers enough disk space to hold your web site. Secondly, depending on the size of your website, and how
many visitors you expect to have, you want to make sure your host offers enough bandwidth for your site to operate. When
you exceed your allotted bandwidth in a month, your host will charge you extra. Back to Top
What features should I sacrifice to save money?
The simple answer to this is ‘everything you don’t need’. Things like database support, shopping carts, scripting
languages, and even web control panels are useful things, but not worth the extra money if you do not need them. A majority
of the websites on the Internet today are nothing but HTML pages, and a few graphics. A website like this requires none of
the bells and whistles offered by most hosts. It's a good idea to check exactly what features your site requires with your
webmaster. Back to Top
What is Ecommerce?
Ecommerce stands for electronic commerce; we will use the term Ecommerce to refer to Internet sales of services
and products. In particular we will use it to refer to doing the whole process online: from selecting what is being ordered
to accepting payment. Back to Top
How do I know if I need an Ecommerce Host?
If you want to sell products or services online then you are going to need an Ecommerce host. Unless you want to
take a chance that people will send you a check to order a product from a site. Just think about how many times have you
sent a check though the mail to order something online from a web site; that number is probably zero. Back to Top
Do I have to accept credit cards?
Yes is the short and simple answer.
Ask yourself how many items a week you buy that which you really do not need. Then figure out how many of those
items you bought using a credit card. In retail stores it is pretty well known that accepting credit cards increase impulse
purchases between 50% to 80% and that is why any retail store you walk into accepts credit cards.
When a customer walks into a retail store the customer can pay with cash, check, or credit card. In the online
world cash is not possible and no one ever sends in a check to buy an item from an online merchant. Accepting credit cards
online is the only way to have a viable business. Back to Top
What is shopping cart software and do I need it?
Shopping cart software is software that runs on the web server that keeps track of the items or services the
customer wants to purchase. Once the customer is done browsing and has selected all the items and/or services they want to
purchase then they go to the checkout area. In the checkout area is where the customer will put in all their personal
information and their payment form. Using shopping cart software allows the developer or owner of the web site to get the
site up and running a lot faster than if they were to create the entire shopping experience from scratch.
You can get away without using shopping cart software if you only have 1 or 2 items and/or services to sell.
However, if you have more than that, then you should seriously consider using shopping cart software. The great thing about
shopping cart software is that most hosts will let you test the shopping cart software even before you setup your account
with them. So make sure you test out all the versions you can find to figure out which one you like best. Back to Top
How do I accept credit cards?
There are two different ways to accept credit cards. One is to sign up for a service like PayPal where they
actually accept the credit card and then they send you the money. This might be okay for a smaller site but if you are
serious about doing Ecommerce then you should get a merchant account.
A merchant account is very similar to a bank account but it is only used to accept payments from credit cards and
online checks. The money is then transferred into your normal business account. The time it takes to go from the merchant
account to your business account depends on a few variables, which will need to be discussed with the company you setup
your merchant account with. Back to Top
What is a virtual Terminal?
When a customer is in a store then the merchant has access to the credit card and can process it though a
“terminal” right next to the cash register. In the online world that is not possible though. In the online world we have
“virtual terminals” which is where users give all their personal information and credit card information. This information
is used to verify that this is really the owner of the card. If the information the customer gave matches what the credit
card company has on record then the sale will go though. Back to Top
Is PayPal a good way to accept credit cards?
Customers want to pay the way they want to pay so being able to accept PayPal payments is a good idea but it
should not be the only way you accept payments. Having a number of different ways a customer can make a payment will
increase impulse sales and that will significantly increase your bottom line. Back to Top
What is real-time credit card processing?
Real-time credit card processing is when a user enters their personal information along with their credit card
information into the order form and they get a response as to if their credit card was accepted or rejected right away.
Most merchant account and software combinations allow for this but some do not so make sure if you want to do this that
yours has the ability.
The other option instead of real-time credit card processing is manual credit card processing. What this means is
if a user enters an order at midnight then it would go into a queue, which you would then have to check in the morning. If
the order looked legitimate you would then process the credit card. Doing the credit card processing manually just adds
another step in the process and the more steps there are the more chances there are that a mistake will be made.
Back to Top
Should I look into accepting checks online?
Yes you should; you want to increase the number of ways a person can pay because it will increase your sales. A
good number of merchant accounts do check verification online so ask your merchant account provider. Back to Top
Do I need SSL?
Yes you need SSL because it secures the information being sent between the users computer and your web server. If
this transaction is not secured then personal information along with credit card information could fall into the wrong
hands. Back to Top
What is Co-location?
In general, collocation is moving or placing things together, sometimes implying a proper order. On the Internet,
this term (often spelled "colocation" or "co-location") is used to mean the provision of space for a customer's
telecommunications equipment on the service provider's premises. For example, a Web site owner could place the site's own
computer servers on the premises of the Internet service provider (ISP) who provides co-location hosting services.
Back to Top
Who needs Co-location hosting?
Customers who have full control over all aspects of their website and the way it operates are best suited for
dedicated hosting. Those customers who want to supply the hardware, or want the ability at any time to remove their server,
or move it to another location are suited for internal hosting, meaning they host the websites themselves and pay for the
internet connectivity and networking needs. Those customers who meet the above requirements, but aren’t able to host their
website themselves are suited for co-location hosting. Back to Top
Who actually supplies the server?
When using co-location providers, the server actually belongs to you, the customer. Normally, this entails a
server being completely configured and loaded with information, being delivered to the co-location provider ready to go.
That being said, some co-location providers offer programs where you can purchase a server, or even have one custom made
through them. Back to Top
Will a co-location provider make sure my machine stays online?
That depends on your provider. Co-location providers typically offer Server Monitoring contracts, which make them
responsible for watching your system and making sure it is running properly, within their power, of course. If you have a
custom written application on your server and it is causing problems with the operation of your server, it will be your
responsibility to fix it. Back to Top
If something goes wrong with my server hardware, who fixes it?
That again depends on the agreement you have with your co-location provider. Most providers offer Hardware Support
contracts, which make them responsible for keeping your machines operating mechanically. If you supply your own computer,
and would like to have spare parts on site, you will typically need to purchase the parts in advance and supply them to
your provider. For a computer purchased through the provider, they will normally have spare parts on hand, and/or a
relationship with the hardware provider that supplied the hardware itself. Even though your provider fixes your machines,
you will still be responsible for the cost of the associated parts. Now, if you do not have a hardware agreement with your
provider, you can either pay them to diagnose and repair the problem, or send your own technician to their hosting
facilities for the same purpose. Back to Top
Is there a limit to the size of my server?
There are limitations and pricing differences in relation to the size of your server(s). For example, rack mount
servers come in several sizes depending on the manufacturer and the hardware contained within. A 1U server is half the size
of a 2U server; hence it takes up less physical space in a rack, leaving room for more servers. As such, 1U servers are
less expensive to co-locate than 2U servers. Mid tower and Full tower cases have similar limitations as well. Some
providers only have facilities for rack mount servers, while others provide areas for tower boxes as well. Back to Top
What things do I need to take into consideration when selecting a provider?
Selecting a co-location provider can be a somewhat complicated process. When selecting a provider, there are
several key areas that you will need to take into consideration to make the best choice possible.
• Bandwidth – What are the tiers of bandwidth available, and what does it cost if you exceed your limit for the
month.
• Rack Space – What are the price differences, based on the size of server you want to place at the provider? There are several
types and sizes available, and most providers charge different amounts for each.
• Hardware Support – Does the provider offer Hardware Support contracts? If so, how quickly is the turn around for a hardware
repair, and are parts available on-hand or do they need to be shipped? If the provider does not offer Hardware Support contracts,
or you do not wish to utilize them, then what methods are available to repair a down server? Do they offer services to diagnose
and repair issues for a fee, or allow a technician of your choosing access to the servers?
• Internet Connectivity – What size connection does the provider have to the Internet? How many connections do they have, in the
case of a failure?
• Uptime – What kind of Uptime does the provider guarantee for your presence on the Internet?
• Server Monitoring – Does the provider offer Server Monitoring services, to ensure that your system is running and operational
at all times?
• Static IP Addresses – How many IP Addresses will the provider allocate to your servers, and what is the cost of obtaining more,
when needed?
• Backup Services – What level of data backups are included, if any? What additional levels of data backups are available, at
what intervals, and at what cost? Back to Top
|
