Web hosting is a service that enables a web site to be available to other users. In order for your web site to be visible to users on the Internet, at any time, it is important to for you to host it so that it is up and running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are several options to host a web site. First, you can host the web site yourself. That requires the right equipment including a server and a permanent Internet connection. You also need an internet service provider that offers the services that would enable you to host a site. In addition, you must also be trained or knowledgeable about managing, configuring and protecting a website.
The second option is to find a web hosting provider. This is the most commonly used option since third party hosting would enable you to focus and concentrate on developing your website and providing your services as opposed to getting involved in tasks related to web hosting.
When selecting the best web hosting, you should consider that the hosting company provides support and FTP access 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. You should also be provided with a number of email accounts and an online control panel that allows you to manage the site. The site should be managed on a familiar database management system such as MySQL.
A professional web hosting provider would also provide you with the necessary back up you need for your website. This is very important since there is always a possibility that information related to your website may get lost or accidentally deleted. This could be an important factor especially if you are switching from one web hosting provider to another. Data and content can be deleted during transition and if this happens, it is always nice to have something to fall back on and having the ability to retrieve your data.
In order to determine the best web hosting company you might want to consider iPage, JustHost, FatCow, and HostGator to name a few. You can often sign up on special deals and promotions. This can be especially effective if you are operating on a low budget. Another strategy for best web hosting is to sign up for a hosting plan with an online website builder. This is good for people who do not want to get involved with the technical aspects of creating and managing a website.