Web Hosting

What is web hosting?

Web hosting is a requirement if you want your website to be accessible to visitors on the internet. Web hosts are the companies that rent the server space and bandwidth to website owners like yourself. The server space is required to house all your web site files and images, and the bandwidth is required to transfer the data from those files and images to your visitors, as they view your website.

 

How much does web hosting cost?

Web hosting is usually purchased on a monthly, quarterly or yearly basis. The cost to host your website can range anywhere from under $10 to thousands of dollars per month, depending on how much space and bandwidth your website requires. The more files added to your website, and the more traffic you receive, the higher your web hosting costs will be.

 

Can I use free web hosting?

Free web hosting is not recommended if you plan to promote your business through your website. Although free always sounds like a great option, it does have its disadvantages.

  • Usually there is some form of advertising on a free web page. You spend all that time and energy getting visitors to your website, only to have them leave by clicking on an advertisement. You want your visitors to stay on your site as long as possible!
  • Very rarely do you get your own domain name with a free web host.
  • Most free web hosting companies do not stay free forever.

 

What web host should I choose?

Do your research before choosing a web host, afterall they will be responsible for protecting your website files and data. Don’t always go for the cheapest option. Some things you will want to look for in a web host are cost, Uptime, disk space, bandwidth, customer support and backups.

We have dealt with a variety of web hosts over the years, and we can say that not all web hosts are created equal. We have done our research for and have picked a couple of our favorites. Currently, we host some small – medium sized sites with Hostgator and larger websites with Idologic and we are extremely pleased with the service we have received from both. We have also found a good website that compares different hosting plans for Canadians that you may want to check out.

Don’t want to take the time to research a web host? Your are in luck! All of our web design packages include your hosting plan for 1 full year!