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.Htaccess
A .htaccess file is a file that works on Apache and other NCSA-compliant webservers. The name is actually a bit of a misnomer due to the fact that hyper-text access is only a small function of what it's capabilities are. The .htaccess file...

Learning ASP Series - Installing Personal Web Server
Welcome to the first chapter of your Basic ASP Learning Series. I mostly communicate on a personal level, so it's better we acquaint ourselves in the beginning. My name is Amrit Hallan and I'm a web developer. I work through my web site -...

Quick Web Site Start-up and Promotion Guide
The biggest problem I've always had promoting my web site is keeping myself focused. After all, what should I be doing? Publishing my own e-zine, placing classified ads, looking for link exchange partners, writing articles... My head is beginning to...

The September 2005 Cheap Web Hosting Report
Below are the top five general purpose cheap web hosts selected for September 2005. All of the following hosting plans include a web control panel, a cgi-bin directory, php, perl, and at least 1 mysql database. Many offer a number of additional...

Which Web Server?
If you've been lurking in the various forums and newsgroups devoted to webmastering, you could hardly fail to notice the heated debate going on at this time. No, it's not which is the best browser. This debate is about web servers. More...

 
How to Choose a Web Hosting Service!

1. Support. Is there really anybody there? Send them a
question by email and see how long they take to respond.
You want to know if
they'll be there when you need them.
Some offer 24-hour support and a few will respond quickly.
Speedy customer service is rare and indicates a superior
service. I think that this is the single most important
consideration. Also, check out the quality of their online documentation.

2. Server performance. You want a server that is reliable
and fast. There is a free tool available that allows you
to evaluate this before making a decision! NetMechanic.com will
measure the speed of access for all facets of access (network
speed, DNS lookup, connect time, download time, and absence of timeouts).
The "download time" statistic is the most important
single item to compare. Collect your list of candidate hosting
services and run side-by-side tests of all the candidates.
Sample during peak and non-peak times for optimal comparison.

3. Are they familiar with the application you plan to use?
If you're
planning to use a particular application that requires
special setup parameters (such as Online Merchant, a popular
online store), make sure your potential host is familiar with
the application. Otherwise you may find yourself spending a
great deal of time trying to figure out how to configure it -
perhaps never succeeding!

4. Traffic allowance. Compare your traffic allowances. Some
services give you a small limit on the amount of material that
can be downloaded from your site each month and charge you
large amounts when that limit is exceeded. Some offer huge
traffic allowances (several thousand MB/month, where 1,000 MB
= 1 GB) for the same price as others that limit you to a few
hundred MB/month. Sure you probably need less than a hundred
MB/month now, but why put yourself in a position where you
have to move when your traffic takes off? Plan ahead


Goodbyes From Listeners: Steve Miller
Twenty years ago, Steve Miller's girlfriend left him for another man. Now a writer living in Los Angeles, Miller tells the story of the cold night they parted ways.

Making The Perfect Exit
Madeleine Brand consults writers and thinkers to come up with the perfect ending for <em>Day to Day</em>.


and allow
for growth.

5. Space. How much space do you expect to eventually want
for your web site? Planning ahead can save you lots of money
later. If you expect to grow, look for a place that offers
sites of 100 MB or more. Some services offer 500 MB sites for
less money than others that offer only 30 MB.

6. Features. Consider what features you want to simplify
development of your web site.

-Do you want access to a cgi-bin so that you can install
your own scripts?
-Do you want many scripts pre-installed and pre-
configured?
-Do you want to be able to use
Microsoft's FrontPage?
-Do you want autoresponders for email processing?
-Do you want email aliases (automatic forwarding) so you
don't
need to check email in more than one place?

7. Guarantee. With so many hosting services to choose from,
why not choose one that offers a guarantee? Services that
offer a moneyback guarantee are confident that
you'll be
delighted with their service.

8. Cost. Look for hidden costs when comparing price.

-Do they expect you to pay for a long term in advance
to get a good price? Choose one that doesn't
bait
you with a low price
that's only available if you
make a long-term commitment.
-Will they handle the registration of your domain for
free?
-If you're
transferring an existing domain, will they
submit the domain change to InterNIC for free?

Choosing an excellent service to host your web site doesn't
have to require luck. Knowing what to look for makes selection
simple.

Good luck with your marketing and God Bless.

About the Author

Tracy Perrin is a well-known online marketer
who has contributed to many websites and ezines. His latest project
is 500Megabytes.com. Your One Stop Hosting Solution for low cost
web site hosting plans - $24.95/mo. Low cost domain name
registration. http://www.500megabytes.com