Web Hosting

First came man. Then arrived fire. And finally, the internet. In that order folks, nothing in between fire and the internet, except of course cars, microwaves, CD players, cheesy beach magnets from Jamaica and of course societies. But the internet is what everyone was really waiting for, and we can safely say we’re alive and kicking with the worldwide web now.

The beauty of the internet is connectivity. Away from simply being able to access any and all information at the drop of a hat, the internet’s connectivity power is unparalleled. The web works on a base of information shared through pages. Webpages are critical because that’s where information is housed and then shared. We connect, access, share and repeat. To keep a webpage up and running is something that requires time and skill. Thankfully, for that we have web hosting companies.

A web host is a business that provides services and technologies required for the site or page to be viewed online. A webpage is hosted and stored on what’s known as a web server. The web server is a special computer with a tremendous capacity and space to store pages. The mechanics behind arriving to a webpage is quite simple. You type the address into your web browser, the server retrieves said address and then opens the site on your device. Of course, there are a ton of complicated algorithms that go into this, but those are the nuts and bolts of it.

A good web host does a lot for you, but there are a handful of items that are vital. First, email accounts. Most hosting providers will allow users to create email accounts (the number to be determined) where you can personalize the email with your business name (or whatever you choose). So, instead of [email protected], you would have [email protected]. For a new client to your business, Simple Solutions, which email do you think is more appropriate to draw in business? Nobody cares that you’re rad (matter of opinion) and a cycle freak. They want to know your name (Mark Adams) and where you work, period.

Second is FTP access. With an FTP, you can upload files from your computer to the web server quickly and efficiently. A good host will have FTP worked in, front and center. And lastly, WordPress support. Nowadays tons of sites are built on a WordPress platform and most hosting providers will tell you up front if their plans are WordPress compatible or not. Word to the wise – go with one that is. Even if you build your site on another platform, you might want to navigate to WordPress at some point and having a provider that can support this is critical.

Like anything, there are a TON of providers to choose from. InMotion hosting is a popular one, able to provide individuals to large businesses comprehensive support especially in the ecommerce sector. Bluehost is another biggie, regularly ranked among the best with regards to their features and client support. And a third one that also has a fun name at that – HostGator. What a fantastic name, right! Unlimited bandwidth and a 45-day money-back guarantee, you can’t go wrong with the Gator, can you?