Web Hosting Demystified
In order for a website to be made available on the Internet, it has to be hosted on a secure server and placed in a secure location with a reliable connect to the Internet; this is where web hosting comes in. Web hosting is an Internet service that allows individuals and organizations to make their websites accessible via the World Wide Web. Web hosting companies provide the hosting environment, storage, Internet connectivity, security, redundancy and support necessary to present a website to the public. There are a wide range of web hosting services available, starting from free to buying a server for your sole use. You could spend thousands of dollars a year on web hosting alone.

With so many options to consider, choosing a web host isn't always an easy task. The most important factor in selecting a web host is ensuring they provide everything you need.

What is a domain name?

Every website needs a domain name. An appropriate domain name lends credibility and authenticity to a website. Simply put, a domain name's function in the world is to make it easy for you to remember to find a website. For instance, in order to find CNN on the Internet, you wouldn't want to have to remember that their IP address is 64.236.29.120. It's much easier to remember cnn.com-the domain name that points to that IP address. Fortunately, you don't have to wade through understanding IP address mapping or domain name resolution. Just remember: an IP address is how computers find each other; domain names are how people find each other. If you are a business, you really need to get your own domain name. For private individuals, it's not as important, but available domain names are able to be purchased for a very small annual fee, so if you find a good one that means something to you (like your name) why not pick it up?

What types of web hosting plans are there?

Web hosting plans range from free personal homepage hosting to packages that support large global corporate websites. As an example, Dreamscape Multimedia offers the following hosting packages: Silver, Gold and Platinum. These hosting packages increase in capacity and value as you move from the smallest (Silver) to the largest (Platinum). Packages will vary from web host to web host, so knowing what you need in advance will help the host-shopping process tremendously. Furthermore, you may find a host that can tailor their offerings to you, so don't be afraid to ask!

What hosting plan do I need?
Before choosing your hosting package, you should identify what your needs are. With all hosting plans, there will be some facilities that you need and some offered to you that you don't need. Make sure you focus on the essentials that are required to launch your website. You may want all the nice extras but will you use them? It's also a good idea to try and pick a host that will allow you to expand and increase your plan as and when your website grows. If you want to start selling online, an additional e-commerce option for an extra fee will be easier and quicker to implement than looking for and transferring to a new host.

Still have questions before you sign-up?
Contact us or call (517) 394-3000.