The most important features of web hosting as cited by webmaster who are actually starting their own business sites. With all of the features offered by the top web hosting companies, it can be a challenge to even know where to start. Here is a list of features offered by the major web hosting companies, and the main applications for each of them.
1. Disk space
Disk space is the amount of physical storage space a web host gives to you to store your web files. Typically that space is divided up by different package levels so that the more you pay, the more space you are allowed to store pictures, web pages, videos and whatever other files you like on the web server's hard drive. If your website gets bigger than the space you are given, you will need to purchase more disk space from the web host.
2. Bandwidth or Data Transfer
Whenever you visit a website and view a page, you are transferring a copy of the files that make up that page over the internet from the web server to your computer. The more bandwidth a hosting company makes available to you, the better. This means you can support more traffic to your web site as your business grows. Be wary of web hosting companies that offer unlimited or unmetered bandwidth.
3. Easy to use control panel
The control panel is the point of contact the web site administrator will have between the host server and their own machine connected via the Internet. It is essential to have a well organized and easy to use control panel interface. A control panel is an ultimate solution for any web hosting account required for management of domains, email accounts, marketing tools, databases, design templates and much more.
4. Customer Support
In any business, it is very important to provide exception customer service. Web hosting is no exception to this. Many of the hosting companies are available all day and night in case you have a problem with your web site. You should have easy 24-7 access to a technical support phone number.
5. Uptime
In an ideal world, every web server would be up and running and offering your web pages to the world 24 hours a day, 7 days a week forever. When a web host gives you a 99% uptime guarantee, they are saying that the web server will be up and running for 99% of the billing period. If they fail to meet this guarantee, most web hosts will refund a certain portion of your money depending on the amount of excess downtime they experienced. |
