Web hosting is the crux and the backbone of the internet.
All of the websites you like to visit and all of your favorite bookmarks ad
nothing more than an IP address. The data stored on those websites has to be
delivered to your computer for you to see the website upon visiting but in
order for any of this to happen, that data has to be stored somewhere. This is
what a web host is for. They hold records for domain names, data for websites
and SQL databases for large websites with dynamic data like Facebook, YouTube,
etc.
With that being said, there’s also different web hosting services for different needs
available. You should choose one based on the specialization you’re looking
for, after doing in-depth research on the host to make sure you’re getting the
best possible service for your dollar.
The Different
Kinds of Web Hosting Services
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Email service providers and hosts like Gmail
exist for companies that need a place to send their marketing material to their
customers. When you sign up and opt-in on a website, you’re placed in a list
where companies will then send you newsletters, updates or promotional
material.
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Basic hosting services are for small websites or
small companies that need to get their website online. Here, you’ll find only
the basics like cPanel access and you’ll be put on a cheap shared hosting plan.
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Reseller hosting is for web development agencies
or people looking to build websites for people and host them under a host. The
more clients you acquire, the better the server you’ll need so the cost will
increase. You can charge a monthly price for all your clients under reseller
hosting and make pretty decent money.
However, with being
a reseller comes responsibility. When anything goes wrong (and believe me,
things do go wrong), they’ll be calling you and asking you to fix it.
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Virtual host providers allow people to connect
to a machine somewhere else in the world and utilize that for any legal reason
they’d like. There are people who use VPS machines for illegal reasons but
you’re not untraceable and the hosts have no problem reporting you.
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For large websites and companies looking to
operate on a large scale, there’s dedicated hosting. Dedicated hosting puts you
on your own server and with that server comes a much higher price than shared hosting.
Pricing
The pricing for hosting is generally pretty cheap. Basic
hosting is usually only a few bucks a month while dedicated and reseller
hosting plans can ramp up to hundreds a month. Registering a domain that
represents your company and brand name is under $10 in most cases and only
accrues a small annual fee.
Choosing the best web host provider depends on your
needs, your budget and what you’re looking to do. Most of the time, you can get
away with a basic shared hosting package but if you’re looking to expand or
host other websites under you, you’ll need a reseller account. Only choose a
hosting provider after you’ve done your research to find out which one is the
best for you and your company.
