What is Web Hosting?

I’d like to make sure one thing is clear before we move on … In order to get your website online, you need a domain name (example: google.com) and a web server to “host” the content (i.e. the files that make up your website). Once you have both, you can set your domain name to “point” to your web server. Web Hosting Companies will often offer you a free domain name registration when you purchase a hosting plan with them, so you can get both in one shot. I’ll explain more about domain names in the next section so let’s move on.

So where do you find a Linux Web Server?

Web Hosting Companies! Web Hosting Companies rent out space on their servers to you so that you can upload your webpages onto the internet. They also have support staff that manage, maintain and troubleshoot your server if necessary.

My friend Bob told me I could get free web hosting…is this true?

While your friend Bob is correct, it’s not the whole story. Using a free hosting company is a step in the wrong direction. I’ll explain why…

  • General Lack of control and customization
  • Zero customer service or support
  • Long and difficult to remember Domain Name
    (example: xyzfreehost-det.yourdomain.com instead of yourdomain.com)
  • Recurring server downtime (your site won’t be accessible most of time)
  • Pop-up and/or other ugly advertisements
  • Limited disk space
  • Search engines often ignore them (Your traffic will be limited)
  • Lack of common features and software
  • Loss of credibility from your visitors
  • Lack of ownership – you don’t own the contents of your site or your domain
  • The free host can close your account without reason. All that work you put into sending traffic to your site, all your files, everything…gone!

I could really go on and on. Thankfully, web hosting isn’t that expensive (as low as $2-$6 per month). If you’re even a little bit serious about starting a website, blog, shopping cart, forum or any other venture online please stay away from free hosting companies, you will get burned.

Benefits of Purchasing your own Domain Name and Hosting Account

Domain name ownership is very important. As mentioned above, the benefits of owning your own domain name and hosting plan far out-weight the disadvantages. Here are some advantages to owing your own domain name and hosting plan:

  • Greater control and customization
  • *24/7 365 customer service support and livechat
  • Full and complete ownership of your domain name
  • Branded, easy to remember domain name
  • 99%+ server up-time guarantees
  • *No limits on bandwidth (i.e. website traffic).
  • No Pop-up and/or other ugly advertisements
  • *Unlimited disk space so there’s plenty of room for expansion
  • It’s easy to get indexed by popular search engines
  • Design and software use flexibility
  • Industry standard control panels, software updates and technology
  • *Unlimited branded email addresses (you @ yourdomain.com)

*Not all web hosting companies are created equal! The hosting companies I recommend do offer these great features by default.

You still with me? Good, let’s move onto the next Chapter where we discuss the different packages or plans that Web Hosting Companies typically offer.