I just finished this article and I recall someone here requested that I post it when I'm done. Some of this will be basic for many of you but I hope you still find it helpful.
Web Hosting, Translation Please!
Selecting a web hosting company can be a nightmare for even the most web-savvy. One look at the list of features, on many web host packages, is enough to make many run, in terror, and has probably detoured several thousand who once dreamed of launching an online business. CGI, SSI, and bandwidth - OH, MY! What does it all mean and how do you weed through all of it to determine what hosting company and package is right for your online project?
While I don't claim to know all there is to know about these features, I would like to attempt to translate some of them and give you an idea of what the average project will need and not need. While there certainly is not a "one-size-fits-all" that will work for every online venture, there are some constants that you should look for when choosing a web host.
First, let me mention that there are free web hosting services available and perhaps some really good ones. On the other hand, I would recommend staying away from these if you are planning to launch any kind of
serious online project. For the most part, these generally will not serve your purposes well. Most require their ads to appear on each page of the website and they are generally going to come with many major limitations. Once again, there may be good ones out there but, honestly, I have not spent much time looking for them because I feel that if a website is worth launching it is worth launching right. There are enough cheap hosting packages, out there, that I just do not see reason for resorting to the free options.
Here are some basics to look for in a hosting package:
Bandwidth or Transfer - This term has to do with how much traffic you anticipate in a month and how much "memory" you expect your visitors to consume while they are on your website. Most web hosts, even the cheap ones, offer more bandwidth than the average site could ever dream of using. On the other hand, it is always better to have too much than to have too little. Unless you are launching a major mp3 site like PureVolume.com or a huge forum, most online projects can get by with 10 or 20 gig of transfer but
be an optimist and assume that you will need more. Look at bandwidth as power. When I brag about my host, the first thing that I mention is my huge amount of bandwidth (followed by my best imitation of Tim Allen's barking laugh).
Simple Control Panel - Understanding the functions "behind the curtain", so to speak, is a must. Look for a tour or a demo of the panel on the hosting companies website. Don't expect to understand all the functions within a control panel, on your first visit, but make sure you can make sense of the email set-up, the file management, and the statistics area, for starters. I also recommend asking webmasters which panel they prefer. Being a webmaster, myself, I highly recommend any host that uses cPanel or vDeck. cPanel is really the industry standard and the preferred system. Personally, I have found that vDeck is very comparable and, in many cases, easier for the beginner.
Uptime Guarantee - Every host will have downtime, every once in a while, but make sure the host you choose keeps it to a minimum and backs that claim with an "uptime guarantee" of 99.5% or higher. There are many who have it at 99.9%, so there is no reason to settle for something less reliable.
Responsive, 24/7 Customer Service - You want to make sure that customer service is there for you. One thing to look for is whether they have a toll-free number to contact them. It can be extremely frustrating to only have access to your host via email especially if they are slow to respond to your written requests. Be sure and do your homework. Find out what their customers say about their customer service. Visit forums that discuss web hosting, such as
WebHostingTalk or my community
HostReviewHQ, to get the good and the bad reports of hosts' customer service track records.
Depending on the nature of your project, you may also need to look for a few other items in the packages "features list". If your site will also have a community, make sure that the host offers PHP and MySQL which will be necessary for setting up the database needed for any of the major forum scripts out there. Of course, this is only necessary if your forum will be hosted on the same server rather than linking to a forum service being hosted elsewhere such as EZboard or MSN communities. If you plan to make products available directly from the site, make sure the package is "Ecommerce enabled" and that SSL is included or can be acquired for a reasonable price. Also, if there is a chance that, after the website is launched on your new server, you'll come up with another great plan that will require a second website, you might want to find a host that offers the ability to host multiple domains, or at least sub-domains. This will give you the ability to expand and enhance your revenue potential.
While there could be several other things that the website in your head may need in order to function properly, this is a good start. If you find a host that is still standing by the end of this vigorous checklist, you probably have a win-win situation. Add to it a 30 day money-back guarantee and you'll be the envy of all your peers.
Finding the right web host 
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