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Let’s start where the Internet starts: with a host. A host is a
server that provides a home for your website on the World Wide Web.
Just as your computer contains all your files, so a host contains all the
files needed to run your website. Why can’t you just keep all those
files on your own computer? Because that would mean visitors would
have to connect directly to your computer to see your website and
that’s not a good idea. It wouldn’t be secure and it would make your
machine run like a tired snail. With a host, you can simply upload
everything you need to the server and your users can then connect
there to see your site. It lets the site run faster and allows it to have
all the security and extras it needs.
Selecting a host is the first important step towards building your
Internet business.
Hosting services and companies vary from totally free, shared
servers to large-scale dedicated machines. You’ll have to decide which
is right for you and your business.
Your choice of server will depend on how much money you have
available at the beginning and how much you plan to grow in the
future. In my opinion, for commercial sites, free hosting is a waste of
time. Your users are going to get blasted with annoying pop-ups every
time they surf to your page, it’s going to be impossible to get a decent
position in a search engine, and you don’t even get a real business
URL. No one’s going to remember your web address if they have to
type: FreeWebsiteHosting.com/my_site. However, it is possible to
choose a cheaper host at the beginning and move up as your business
begins to bring in money.
NOTE: One of the most important factors in choosing a website
host is the customer service you receive once you’ve signed up.
There are many technical issues that can come up once you have your
own website, and if you don’t have a truly dedicated hosting company
to support you and help you resolve these issues when necessary, you
could, quite simply, lose your business.
When hosting is cheap, there is a reason for it.
With website hosting, you get exactly what you pay for and you should
never compromise when it comes to who to host your website with.
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