Don’t Serve Up Garbage!
So, you’ve decided to take control and host your company’s website. That’s awesome! This is a big step, and you should be proud of your decision.
But now, there are some important things to think about.
Where do you want to host your site? Australia, the U.S., India, Pakistan, Sweden? What’s the cheapest option? What even is “bandwidth”? What’s “downtime”? And is FTP some old-school rap song?
Whoa, slow down! Let’s break it all down so you can understand the basics of web hosting and how it works. Trust me, this will make things much easier later on.
1) What is a Host?
In simple terms, a “host” is any device on the internet that can send or receive data. Think of it like a house on the internet where your website lives.
Every host has a unique address called an IP address. It looks like a long string of numbers separated by periods, like 192.0.2.1 or 506.457.14.512.
A host doesn’t just serve websites—it can store other things too, like video files, email, or backups. But for now, we’re focused on hosting your website.
2) What is a Server?
A server is a special computer that sends your website to people’s phones and computers so they can check it out and buy stuff from you.
When someone types in your website’s address, their browser (like Google Chrome or Safari) asks the server to send your website to them. The server listens for these requests and sends the right web pages back.
The server and the browser need to “speak the same language” for this to work. For websites, that language is usually HTTP, which stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol. We’ll talk more about that later, especially when we cover website security.
So, your website lives on a server, and when someone asks for it, the server sends it to them.
3) How Do You Choose the Right Host?
Technically, you could host your website on your own computer if you’re a tech whiz, but that can be risky and complicated. Security, downtime, and maintenance are all things you don’t want to deal with.
Instead, it’s usually a good idea to go with a professional hosting company. You still own your website, but they take care of the tough stuff like security and fixing problems. If you’re not happy with the service, you can switch to a different host anytime, which is way easier than trying to manage everything yourself.
Choosing the Right Host: Questions to Ask
When picking a host, here are some key questions to think about:
1. How much storage do I get?
You’ll need storage for your website, so check how much space you get. Most websites need about 1GB, but if you can get unlimited storage, that’s even better.
2. Do they use cPanel?
cPanel is a tool that helps you manage your website easily. It’s like a control panel for your hosting account.
3. Can I change PHP settings?
PHP is a programming language used for building websites, and you’ll need to make sure the host lets you change certain settings for your website to run properly.
4. Where is the host located?
The location of your host matters. If you’re targeting customers in your country, it’s best to pick a host that’s nearby. If your host is far away (like in India), your website might load slower, and people might leave before it even fully loads.
5. What’s the uptime guarantee?
You want your website to be available all the time, right? No one wants to visit a site that’s always down. Most good hosts guarantee 99.9% uptime, which means your website should only be down for a tiny fraction of time.
6. What about security?
Just like you wouldn’t leave your front door open with cash lying around, you want your website to be secure. Make sure your host has a solid security system to protect against hackers and data loss. They should also offer backups and SSL certificates (which help keep your site safe for customers).
7. Can I have a custom email address?
A custom email (like info@mycoolbusiness.com) makes you look more professional. Check if your host offers this feature.
Final Takeaways
Choose a hosting company that’s located in the country where you’re doing business. This will help your site load faster for your customers.
– Learn the basics of web hosting or hire a professional if you don’t want to deal with the technical details.
– Make sure your hosting provider has the features you need, like enough storage, good security, and easy tools to manage your website.
If you need assistance with a business website or transforming your current website feel free to reach out to the Chitchat Newspaper for a free website audit or planning session.
December 2024