Guide to Online Web Hosts

Ok. You’re done. The last piece of code for your web app is complete. You’re ready to launch that website that you’ve spent day and night to materialize. You’ve crossed every “t” and dotted every “i”, but at the end of the day, you draw a blank on where to host it.

Considering it’s usually the last step that people take to consideration, it pays think about this first hand before you even strike that first keystroke in for your website. Below is a checklist you can use to find out which webhost is best for you.

NB: Web Hosts often refer to thier products as “packages” and we’ll use that term from here on.

What will your website do?
Self explanatory, the functions of your website will determine what you would want from your webhost. Simple static pages are okay for the lowest packages from a webhost. Dynamic websites (portals, content management, online stores; etc), are bound to grow and thus it’s a good idea to start with a package that has some space for it to grow. If you don’t already have a website ready by desire one, start by thinking about what kinds of functionality you will need. Will you have a database of any kind running? (Some of the applications that require a database are: guest books, shopping carts, forms and forums). If so, who will be programming and installing it? Most web hosting providers have pre-installed scripts and applications that they will let you use as well, but they may be too simple and not meet your needs.Any application you use is written in a scripting language and often connects to a database. If you are using PHP and a mySQL or PostgreSQL database, then you should look for a UNIX host. Unix type hosts include Unix, FreeBSD, Linux and some others. If you are using ASP and a MSSQL database then you know you will need to locate a Windows hosting provider
Price - All that glitters….
Granted, prices of web hosting services are dropping, and there’s a buzzing market saturated with “killer” deals with words like “unlimited bandwith” and so on. Rule of the thumb: If it sounds too good to be true, it mostly is.
Check thier package details. A good web host will make its price list very easy to find, especially from the the homepage. This is where the fine print shows up. Limitations appear (like only database at a time, 10 email accounts per domain). In the event one wants more than these, he realizes he has to pay more. Find a package that meets your needs the first time and pay for it.
Payment:
As much as ecommerce has taken giant strides in Nigeria, experience has shown me that somethings are better in black and white (Bank Payment). A good webhost will process your order the same day you pay. Plus, you have a copy of the teller, proof that can be verified at any bank in the event of any misunderstanding. After payment, a reciept is usually emailed to you by the webhost, which serves as proof of payment.
Support:
My personal favourite. If there is anything you don’t understand, ask, ask, ask. Don’t be afraid or uncertain. A good webhost support service will always answer your questions in a professional manner and provide assistance where needed. I’ve personally enjoyed the service of some webhosts assisting me in ways that traditionally were not availible. This aspect, is the defining point of a webhost. If a webhost fails here, it’s simply time to move on.
UPDATE: Let everyone be on the same page
If you’re not going to be coding the project, or outsourcing outside, make sure that the developer and the web hosting company are on the same page. Do the server requirements of the web hosting company meet the developer’s needs? Ask your web developer so that he checks rhis - for your peace of mind. The last thing you want is to be changing servers/webhost halfway through the project because of unforeseen server incompatabilities/issues.

Tags: Guide to web hosts in Nigeria, Nigeria, Web Hosting

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 26th, 2008 at 4:09 am and is filed under Web Design/Hosting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.