Saturday, September 20, 2008

The Small Business Guide to Selecting a Web Host

By Bradley E

Having an informative, call-to-action website is becoming essential for every small business. With a well-established site, you can connect with your existing customer base as well as reaching out to a whole new set of potential customers. No matter what industry you are in, a competitive web strategy begins with selecting a reliable web host that can meet the needs of your business as you grow and evolve. This guidance provides an overview of the factors to consider when selecting hosting.

Reliable Support

It is essential that any web host you chose provide 24/7 support to help you solve any issues that may arise with your site. The best hosting companies offer phone, email and chat support options for their customers around the clock. Even under ideal circumstances, continuous support provides an insurance policy that is needed as you investing in your website as an effective sales channel.

Control Panels

Since many small businesses manage their site without the support of an IT department, it is essential to look for a web host that offers easy management through cPanel or Plesk control panels. Both cPanel and Plesk offer a navigable interface to manage everything from email to backups.

Fantastico Software

Many web hosts offer Fantastico which provides 1-click installation of common software packages such as osCommerce shopping cart for online stores, Wordpress for blogs, Joomla for content management and more. By choosing a host that offers one click installs, as well as automated upgrades, you can focus on building your business rather than any complications that can arise from software installations.

Affordable Features

As server technology has improved, you can find reliable hosting with virtually unlimited data transfer, email addresses and data storage at a low price. Also, make sure you have a flexible monthly pricing plan that allows you company to scale and grow, rather than locking you into a long-term contract. As you invest in your site, you want to keep open the possibility of expanding to your own server or upgrading your hosting in the future.


Bradley E. is technology editor at iReviewer, a leading reviews site that provides the latest reviews and news. Find more hosting reviews at iRW.com

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