WEB HOSTING

Choosing the right web host is essential for your success as an affiliate. The quality of the web host has a direct influence on the performance of your business. Choosing a good hosting service might be tricky and time consuming especially if you have no experience yet. What is web hosting and what are the main features you should look after when choosing a web host?

What is Web Hosting Anyway?

Well, in case you want to build your own forex related website with a unique URL address, web hosting is what you need to start with. In simple words, web hosting is a paid service which allocates space, serves and maintains your website files and emails.

What to Look For?

1. Difference in Hosting Plans (Features, Duration and Price)

Every hosting company offers different kind of hosting plans. The plans may differ in duration and services included. The duration varies from 1 month to 36 months. In most cases hosting companies offer discounts for longer plans, however it doesn't mean you should fall for low cost and jump on the horse without a test drive. I suggest going for a year or less and see whether services and customer support provided is worth it.

2. Extra Cost

When choosing a hosting for you forex website, make sure to check whether there are any hidden extra fees. For example, is there a set up fee? Do you get free domain or you have to pay for it? How much do additional email addresses cost? Is there an extra free for additional traffic? etc.

3. Email Management

It is important to find out what kind of email services do you get with a selected hosting company. Is there web-based email access? How many email accounts do you get? What about forwarders, auto-response? Are SMTP, POP3 and IMAP available (these are important for outlook use)? You may wonder why you need email with your domain name (something like admin@yourwebsitename.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Well, if you pick Yahoo or Hotmail free email services, your website will look unprofessional. If you want to build a serious website about forex, you will have to use your own domain name for all your mail.

4. Website Management Tools

There must be a control panel (such as CPanel) included in the hosting plan. Ask about file manager, www and non-www access, Fantastico Script Auto-Installer (very useful thing if you are planning to use Joomla or similar open source services). CPanel is one of the favorite among webmasters. It provides in easy interface where you can upload files, view website stats, access databases, manage your email accounts etc with just couple of clicks.

5. Scripts

Some hosting companies provide free script installation, such as Mambo, Joomla, WordPress and others.

6. Database Management

You will need some kind of database management for your website - to keep the details about forex brokers and members sign ups, for example. The features you need to look for are: MySQL with which you can manage your databases in an easy manner via web-based control panel and phpMyAdmin, which is the easiest way to control your MySQL.

7. Domains and Sub Domains

Some hosting companies give away free domain name with the purchase of a hosting plan. Find out whether Sub domains are included in the plan. Sub domains are important in organizing the website. In case you are transferring the domain, find out how much the transfer cost. In most cases in is no more then $20.

8. Traffic and Speed

It is crucial to know how much traffic is included in the hosting package and whether there is extra cost for additional traffic. Traffic in this case means data transfer and is the combination of all the files transferred from your web hosting computer to the website visitor's browser. In most cases hosting company offers a fixed amount of traffic for free (let's say around 100 MB). As for DiskSpace, you need 300 Mbs or more. And let's not forget Bandwidth of at least 2Gbs.

9. Stats

A good hosting company provides daily statistics from your website for free. Of course, you can use google analytics, however it is advisable to have your own stats, for example AwStats.

10. Customer Support

Last but not least, check the support (online, email and phone). It is important to test technical support and customer support - is it quick to respond? Are they professionals? Is the help efficient?