Five Features You Need for Successful Web Hosting

So you need hosting for that great website you have planned. You did the obligatory Google search and found out there are a gazillion web hosting companies. They all are offering what you need (web hosting) and you found the price varies from free to sky’s the limit. You also found that there are a ton of features some of which you have no idea of what they are. So now what you thought was going to be an easy task has just turned into a semester of study at your local junior college. Well believe me I know what you’re going through. Through trail, error and mistake I have learned that not all web hosting is created equal. While there area ton of features and hosting plans offered by web hosting companies, there are five basics factors you will want to make sure you are getting when selecting your hosting provider.   

1. Databases
Be sure you are getting ample databases to support and expand your website. All blogging, forum, and Websites that use any form of dynamic data applications or capture user data require a database to function. Unfortunately, most shared hosting packages only offer one to five databases; this can limit your ability to expand and may not be enough to carry out the planned functions of your website. The minimum number of databases you should look for is ten. Granted you may not need that many but if you do they will be readily available without spending additional money to add on databases. Usually the higher priced hosing plans offer more databases but you should not have to opt for a more expensive plan to get 10 databases.

2. Multiple Domains
Web hosting companies usually limit the number of domains you can serve from your hosting plan. Some hosting plans, usually the lower cost or free plans, only allow one domain name per plan. If you are for sure you will only have one website then this will be of no consequence. However, if you plan on having multiple websites then you should look for a hosting plan that offers the ability to host multiple sites from a single hosting plan. A hosting plan that offers at least 5 domains is a minimum. You should be aware that the resources of your hosting server will be shared by all domains assigned to the web hosting plan. Make sure the plan you get provides ample disk space, bandwidth and databases to keep multiple sites up and running.    

3. Developer Support
Developer support is the litmus test for any Web host. You may be starting with a simple website but as time goes on many times you may want to add additional functionality or features to your site. Also when adding new websites to your hosting plan additional capabilities may be needed. This is where a hosting provider can easily make or break your plans. If your web hosting provider is limited on developer languages or web application offerings you may have to find a new hosting provider. This is something you do not want to do. Having multiple hosting accounts or hosting providers is a sure way for confusion and frustration. Most hosting companies offer various language support and misc. application support but why not get it all. Yes there are hosting providers that offer everything you will ever need and it doesn’t cost any more.
 
No matter what hosting package you are considering, make sure you are getting the most support possible. Below is a list of the most popular website development items available:

• PHP
• MySQL
• Ruby on Rails
• Python
• CGI
• Perl
• Java
• ASP.net
• Coldfusion
• Frontpage Server Extensions
• Content Managment Tools
• eCommerce Solutions
• Project Management Tools
• Blogs
• Message Board/Forum Tools
• Photo Gallery Tools
• Admin Tools
• Misc. web-site add-ons

4. Customer support
Working late at night on that website, or perhaps on the weekend (Sunday Night)? Got a deadline to get a site up and running but just ran into a problem. Perhaps you just discovered you need an additional web app or database. It can be very frustrating and sometimes costly if you cannot get customer support from your hosting company when you need it (on your schedule). Always look for a web hosting service provider that provides 24×7 customer support. That is 24 hours a day 7 days a week and I don’t mean just Email support. Email support is important and should be part of the customer support package but what you really want is phone support. Many times problems or issues need to be discussed to reach a quick resolution, passing Emails around can takes days or sometimes weeks. Your number one tool for support should be the phone, make sure your web hosting company is awake and working when you are. You will want to make sure there is an on-line knowledgebase as well. Not only is a knowledgebase good for answeering questions, it is also very usefull for use as a learning tool.  

5. Server Uptime
Your website should be up and running 24×7. However things do happen in the real world that can sometimes cause a website to go down. In spite of real world problems, your web hosting provider should offer a 99.9% uptime guarantee. With today’s internet technology there are ways to insure websites stay functional virtually every minute of every day. Don’t settle for a hosting company that cannot guarantee your website is up and running around the clock.   

Web hosting is the backbone of the success of your website. While the content of your site is vitally important, any short coming in your web hosting service is sure to translate to failure at your site. The hosting company you start with is most likely the one you will stay with, so take the time to choose the right web hosting company from the start, you’ll be glad you did.     

How to Choose the Right Domain Name for a Successful Web Site

Choosing a domain name may seem like an exercise in frustration, and you may be tempted to register the first one you stumble upon that isn’t already taken.  Slow down!  It requires more thought than that, and your choice will have a tremendous impact on the ultimate success of you Web site.  In this article, we will discuss how to discover a domain name that will work for you.

There are four main concerns when choosing a domain name:

1.  Technical Requirements.

2. A Memorable Name.

3. A Descriptive Name.

4.  Keyword Research.

Technical Requirements for Domain Names

Let’s get the easy part out of the way first.

When we talk about a “domain name,” we’re referring to the part of a Web site address that comes between “www” and “.com.”  For instance, in “wwwYourWebSitecom,” the domain name is “YourWebSite.”  You must register the domain within a particular “top-level domain,” the part that comes after the rightmost “dot,” as in “.com,” “.info,” “.us,” etc.  That is, “YourWebSitecom” is a different domain than “YourWebSiteinfo.”  You might be able to register “YourWebSitebiz,” even though “YourWebSitecom” is already registered.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (“ICANN”) defines what a domain name must look like.  These rules may be summarized as follows:

*  63 or fewer characters.

*  Only numerals, hyphens, and English letters.

*  Must not begin with a hyphen.

*  Must not end with a hyphen.

Unfortunately, it’s not quite that cut and dried.  There are varying interpretations of the rules.  Some say that a domain in a four-character top-level domain (.info, .mobi) can only be 62 characters long.  There are several schemes regarding how to encode non-English letters, etc.

We can avoid getting bogged down in these points of confusion by remembering two things:

1.  You don’t want a long domain name anyway, so don’t worry about whether the limit is 64 or 62 characters.

2.  Non-English letters, encoded in schemes that might not be universally applied, mean that your domain name may look different (and nonsensical) on various parts of the Internet, so don’t use them.

Choosing a Memorable Domain Name

Your domain name must be something that people can remember and that they can type in readily, or recognize at a glance when they see it as a clickable link.

Among other things, this means that your domain name should be short.  All of the genuinely short domain names are already taken.  Virtually every single word in the English language has been registered as a domain name, as has every combination of up to five letters.  So, don’t get too hung up on “short.”  As we will discuss later in this article, you want to find a balance between “short” and “descriptive.”

Although a domain name may include hyphens, you are better off without them.  If you wanted to register “YourDomainNamecom” and found it was unavailable, you will not be doing yourself any favors by registering “Your-Domain-Namecom.”  Users will confuse the two Web sites, and will be more likely to go with the shorter version.

Choosing a Descriptive Domain Name

Your domain name should describe what the user will find on your Web site.

Look for a descriptive phrase about your chosen specialty.  Is your Web site about baby care tips for working mothers?  For parents of babies with special needs?  Whatever specific area you intend to address, put together three or four words that say it.  You don’t have to say it very well, at this point.  As we will discuss shortly, there are tools to help you refine your descriptive phrases.  For now, just come up with a few phrases that describe your Web site’s content in three or four words.

Keyword Research when Choosing a Domain Name

You want your domain name to be short and descriptive.  That means that each word in it must have value.

Keyword research can identify powerful keywords for your Web site’s content, but it can also find words to use in your domain name.  There is one difference, as will be discussed below.

Keyword research identifies the words and phrases that people are using when searching for information related to your planned Web site.  You will use these keywords in your Web site’s content and in any pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, but you should also use them in your domain name.  A keyword-rich domain name is more likely to rank high in search engine results.

When researching keywords for use in your Web site content or in PPC advertising, you want search terms that are frequently used but rarely matched.  These are the high-value keywords that can make the content of your Web site stand out in the search engines.

However, when you are looking for keywords to use in your domain name, you should concentrate on frequently used keywords, and not necessarily those that are rarely matched.  This is the difference alluded to earlier.

Keyword research can not tell you whether a domain name is available.  It can only tell you what people are looking for and what they are finding in the content of Web pages.  So, identify terms that people are looking for, then determine what domain names are available that use those terms, and you will have a winning domain name.

Take the list of descriptive phrases you identified in the last section, and use each one as the starting point for keyword research.  From your keyword research, build a list of phrases that people are searching for when they want to find the kind of content you plan to offer.

From that list, focus on the shortest phrases that are relevant and clearly descriptive of the content you intend to offer.  Now, check to see which of these phrases are available for you to register as domain names.

What if you find two or more keyword-rich domain names available?  Register all of them!  Choose the one you like best as the main name for your Web site, but keep the others.  You can use them as “redirect” pages, and you always have the option of using the alternate names later.

For the same reason, register your domain name in various top-level domains if they are available, such as .com, .info, etc.  Lock in your options on those alternate names, and lock out your competitors from stealing the results of your research.

Conclusion:  What to Do Next

Before you rush out and register the first available domain name you come up with, do your homework.

*  Think of a short list of descriptive phrases about the Web site you intend to build.

*  Do some comprehensive keyword research on each of those descriptive phrases, and build a list of more keyword-rich descriptive phrases.

*  Choose the shortest, most memorable phrases from your list, and check which ones are available to register as domain names.

*  Register as many of these keyword-rich, descriptive domain names as you can.

 

Successful viaVerio incentive program activated in response to demand from small to medium enterprise hosting channel partners.: An article from: Internet Business Newsletter

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Successful viaVerio incentive program activated in response to demand from small to medium enterprise hosting channel partners.: An article from: Internet Business Newsletter

Ultimate Ladder to Become a Successful Web Host Reseller

One has resolute to acquire a reseller web hosting account to resell web space. What can be probably the step? Well it?s given as under-

1. Prefer the policy which one wants to put in application.

More open source software programs are based on Linux and not for Windows, this factor which makes Linux quite cheaper. While the majority of programs (Perl, PHP, Flash, etc.) run on both stands, a little will process on only Windows or Linux. Requirement of a Windows platform is must for a site that requires ASP or MS Access.

2. Select the control panel one wants to bring into play.

Control panels for websites can be categorized from basic to advance. As a reseller, one would also have a control panel for him/her to manage and command the hosting accounts.

In selecting the Hosting Automation Software, several panels are compared possessing excellent features for web host resellers.

3. Pick the right host.

One must choose the web host company after taking into consideration all the aspects ?. Factors to keep in mind when choosing a web host for a reseller account:

The platform and control panel

Account features

The company?s status ? quest for online reviews by customers

The verification of server uptime

The level of support ? the gap between the asked support and the support actually provided especially time-sensitive ones?

Elasticity ? does the web host have packages that can uplift one in the period of scarcity? Will they modify their steps in the rigid circumstances?

How much experienced is the web host? while an innovative web host probably be very effective, many web-hosting businesses do not survive even for 12 months

Price-one should check what he/she is getting for the price quoted.

Now coming up to Reseller hosting-

4. Set up of one?s own hosting strategy and fees

One should divide and should find out the ratio of bandwidth to disk space that one can put forward. Take into consideration any ratios that fluctuate due to difference in packages, and then one should base his/her packages on that ratio.

One should consider the prices prevailing in the market .However one should also take into account the additional facilities if provided by the host provider.

5. Build up a commercial site

One has three main alternatives for site development:

Crafting a website by putting in use an open website pattern

For crafting of site summon a designer or a design group.

If one is having good designing skills as well as techniques, then there is no harm for him/her to develop a site by his/her own.

There must be an ideal ethics in the information that clients deserve and want to know.

6. Build a site which is e-commerce geared up

To be in a condition of receiving payments for hosting accounts, one will have to set up:

An SSL permit

A trade account

An expense access

7. To set up a helpdesk

A helpdesk permits clients to remain in touch with their provider so as to get desired response of their queries.

8. To systemize billing

With automated billing system, it?s quite easy to register billing as well as to make payments to clients. There are several billing software licenses that are rated on monthly or yearly basis, Life span licenses are also given by some billing software companies at an offered amount.

Examples of some popular billing and payment processing systems:

WHM.Autopilot

Whois.Cart etc

When one chooses a billing software program, he/she must check if it?s friendly with his/her server platform and if support is integrated.

9. Generating a welcome email

One must send a welcome email to his/her client after setting up his/her own hosting accounts .The email should contain:

A confirmation of the plan details, name server names ,a username and temporary password ,a link to the control panel ,links to one?s own knowledge base / FAQ and to his/her own helpdesk etc.

10. Promoting a website

One must put forward his/her site to search engines. One must put his/her knowledge into the minds of his/her family, peers, and colleague?s .One should contain a link to it in one?s signature line in departing mails. However one must not stop here instead should promote his/her website through incoming links, marketing, newsletters, and unique offers.

What Makes A Domain Name A Successful Business?

There are plenty of damin names out there with potential. Potential means nothing without a business plan. If you have a domain name that you feel is worth money, you are wrong. A domain name by itself is worthless unless there is someone out there who is willing to invest in it.