Pick a new web host can be hard for both the beginner and expert, so care should be taken not to rush otherwise you might regret the choice. There are a number of steps that you need to think about and write down to start with.

What do you need a web host for?

To start off we are asking what you want a web host for, to launch your new company, or advertise an established one, for blogging or other personal use or to just use it for email. The above reasons will all need to be taken into account on going about choosing the web host. Which platform, either Windows or Linux you wish to be hosted on. So you know what the primary function is you have a basis for requirements. E-commerce will need to support things like PHP and MySQL. If youre planning on using a merchant banking process will also need to be able to use an SSL certificate, this is to ensure the card details are secure. As for a blog, most blog software needs PHP and mySQL or similar, but you would not use very much disk space and a relative low amount of bandwidth if its just for personal stuff, then its down to you to know what your doing. If your primary function is email then you need to make sure you have more than enough accounts for your users as well as disk space and bandwidth. Companies such as KDA Web Services

What are PHP & MySQL?

I hear you asking what am I talking about when refferring to PHP and MySQL? Well these are all different web technologies that are all used without your knowledge in day to day use. PHP stands for Hypertext Pre-processor and is used for scripting to create dynamic web pages. MySQL a common relational database engine, and is used to store and access data stored dynamically. SSL or Secure Socket Layer is used to encrypt data and send it securely over the internet. But SSL has been replaced by TLS or Transport Layer Security but ultimately does the same job as SSL. SSL is still the commonly referred name as this is what people know and understand.

How much bandwidth?

We now know and understand the technical terms and usage. Moving onto some of the really important and gritty stuff. Your data allowance or bandwidth also needs considering. Normally this is shown in gigabytes, bandwidth can is sometimes hard to work out what your going to need. So when you find your host ask them what your using the server and how much bandwidth you may need. Your site might be suspended or you get charged for more bandwidth if you happen to run out in a particular month.

Finding your web host

Now you know what your server is for, what the spec is and the bandwidth to go with it, we need to find a web host now. One of the best things I have been told is to get a computer magazine, take out all the nice big glossy web host ads, then see whats left as normally the big companies have low prices but there customer services can be questioned greatly. You would be better off looking around the internet, for web hosting forums and posting up a request for what your web hosting is for. You should find you get feedback and reviews from users about the companies and so should be able to make a well informed decision.

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