I remember the pre-Internet days. I remember the days before the huge affiliate chains. Back then, little "Mom and Pop" businesses could still find a consumer base, even in crowded markets. As the corporations grew larger, so did their sway, until few small businesses could compete. In 2009, I would personally say the only safe place to start, or run, a small business is online. Of course, not all businesses need an online store, but even if you are selling hand-painted fans at local flea markets on the weekends, you could benefit from a Web presence.

You hear a lot about social networking these days, but make no mistake about it, a social networking page, in and of itself, is not an actual Internet presence - it's a good start, but nowhere near what you need. To establish an actual Web presence, you need an actual website. Even if your entire website is nothing more than an index page with your contact information and a description of your small business (and maybe the products/services it offers), just owning a URL (Web address) tells customers your small business is established and tech-savvy. Even a total novice can put together a simple website using the free "site-builder" interface every web host has. All you need is the web host, itself.

A web host provides the space and bandwidth needed to present your site. Unless your business is Web-specific (that is, related to the Web, such as a forums/message boards area, Web games provider, etc.) and you really know what you are doing, you do not need your own server. Unless you are a credit card provider, it will almost certainly be cheaper, and more efficient, to pay for Web hosting.

The nature of your business is very important here. You may want to forgo the dot-com for a dot-net URL; your business might be better represented through images than text; an actual video or video clip might be even better. The type of business you run and the type of content you plan to provide dictates the type of hosting you will need, how much space you should get, and more. If heavy traffic is expected, bandwidth is essential; going over can cost - big time! Streaming media and large downloads eat-up your bandwidth, so if you have a lot of those, this is a key issue. Text and small images consume far less bandwidth than streaming media.

You also need to be sure your host provides enough space to not only host your site, but allow it to grow. 5GB is probably more than most will ever need, but it gives you plenty of room to develop. Again, large files and basically all media deplete your available space quickly; make sure you have enough room to host the content you already have, with enough room left over to expand. Depending on your setup, you also need to consider room for backups.

There are several types of web hosting. A site with high traffic or one which conducts a lot of online transactions is not a good fit for shared hosting packages, where several websites "share" bandwidth as well as space, because they physically reside on the same server. You may need a dedicated server - and that can be costly! Even if you would save by purchasing your own server, web hosts bring a bevy of useful utilities, including webmaster tools, as well as one-touch-install features, functions, and packages (like forums and newsletter managers). You would have to provide these on your own if you purchase your own server. Consider your resources in terms of both cost and time spent before you make a decision here!

Aside from the great features packages and other routines most web hosting services provide free of charge (or as part of your paid plan), perhaps the single most important thing a third-party web host provides is technical support. Make sure to read-up on the support your chosen provider offers, how far it extends, and when it is available. Some support lines are 24 hours, while others are only open during certain business hours. Further, some hosts only provide support directly related to hosting - they will help if your site goes offline, but not if the "free" shopping cart they provide hoses your entire site! Also make sure at least one of the support options they provide is free of service fees. Long-distance phone numbers and long wait times can seriously affect your site's performance - and your site's returns!

Setting-up a website is an exciting - and often frustrating - experience, and you will need all the help you can get. Be sure you know which type of hosting you need, how much space your site will require, and what to look for in a provider before you start spending money. No matter the size or nature of your business, an online presence is mandatory in this day and age. A strong Web presence will help you reach new customers, reassure existing customers of your commitment to your business (and them), and allow you to expand in ways you might never have considered.

With a little research, you can find a host that will provide everything you need to establish your small business website. With the right web host, you can develop an online presence for your small business that will greatly improve your visibility, customer relations, and reputation. These days, you need far more than just an e-mail address!