In order to have a website for your personal use or for your business, you will require three things: a web domain name, a website and a web hosting service. You will have to register your domain name, which is nothing but your web address that people will use to find your website. Then you will have to hire a web designer to design your website. Next you will have to rent some space on a server that belongs to a web host hosting company so that your website can be online all the time.

A Clubbed Deal

You may want to ask your web designer for a package deal in designing and hosting your websites. Or maybe he will do the website designing and domain name registration for you. Many web developers have some sort of a package and they charge you a clubbed fee for both. Many web host hosting companies will assist you to register your domain name for free if you are using their services. So you need to check out for the best clubbed deal.

Your Requirement

Before selecting a web host hosting company you must have in mind why you require a website. Is it for personal use or for business? Would you like to blog or make money from it? Would you run scripts such as guest books and forums? Would you have JPEG, MP3 files or MPEG files on your website? Would you have email? Your answer to the above questions would determine how much hard disk space you would require. More hard disk space means a higher cost.

You must also know how much bandwidth you would require. Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transferred from your web host hosting server to the computer accessing your website. Bandwidth is measured in megabytes per second. The more megabytes per second means that web pages will open quickly. Also, more bandwidth means a higher cost.

Once you know your requirements, you will be able to understand the services that a web host hosting company offers, and pay for only what you require. Many people do not understand these things and end up paying for services that they will never use.

If you just want to blog, there are many free blog hosting services that you could avail of. There are also many free web host hosting services, but you will have limited bandwidth and limited server space. Moreover, the service provider will put some irritating banner ads on the very top of your website, stealing the very identity of your website.

Criteria for Choosing a Web Host Hosting Company

• The web host hosting company must be reliable and keep your website online 24/7.
• They should provide you with customer service and technical support 24/7.
• They must be available on the phone in case of emergency.
• Above all they must have an affordable service plan.
• They must provide you with unlimited server space and bandwidth. There are such companies online.

Beware of web host hosting companies that are too cheap. You may be disappointed with their bandwidth. Also you may not get proper customer support.