Web hosting is basically a way for individuals and companies to store digital media (websites etc.) on the Internet for others to access. Simply put, and for the majority of people and companies, this means allowing their website to be seen by others around the world; some of these services are actually free. Digital files like websites, videos and programs for instance are stored on a web host server sometimes called a data center where they can be retrieved by anyone who wishes to view the slide or video footage for example.
People first starting out with free hosting should consider if having a free package is what they need because although these supply almost everything needed to create and host a site, they are not a match for a service that is paid. For more storage space, better email facilities, sub domains and more you really need top look at paid web hosting plans; this is particularly pertinent for business customers. Hosting packages vary enormously and do not rely purely on the storage capacity available so the decision should be made relative to your particular needs.
Almost everyone starts out with what is termed ‘shared hosting' where the server is used by many. When the need for more space and security is required then a dedicated server at extra cost can be used. Websites require a domain name (not necessarily supplied by the web hosting company)otherwise no-one will be able to find you; once this has been done your domain will be allocated a specific amount of space for you to store your website, etc. The term ‘file' is a generic name for anything that is uploaded (the opposite of downloaded) to your website with the space allocated normally not less than one half of a full gigabyte but these figures are always increasing.
Another advantage of web hosting and your own domain name is that email addresses will include your own domain name and not that of those free providers such as Google, Yahoo and MSN to name a few of the thousands of providers whose services can be used. Having your own email addresses are an important sign that a person or company is serious about their internet presence and provides a sense of credibility which cannot be achieved with the many free service providers available. Then you have bandwidth, which refers to how much data is being transferred over the internet, this is something that many people overlook simply because they're enamored with the low prices of hosting packages and don't consider how quickly bandwidth is used up.
If you only settle for a package with a minimum amount of bandwidth then there will be times when visitors will have trouble viewing your web site or using its facilities. This point becomes more important when you have a site that provides large video, audio and image files to its visitors as all of these use up the bandwidth you have been allocated as part of your package. In almost every case it is a wise decision to use a web hosting company and not consider using your own computer as a host due to the risks, especially for those unfamiliar with internet security.
If you want a site hosted that comes with loads of options and tools for making money then I recommend Host4Profit. The web hosting from Host4Profit becomes especially powerful when used with the turnkey website PlugInProfits.
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