Web Hosting Services: Are They Costing You Too Much?

Selecting an appropriate web host is a crucial factor in reducing your expenses for web hosting.

With numerous web hosts available, the industry is still in its early stages and experiencing rapid growth.

As a result, finding the perfect host can be challenging and time-consuming. However, the investment of time and effort is worthwhile.

When exploring and considering forming a partnership with a host, there are a few important things to keep in mind.

Below are a few factors to consider that directly contribute to the final cost…

Disc Space

Understand the appropriate amount of web space required for your website and allow for some additional space to accommodate future growth.

If your website requires 200MB of disc space, choose a hosting plan that offers at least 250 to 300MB of web space.

This will help you avoid any surprise charges at the end of the month, as many web hosts tend to charge high fees for exceeding the allocated disc space.

Bandwidth

Determine the amount of data transfer that your website utilises. As mentioned earlier, it is important to ensure that you have more bandwidth available than what your website actually requires.

For instance, if your website consumes 8GB of bandwidth per month, choose a plan that provides a minimum of 8 or 10GB of bandwidth per month.

This will help prevent sudden increases in usage, which can result in higher additional expenses.

Block Buying

When inquiring with the web host, ask if they offer “block buying” options for purchasing additional disc space or bandwidth in advance.

However, it is important to exercise caution. If your website requires only an additional 2GB of bandwidth, you may be required to purchase an extra package that offers blocks of 5GB bandwidth.

In such a scenario, search for a hosting provider that allows you to purchase additional disc space and bandwidth according to your specific requirements. This is crucial in order to optimise cost savings.

Note: It is important to familiarise yourself with the rules regarding over-usage allowance.

You should be aware of the consequences if your website exceeds the allocated disc space or bandwidth.

A web host that notifies you well in advance about possible over-usage, enabling you to take necessary steps to reduce or budget for additional usage, is extremely valuable.

Number of Web Sites

If you have multiple websites, it is more cost-effective to sign up for an account with a web host that offers hosting for multiple domains on a single account, rather than having a separate account for each website.

A helpful suggestion is to consider asking your friends and colleagues if they would be interested in hosting their websites together with you on a single account.

Applications And Databases

Make sure that the chosen account type supports all the applications used by your website, such as FrontPage, ASP pages, databases, CGI (Common Gateway Interface) and PHP.

Enquire if there are any additional fees for specific applications or for database support.

For example, many hosts charge additional set-up fees for installing FrontPage. However, you can avoid these fees by selecting another host that offers the same features without any extra costs.

Mail Server

Emails are the lifeblood of your online business. It is important to have a sufficient number of email addresses with your own domain name, preferably with unlimited capacity.

These addresses are necessary for various email features such as forwarders and auto responders.

Paying additional fee for using a mail server is unnecessary nowadays, as many hosts include this service for free within their hosting plans.

Avoid Long-Term Contracts

Steer clear of long-term contracts. While many web hosts provide substantial discounts for yearly or half-yearly payments made in advance, it is important to consider the duration of the commitment you are making.

Refrain from entering into long-term contracts until you have thoroughly assessed the services and reliability provided by the host.

There are clear advantages to paying on a monthly basis.

If you have concerns about your current service and are considering switching to a new host, it’s important to note that breaking a yearly or half-yearly contract may result in losing several months’ worth of hosting fees.

However, in the event that you need to close a problematic account, it is preferable to only experience a few days of downtime.

Anticipating future events and considering a well-established plan of action will greatly assist in avoiding unexpected surprises and effectively reducing costs, whether in the short or long term.

Calculate Your Growth Rate And Forecast Future Expansions

Maintain accurate records of both past and current bandwidth and web space usage. This practise will greatly assist in forecasting future requirements.

Saving money is primarily a matter of using common sense.

However, in the high-tech industry, many people tend to overlook this principle and instead focus on finding the best, most efficient and most expensive technical programmes and software in hopes of saving a few dollars.

In most businesses, establishing a solid and cost-effective groundwork is crucial for effectively reducing expenses.

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