Hosting Companies
(Why should you pay for website space?)

A "website host" is a company that provides space for websites. It actually stores your website on computers connected to the Web for access by your website visitors.

Some website hosting companies provide free website space; some Internet service providers give website space as part of your account; and "professional” hosting companies charge for website space and their services.

The temptation to use a free or ISP-based host is a good one. However, for a commercial website, it is one to be ignored.

Domain Names
While some free hosts allow the use of domain names (such as "webstar.com"), most do not. Those that do usually charge a fee for domain names — so where is the savings?

And usually, your website's address will be something like http://home.somefreehost.com/~yourname. This is not too tempting. Picture your business card with that plastered across it!

How do you spell s-l-o-w?
Regardless of what anyone may tell you about free hosting, free hosts are notoriously slow. They also usually require that your pages display their ads, logos, and/or annoying pop-up windows advertising the host rather than your business.

And this is "free"?

Maintaining a Professional Image
While free hosting is fine for personal and hobby pages, it does nothing to enhance the professional image of your company. What better way to advertise to your potential clients that your company cannot afford the $30 or so per month fee for a professional host, or to make them suffer a barrage of banners, frames, pop-ups and the like.

Lastly, since free hosts generally do not provide most of the advanced services that may be required to do business on the Web, they are a poor choice for a business.

Professional Hosting
Professional hosts, on the other hand, have a variety of services, options, and levels of hosting, and a reasonable plan can be found for your website needs.

For instance, if you need interactive forms (such as a form your visitors can fill out to provide you with orders, credit card data, etc.), you'll need these advanced services.

Your Present and Future Needs
It can be a painful experience to move a website from one host to another. So it is also important to choose a host with the kinds of services that you may need in the future. If you don't need them today, you may next year.

What we can do for you.
We are familiar with a number of excellent professional hosting companies. We can help you determine what your website needs will be and can help you choose a professional host and hosting plan to suite those needs — now and as your Internet business grows into the future.