What is webhosting? In short, webhosting is a service which allows you to post your small business website on the internet for everyone to see. The individual files and web pages that make up your website are stored (hosted) on a special computer called a server.
What Is Webhosting (Commonly Spelled Web Hosting)?
Why Do I Need Webhosting?
Webhosting, and starting a website in general can be a bit scary for small businesses. If you’re asking “what is webhosting,” chances are you’re also not sure why you need webhosting. Like two peas in a pod, webhosting is a necessary component of your website. Think of it this way… if you have a home phone, but don’t have the phone plugged into your wall jack, your phone doesn’t do you much good. The same goes for your website. Unless your site is hosted on a dedicated server with a connection to a stable internet backbone, no one else will be able to see your site.
What Is A Webhosting Company?
When learning about what is webhosting and how to host your small business website, you’re going to come across dedicated webhosting companies. Webhosts provide businesses with the computers and software needed for hosting your website, as a monthly, quarterly or annual rent. It is far cheaper for most small businesses to simply rent the hardware and equipment necessary to host a website, than it is to purchase everything.
How To Buy Webhosting Service
In essence, buying webhosting is simply renting physical space on a server to store your website’s files, and bandwidth for people to view those files. For a monthly fee, usually about $20 to $30 for a basic small business website, you receive access to the server, a monthly-allotment of bandwidth and use of bundled software and features, such as e-mail. On top of that, the webhosting company provides reliable service, technical support, data backup, software and hardware usage, and expertise that would otherwise be unaffordable to sole proprietors and most small businesses.
How Much Storage Space And Bandwidth Will My Website Need?
For a small brochure-style basic business website, your needs will often be met with a small hosting package of 10 to 100 megabytes (MB) of server space, and between 1 and 5 gigabytes (GB) of bandwidth. But keep in mind, if you plan on adding video to your website, an intranet or extranet, or e-commerce capabilities, you’ll need considerably more storage space and bandwidth. But for most small businesses learning about what is webhosting, the above storage and bandwidth will be plenty.
Ask If Your Website Has Special Webhosting Requirements
If you won’t be hosting your website with the company that designed your website, and you’re confused about hosting plans and what is webhosting, then you’ll need to ask your web designer about your site’s software requirements. Web designers use many different programming languages, and in order for your site to function, you’ll need those same languages installed on your host’s computers.
Find Out If Your Webhost Can Support Your Website’s Growth
When reviewing webhosting plans and what is webhosting, consider your website’s future. Will you be adding a database for a Content Management System (CMS) or Customer Relationship Management System (CRM)? An employee intranet or client extranet? Multimedia content such as Podcasts, video presentations, or special downloads? If you don’t have answers to the above questions, talk to your web designer and host. Planning for growth can prevent future headaches and ensure your hosting company can scale up (or down) the level of service you’ll need.
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