What is web hosting?
Creating a website is one thing, but how to get your website visible on the Internet? That is where hosting comes in. Simply put web hosting stands for
"placing a site on a web server that is connected 24 hours a day to the Internet."
Without hosting, your website is only visible on your local computer, not globally. Only through a web host can you have your site online, even if you have your own server. So, a web host literally allocates a piece of "virtual space" on its server to make your website visible on the Internet. Thanks to this, your website will operate without interruption.
It all starts with a domain
In order to be able to make the connection between the website and web server, a domain registration is needed. Web visitors can thus see only your website once you link your site to a domain name. This is done via DNS management ("Domain Name Server system"). Each domain has a unique IP address which is linked to specific server settings that are listed in the DNS records.
TIP: Do you know what the domain registration process consists of?
When web visitors type in your domain name, a connection is established with the server which is associated with this domain name. The various files of your website are now open on the server from the hosting provider. This will make your website visible in the browser of the site visitor.
IMPORTANT: Hosting providers offer a variety of web, email and server hosting packages that you can add as an additional internet service to your domain and hosting such as: link your mail to your domain name, make an e-mail alias (referral), add a subdomain name in one click, install a WordPress website, add a database or My Website builder.
Reliable web hosting:
5 expert tips
Now you know how web hosting works, the next step is finding a reliable web hosting service. ACTIVE 24 recommends that you select your hosting provider using these tips:
#Tip 1: Web size space
- How much web space do you have in which to create your website?
A small or medium site (max. 5 pages)- basic hosting package
- at least 1 GB of web space
- suitable for blog, portfolio website
- on a shared web hosting server
- comprehensive hosting package
- unlimited data
- suitable for demanding websites and webshops
- various websites in a hosting package
- optimised for traffic: high visitor numbers
- if necessary, a virtual private server (VPS), including guaranteed uptime
#Tip 2: E-mail space
About how much space do you have for sending and receiving e-mails?
Restricted e-mail use (up to 5 email addresses)- basic email package: POP, IMAP
- including webmail
- 10 GB of space per e-mail account (50 GB in total)
- extended e-mail package: ActiveSync
- including webmail
- suitable for corporate e-mails
- suitable for mobile devices
- can send large e-mail attachments (> 20 MB)
- 30 GB of space per e-mail account
- if necessary, own e-mail client to send and receive e-mails
#Tip 3: Security
How safe is the hosting company through which you get on the Internet? Is recovery possible when experiencing technical problems?
Limited protection- Create your own backup of your e-mails, web files and databases
- no or monthly backup only
- data stored in the non-private data centre
- data centre
- no antivirus and antispam
- automatic backup for e-mails, website and databases
- daily backup
- data stored in own data centre
- several independent data centres: data remain available during temporary technical problems
- minimal downtime
- including powerful antivirus and antispam protection
#Tip 4: Content Management System (CMS)
Does the hosting company offer website builders?
No website builder- you need professional help from a web designer
- or you have sufficient programming knowledge
- the CMS system is not available in your own language
- you can easily create your own website
- the CMS system is available in your own language
IMPORTANT: A web host offers various website tools among others My WWebsite sitebuildersr Content Management System (CMS): WordPress, Joomla. The website content is the responsibility of the website owner. More information about WordPress, Joomla.
#Tip 5: Customer Service and Technical Support
What customer support does the hosting company provide?
Limited customer support- limited accessibility (available Monday/Friday)
- channels: only phone or e-mail or chat
- you pay extra for customer service
- service staff are not customer-friendly
- problems persist
- extended accessibility (available 24/7)
- channels: accessible via phone, e-mail and live chat
- customer service is free (included)
- service employees are (very) customer-friendly
- problems are resolved quickly
Are you looking for a new hosting provider? Contact various hosting companies. In this way, you will quickly find out whether your website will be in good hands.
Free or paid web hosting?
Before you purchase any hosting package, ask yourself "Should I opt for free or paid hosting?" There is an important difference.
Free web hosting:
- low cost and cheap hosting services
- price of services after 1st year rises sharply
- poor services
- poor availability when experiencing technical problems
- uptime is not guaranteed
- domain name and hosting package across multiple internet hosting providers
Paid web hosting:
- reliable web hosting
- price of services after 1st year remains the same
- distinctive customer service
- uptime guarantee (i.e., little downtime)
- domain name and hosting package with the same internet hosting provider, directly accessible via your control panel
A cheap domain name is nice, but a reliable web host with stable internet services, little downtime and rapid access to technical problems is priceless!