Every website needs a good web hosting service to support it. A website without a web host is like a movie without a producer. The two have to work in unison to ensure that a site last for years. For some, choosing a web host can be a hassle, but it doesn’t have to be, especially if you are armed with the following tips.

Be sure to check the amount of space you will be given from your host. Some web hosts only offer 1GB of free space, while others offer much more. Especially for free sites, the more space you use, the more limited your account will become until you start paying for it.

When deciding on a host for a large site, you need to figure out how much bandwidth you will use. Depending on the amount of traffic your site gets, you need to make sure the host can accommodate large files and downloads. If you have a host that cannot handle large amount of traffic, then you will experience a lot of downtime.

Switch web hosts if an outage lasts for more than a day. Even if the host explains why the server is down, the most likely reason is that the host did not invest enough into back up plans as far as outages are concerned. Any truly professional web hosts will have ensured that outages will be short and infrequent.

Be sure to register the name of your domain separately from your web hosting service. In case the service shuts down, or you have conflicts with the company, you will still own your own domain name and can just change to a new host. If you register your domain through your host, they have control of it.

When searching for the perfect web hosting service to accommodate your needs, always ask about what type of security measures they have. Websites are a frequent target for attacks, and are susceptible to many other threats. Make certain that your web host has procedures in place for dealing with all of the common threats such as DDoS attacks. See if you can get them to explain to you any potential risks for your site if the host experiences an attack.

If you want to use a shopping cart software, make sure it is compatible with your web host. A good web host should support certain features such as Web scripting, dynamic content or executable files. These features will allow you to add different ways for your visitors to interact with your website, for instance by leaving feedback.

Decide which host to use based on how well it meets your hosting needs rather than on other services it provides. You might not get the best deal on domain names or other extra services from your web host provider. Don’t purchase these extra services when you sign up for web hosting unless you’re confident that you’re getting the best deal.

As you now know, a website cannot survive without the aid of a web hosting service. The host brings the site to life and gives it a home. One cannot survive without the other. Choose a host that will keep the site alive can be a simple task if you just remember the tips from this article.