Signing on with the right web hosting solution is a crucial decision. Whether you are running an online business, an information resource, a discussion forum, or are sharing views on a hobby or interest; you must use a web hosting service that will allow everyone else to view your creation. It is web hosting that empowers you to share information, sell products and services, and interact with people through a web site. Trying to choose a web host can be a very confusing exercise, especially when you consider the growing number of web hosts and their confusing advertisements. Therefore, it is important that before jumping in, you go through some sort of a research process for selecting the most appropriate web hosting company for your Internet presence.

Once you have decided what web hosting services you require, it is then time to make a list of certain web hosting features and options you must consider. Here are some of the most important aspects of web hosting:

• Tech Support
  One of the most overlooked features when shopping for web hosting is the actual help that the web hosting company can provide. Prompt, helpful, 24/7 service - whether by telephone or email - is essential if you're running a large web site. Even if you have a small web site, shop for a web hosting company that can provide you with telephone, email and technical support. Starkmedia provides Access 24 that enables clients to access non-business support 24 hours a day.
• Uptime
  The more uptime, the better. 99% uptime is the minimum acceptable standard. At Starkmedia, we exceed the standard. If your site is down, we are notified immediately via email and paging devices. Our team of System Administrators will get you back up and running in very little time.
• Disk Space
  Size does matter. Do you know how big your web site is? Does it have a lot of graphics, audio or video components? Is your site dynamic or database-driven? You must logically figure how big your current site is and allot more space for above factors.
• Bandwidth
  This factor is usually overlooked until the bandwidth limit is reached. If you are running a site with lots of downloads, or a site with lots of images such at a photo post site, your bandwidth will be a lot higher than a site with mainly text. Reputable web hosts will provide you with bandwidth usage data and give you the option to purchase additional bandwidth if necessary.
• Statistics Program
  A good stats program is handy if you want to keep an eye on how many visitors you are getting, where they are coming from, referrers, top entry and exit pages and so on. Some companies offer excellent stats programs as standard while others offer basic stats but you have to pay extra for advanced statistics. At Starkmedia, we provide 24/7 access to your site's statistics that update daily.
• Data Centers
  Web hosting providers both big and small need a central location where they house their servers and equipment. It is important to have some idea as to where these systems are located. Starkmedia hosts sites both internally and through a secure facility in Texas.

There are many other factors to take into consideration such as hardware and operating platform, back-up systems and FTP access. Also, remember each company may offer different features from plan to plan, so before entering into a hosting package make sure to research your options and find a solution that fits your company's unique business.

To learn about Starkmedia's hosting plans, call us at 414.226.2710 or contact us online.