Choosing the best web site hosting package (Step 4)

The biggest expense in building your web site is webhosting (yearly costs are from free to less than $100). With so many different packages, you may be confused about which website hosting provider would suit your needs.

For a quick view of affordable plans, see my website hosting comparison chart, which includes Site Build It, GoDaddy, Blue Voda and other web site hosting plans.

Should I buy my desired domain name at a domain registrar and then find a web host?

Many hosting companies are also domain registrars. You can do domain registration and web site hosting all at once. For many people this is the way to go. One of the best reasons is many hosting companies give you a free domain for life when you continue to host with them.

You can register your name with one company, select domain parking, then find a host company and have the domain transferred to the host you choose. The problem is it may take days to transfer. Many of them drag their feet. What would be their hurry to transfer it?

Any free eCommerce web site hosting packages available?

Yes, with eCommerce booming on the internet many companies are starting to include eCommerce software (free) into their basic plan. Creating a storefront has never been easier (or cheaper).

What options do I need to look for when looking at website hosting plans?

Here are a few tips:

• Money back guarantee
• No set-up fee
• Low cost
• E-mail for own domain (example: webmaster@yourdomainname.com)
• Excellent Customer Support (toll-free number, 24/7 support, live chat available)
• No ads (unless you don't mind them being on your site)
• Private domain registration

What is Private Domain Registration

This will block your personal information from anyone wanting to look at who owns a site. Anyone can see where you registered your domain, your name, address, phone number, IP address, when it was created, expires, and administrative contact. If you use private domain registration when you register your site, all personal info is blocked. This is very helpful so spammers, scammers and other people trying to get your information won't be able to see it. If you would like this feature before you start the registration process find out what the cost of this is (or is it included). If you do not see it on their website, e-mail or do a live chat (if available) and ask. If you can not get a direct yes or no answer, your best bet is to find another host.

Affordable Web site Hosting plans

GoDaddy.com

The basic package starts at $3.99 a month. If you are on a limited budget and looking to start out a small business, website or a blog, this is a great price. The cheapest web site hosting I have been able to find and domain name registration is only $1.99 when you purchase a hosting plan. Even though they don't have a toll free number, their customer service is extremely helpful if you run into problems. If you are wanting to use a blogging software program they have many to pick from including wordpress. So if you want to move your free wordpress blog to a paid hosting provider the price can't be beat. There is set up fees.

ANHosting

Great customer service includes 24/7 e-mail support, live chat available, and toll free support number, 99.9% uptime guarantee, online site builder. No hidden fees and you receive a free domain for life as long as you stay with them for hosting. The basic package starts at $6.95. Some of the features in their plans are yahoo and Google ad credits, free shopping cart, blogs, just to name a few. If you have bought your domain name someplace else they will transfer the name, files and databases to their hosting free of charge.

Lunarpages

Another great place to host that is cheap. With so many extras in their basic package ($6.95 per month), I have to wonder why they call it basic. Their plan would meet all your needs, with room to grow your website. A few of the features included are free domain for life while you host with Lunarpages, blogs, forum, chat, guest book, Microsoft Frontpage extensions, Dreamweaver compatible, parked domains (unlimited), and sub domains (unlimited).

TEACHERS: Go to the bottom of Lunarpages home page here as they offer free web hosting for K-12 public schools in the United States.

Site Build It!

Site Build It is an all inclusive hosting package. They have everything you need to build your site for an affordable price. No other software design, web host or domain registration company can compare to the tools they offer to help the beginner (or even advanced) to build a website. The tools include brainstorming, market research, keyword research, search engine optimization and much more. Take a look at the actual Action Guide for SBI! users. The great thing about this product is once you have your website live on the internet, they don't leave you hanging. They still continue to guide you with tutorials on how to get web site traffic. You may think $299 a year is expensive, but for all they offer, it is very cheap. See Site Build It Review or compare Site Build It vs. other Web Site Builders

Is Site Build It a scam or is it a great product at an affordable price. Click here to get the facts.

Vodahost

By offering a free downloadable (blue voda sits in your computer, not on their server until you are finished and upload it) website builder. Blue voda is a very easy to use wysiwyg (what you see is what you get) drag and drop software with a built in keyword research tool. Their cost is about the same as Lunarpages and ANhosting. The bluevoda tutorials, user forums, toll free support are excellent to help you build your own site easily. Go ahead and download bluevoda website builder, its free. If you do use this software to build your site, you must use Vodahost for the hosting. You can not upload it to any other web host. But don't let that be your deciding factor for not at least trying in the program out.

IXWeb Hosting

Their basic plan (expert plan) starts at only $4.95 a month. This package is a very affordable if you are not going to be running an eCommerce site. They have great customer support available 24/7. The biggest perk this plan has is free marketing worth $533.00. If you would like to have a eCommerce site or be able to have a message forum or blog the Business Plan is only $7.95 per month. The free site builder included with the plans has a demo that you can take a look at and see if it would be a right fit for your needs. When you arrive at their website you can look at all three of the plans they have available, plus you can compare the competitors plans.

Additional Resources

Compare Affordable Web Hosting Plans of GoDaddy, Site Build It, Blue Voda and other web site hosting plans.