Hosting advice please

[Jikanv]

Hi. I am new to ecommerce but I am in need of advice as to where to host my e-commerce website. I have another website that is on the free webspace that Virgin gives with an account and that is alright for that, but I am looking for a host to put my ecommerce website on. I am selling mixed merchandise silver,siverplate,paintings,ceramics,porcelain,wat ches, brass, flute,figurines,etc. sort of like a treasure island sort of stuff. I am using Serif's WebPlus to make the site.

I've had read horror stories about webhosting companies and how they treat their customers. All I want is a hosting company that will have my site on and provide me with enough bandwidth, storage and CPU, as it seems like many hosting companies just suspend a site for no reason if they are using almost any CPU power on their server.

Also how much storage an average ecommerce site takes up or should I be concerned about that at all, although my site has a lot of photos of items, that right now stands around 200 photos with the fraction of the merchandise I still have to put on. I need to post it asap and as I go I am puting up the rest of the stuff. I don't have money for a dedicated server as a startup webstore before the store prooves itself. Any advice on this? Of course I want to go as cheap as I can but still get some sort of security that the site won't be taken down because the host's CPU power runs out. Thanx, John

[edman]

Thee are quite a few good ones to choose from

I always make sure the host has CPANEL for it's control panel before considering the service also it is important that they he excellent support.

Also I would like to see some good review bout it as well. Webhostingtalk forum is good place to get ideas as well

I personally use hostforweb and vouch that their service is great. no downtime and instant support

cheers

[Dwebs-Ltd]

I wouldn't bother with WHT its mostly full of resellers of resellers of resellers who sell unlimited everything for $0.99 :)

Is the site just going to be HTML + Images, any PHP or other server side code?

[streetslocal]

but the host you recommend is a very bad service provider and i have seen reviews saying that the hosting company employ spammers to spam forums.
Not sure if the spamming bit is true?

Any ideas:eek::D:rolleyes:

[yorkie]

I use godaddy and haven't had any problems, everytime I ask a qusetion it gets answered quickly by their support, and believe me I had lots of questions!

[edman]

I get what you mean about Webhostingtalk they do have some good reviews there, that make sense, but the over rated cheap offers can confuse newbie into getting it cheap.

liquidweb << My client got a dedicated server here as well thy too are very good

[edman]

but the host you recommend is a very bad service provider and i have seen reviews saying that the hosting company employ spammers to spam forums.
Not sure if the spamming bit is true?

Any ideas:eek::D:rolleyes:


Which host re you referring to

[Jikanv]

Hi Dwebs
I don't know what PHP do I have no idea about programming or scripts, so I guess it's just a straight Html website with photos and some flash banners, shopping cart, adsense and stuff like that, I might add a forum or something down the line but right now I just want it up with a host I can count on later on too. cheers, John

[edman]

Hi there just send me a PM I'll give you a space free for 6 months while you figure things out and if you like it, then I can charge you £50 for the whole year

[Dwebs-Ltd]

Hi Dwebs
I don't know what PHP do I have no idea about programming or scripts, so I guess it's just a straight Html website with photos and some flash banners, shopping cart, adsense and stuff like that, I might add a forum or something down the line but right now I just want it up with a host I can count on later on too. cheers, John

If its straight HTML with buy buttons etc any host will do the job you will just need to watch out for disk space and bandwidth. Either a windows or linux platform would do the job. So the options are endless :)

There are plenty of providers on UKBF just do a search on the forum also lots of information about various other webhosts people are using.

Edit.... Do a bit of research into any host you are going to go with, if you spend a bit of time before you purchase doing some research you will save yourself a lot of money and time in the future.

[WhiskyFive]

I have used shared hosting from 1and1.co.uk. Dirt cheap, no support.
I also used Liquidweb.com virtual private servers - bit pricier, but fantastic support.

1and1 will throttle your bandwidth if you use too much - for a new site, this won't be an issue until you hit around 3K visitors per day.

[ronnyeo]

Hi. I am new to ecommerce but I am in need of advice as to where to host my e-commerce website. I have another website that is on the free webspace that Virgin gives with an account and that is alright for that, but I am looking for a host to put my ecommerce website on. I am selling mixed merchandise silver,siverplate,paintings,ceramics,porcelain,wat ches, brass, flute,figurines,etc. sort of like a treasure island sort of stuff. I am using Serif's WebPlus to make the site.

I've had read horror stories about webhosting companies and how they treat their customers. All I want is a hosting company that will have my site on and provide me with enough bandwidth, storage and CPU, as it seems like many hosting companies just suspend a site for no reason if they are using almost any CPU power on their server.

Also how much storage an average ecommerce site takes up or should I be concerned about that at all, although my site has a lot of photos of items, that right now stands around 200 photos with the fraction of the merchandise I still have to put on. I need to post it asap and as I go I am puting up the rest of the stuff. I don't have money for a dedicated server as a startup webstore before the store prooves itself. Any advice on this? Of course I want to go as cheap as I can but still get some sort of security that the site won't be taken down because the host's CPU power runs out. Thanx, John

Before decide buying web hosting service, better you read some reviews from unbiased review site or that also can be found at the forums. Just googling to find it.
You're right to research and asking people how this or that company service. Choosing a web hosting like you choose a land for your home.
At a time your business build it'll reluctant move to other place.

If you're a server friendly with cpanel, mysql database, phpmyadmin, etc. that's no problem to try a service for a short time. You can choose payment monthly. It prevent bad things that are not desired beyond.

[JodoHost]

If you're a server friendly with cpanel, mysql database, phpmyadmin, etc. that's no problem to try a service for a short time. You can choose payment monthly. It prevent bad things that are not desired beyond.

It is right, if you have any experience in hosting then you may chose to first try the services of Host, where you want to host your website/ clients . Many companies are offering free trials and moneyback for this purpose.

[KidsBeeHappy]

I use Phil at Openmind (http://www.openmindhosting.com/). I like the fact that there is a real person there, who answers all queries very quickly and well. I am completley rubbish at all things server & hosting, and phil had provided lots of help and guides, more related to training me than anything else.

I have a dedicated server, but he also has plans that start at around £30 a year, i think.

[nickpp]

Have a look on the web, beware some of the hosting charts are paid for ad sites. Try and stay away from people who just resell, they do not have direct access to the server, and their tech support is limited at best. Some companies offer unlimited reseller space...not good for the individual site when the server is oversold.

[edman]

I use Phil at Openmind (http://www.openmindhosting.com/). I like the fact that there is a real person there, who answers all queries very quickly and well. I am completley rubbish at all things server & hosting, and phil had provided lots of help and guides, more related to training me than anything else.

I have a dedicated server, but he also has plans that start at around £30 a year, i think.

Customer service is the most important thing in hosting after uptime. these are the things to really look out for. Ask a few questions and see how quickly you get a reply

[Jikanv]

Thanx guys for all the help and caring. After careful searching I had decided to go with storminternet.co.uk Might not be the cheapest but I feel their linux ultimate package is a good deal. Thanx again, John

[ken_uk]

Not used them, to be honest I would be wary of using them - as I would be wary of any company that offers unlimited space and unlimited bandwidth.

Unlimited space is a physical impossibility at present, unlimited bandwidth just isnt going to happen either. If they can lie about those two things, how honest are they about other things?

[Jikanv]

I guess you are right but all the reviews I've read about them was good. If they are no good I'll just leave them. Not that much of a money even if they don't refund. My head is buzzing from all the reviews and reading and trying to find a good host and after a while they all sound alike. The differences are not that big. Right now I just needed to finish the search because it was putting to much pressure on me after a month of indecisive searching. So, as the blind man said" we'll see" .

[edman]

I guess you are right but all the reviews I've read about them was good. If they are no good I'll just leave them. Not that much of a money even if they don't refund. My head is buzzing from all the reviews and reading and trying to find a good host and after a while they all sound alike. The differences are not that big. Right now I just needed to finish the search because it was putting to much pressure on me after a month of indecisive searching. So, as the blind man said" we'll see" .

Ken UK is right:)