May 07, 2005

By: Mari Anne Hussen
Website: http://www.hosting-your-website.com

Reliable And Affordable Dedicated Server Hosting Companies Offer Sweet Deals To New Clients

A discount is the amount a price would be reduced to purchase a commodity of a lesser grade. In other words because of the competitiveness of today’s Internet market hosts are willing to provide a higher level of ecommerce and hosting services at a lower price.

Sounds great, but as in all cases, let the buyer beware. A great deal up front may not be the best deal for all customers in the long run. The headaches a business may encounter by opting to save a few dollars initially may not be worth the price when the final accounting is done.

While there are great discount web hosting plans on the Internet that live up to their promises and claims, there are others who make their money by shortcuts and short changing their clients.

A discount web host will show up on the Better Business Bureau’s list if they are not able to provide the services they advertise or deal with any difficulties their clients may experience. Other Internet watchdogs that do independent evaluations are PC Magazine, Mac Addict, Tophosts, HostIndex, or WebHost Dir.

Web hosting ranges from free sites that cater to a family history or information site, hobby sites, team or school sites, to large reliable and affordable dedicated server hosting companies that are there to provide all the services a large company would need to run a successful online store or site.

An affordable dedicated server host is a server that generally runs one type of server software. It is usually designed according to the client or user's specifications. A dedicated server is needed for websites that have high traffic, needs more processing power and utilizes many resources. A dedicated host should offer each customer a comprehensive web-hosting platform. It should include all required software, hardware, networking systems and technical support required to successfully operate the web site.

Not all discount web hosting plans target the low end user. There are some pretty sweet deals to be had for companies that require the power of a dedicated server. A dedicated server host may offer free trials, free set up, discounts for yearly or quarterly billing, reseller options and affiliate programs to offset costs.

Areas to look at when contracting to use discount web hosting plans are connection speeds, bandwidth, file transfer limits, storage, ecommerce tools, design tools, software, tracking, spam and virus control, back up, uptime, control panels, scripts, platforms, bulletin boards, chat rooms, guest books and more.

The best way to decide what is required is to draw up a list of what a business must have to operate on a day to day basis. A second list might include the things it would be nice to have, but are not essential. Then it’s time to browse and compare. A wise manager will not only compare services and prices but will look at a host’s history and client base. A host that has been online for five or more years is a better risk than one that is in its first year.

Many discount web hosting plans will allow a transfer of a web site from one server to another. This means if a client is dissatisfied with the services they are provided they can move their site lock stock and barrel. This makes for a very competitive market, with companies that strive to provide the best service they can.

For more information, see Dedicated Hosting Plans.

About The Author:

Mari Anne Hussen is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.hosting-your-website.com.  Promote your website by using reliable yet affordable web hosting companies, plans and services.