~Tips For Making A Website: Choosing A Host~

Choosing a host is the most important thing to start with. Without a host, you can not have a site. Obviously, there are billions of websites on the net. All of them have some kind of host. Some host themselves through their own server, some pay to be hosted by services like Dream Host, and some get free hosting capabilities by hosts like Freewebs. Which is the best for your situation? You'll need a reliable host that can answer your questions, help you when necessary, and give you enough bandwidth for your site. While a free host may be fine for one site, another may need to pay for a service in which they can get unlimited space.

What to choose from: There are many choices out there, but not all of them will fit you. For the sake of space and time, we'll only discuss a few different hosts.

  • Dreamhost: While I've never personally used Dreamhost, many have told me about them. They are reliable and worth your money and used by many website designers. Their prices start at $5.95 a month (depending on pre-payment/for a limited time), which includes unlimited+ 50GB Disk, unlimited transfer, plus many more features. To host a domain name it's $5.95 a month, to register a domain name it's $9.95 a year. They offer a lot of support and cover a wide range of web capabilities. From what I've heard and read, they are for those that are serious about their website, perhaps not for beginners. But, they are recommended by a lot of people.
  • Freewebs: Freewebs is great for beginners and basic account is free! They provide a lot of gadgets and assistance for those that aren't familiar with the web, HTML, or webmastering. But, they also offer an HTML only account type, all for free, for those that know HTML. While they are great for beginners and don't have any ads (if you have HTML only account), they do insist you have a freewebs bar on your site. You can choose one that isn't too ugly, but if it gets on your nerves, I suggest trying another host. You can choose from a pre-existing domain name, http://www.yoursitename.webs.com, or http://www.freewebs.com/yoursitename. You can also get a paid plan with more features, but I recommend that if you want to pay for hosting, you choose a more professional host.
  • Freehostia: I've heard mixed reviews about Freehostia, I do know some webmasters that use them and don't have any complaints. They don't have any ads and free plans are available. With a free plan you get, 250 MB disk space, 5 GB bandwidth, 2 domains hosted, no ads, and free renewal after one year. Along with a bunch of other features, the free account gives you the freedom of 24/7 technical support and peace of mind. You also get 3 free email accounts. Besides the free account type, you can get a Value account for $1.95 per month. With that you get 500 MB disk space, 10 GB bandwidth, 2 domains hosted, and outgoing email. While it seems like a great value, beware that the system may have flaws. I'd be cautious when using them as a host--because of all the bad reviews I've read-- but keep them in mind if every other host doesn't work.
  • Bravehost: Bravehost offers free and paid plans which are very good. I've known a few friends to use Bravehost (aka Bravenet) who've enjoyed their service with them, but only used them for a short period of time. They provide free widgets and can be useful when you need a reference to something. If you want the free version, though, you'll get unwanted ads in right on the top of your site above your banner. The free account comes with 1.5GB bandwidth, 50MB disk space, and easy website builders. If you want to pay for more, the prices start at $12.00 per month, or if you pay in bulk, it's $7.46 per month for 2 years.

    Here's a list of other hosting services:

  • aplus.net
  • Site Ground
  • **Global Website Solutions
  • Homestead

    And, don't forget that some sites, like Eevee's HQ and Ho-oh's Fire and Auropaws, that offer to host your site for free. Each offers different things, but usually they give you a sub-domain and are very friendly and helpful. As you explore bigger Pokémon sites, you may notice more that offer hosting.

    If your site offers hosting to others, please tell me and I'll add a link to your site on this page.









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