Web hosting involves transferring your website on to a company’s server so that it is constantly accessible online. Essentially, this is a necessary part of creating an online presence. For basic personal websites, a lot of companies provide free web hosting in return for advertising privileges. However, for more advanced features such as associated email addresses, online forms, and specific domain names, you will have to pay the provider. Domain names are issued for a one-off fee, but maintaining a website on a web host incurs ongoing running costs.

There are different types of web hosting, corresponding to the different internet browsers available online. Windows web hosting remains popular as it is familiar to most computer users, but it is more expensive than other hosts. Linux is a cheaper option, and as Linux is an open-source software problem, hacks and bugs are usually fixed incredibly quickly. Because of this, Linux has become the most popular kind of web hosting available.

For companies who are looking to expand their online presence, finding a good quality web hosting service is essential. It is best to look for well-established companies that will provide a reliable service, and that will not take your site offline if it exceeds its bandwidth, and that will support your website as it grows.