Web Hosting

Improving Information Trade

Information can be traded through a number of sources on the internet including databases, websites and content management systems (CMS). With the recent popularization and emergence of CMS’, they have popped up everywhere as the backbone of many websites. They tend to be able to hold the most content which includes audio, video and the typed word.

There are two key concepts exclusive to content management systems:

1. The implementation of a CMS is always related to improving communication
2. The implementation of a CMS should be process driven

Content management is an aspect of online communication that affects all members of a business team. This is commonly referred to as the “webmaster bottleneck” which affects almost all team members at some point. For instance, in an imaginary company there is typically a publishing team, marketing representatives, customer service, technology experts and of course the customers.

In a webmaster bottleneck, the publishing team may not have a developed process for the addition, editing and verification of information. As a result the marketing representatives are unable to make announcements or publish critical updates. Customer service must then absorb the stress from the issues caused by the communication of incorrect information and thus cannot access historical records of each customer.

The technology experts then have trouble pushing the data through due to the vast number of customer complaints to customer service. Finally, the customers will then be unable to communicate with the company and will leave to a more responsive organization.

This is where a content management system shines.  It will solve all of these problems while delivering speed and efficiency. There are plenty of good content management systems available. A good system incorporates a centralized repository for easy access to all information. Also, a separation of content and presentation, modularity and multi-directional information are important characteristics.

Furthermore, excellent customer support, a proven reputation, business specific management features and a capacity for evolution will all help provide the customer with a pleasant business experience.

The importance of a content management system in the modern internet era is often overlooked. The possibilities presented by a CMS are endless and continue to grow with each passing day. The most important ideas to take away from this article are the key concepts. These will help guide you through the content management system search and allow effective communication to ensue at your company.

Dedicated Hosting – A Brief Introduction and Overview

As a website naturally progresses and becomes more popular, it’s not uncommon for a web developer to want to move onto dedicated hosting platforms.  This can come from a variety of reasons such as lack of bandwidth from shared hosting, to the lack of customizability that comes naturally with shared hosting.  Generally speaking, most people make the move to dedicated hosting when the site has out grown shared hosting in one way or another. But what is dedicated hosting and what do you get with it?

Customize the Server

One of the best things about dedicated hosting is it’s customizability. Your website is no longer made to fit in a cookie cutter mold that most shared hosting plans offer. Dedicated hosting allows you to, first and foremost, choose the operating system for the server.  Generally speaking Windows and Linux are the most common operating systems used but really any server based OS can be used by most dedicated hosting providers.

Another option is the software running on the server.   A webmaster can simply install anything that they want on the system to run whatever widget or section of their site they desire.  This makes adding new features to a site as technology changes a breeze. It does put some of the burden to keep up in your hands though, as most dedicated plans are a do it yourself type environment.

Also with dedicated hosting, the user gets to choose the control panel they prefer. Some people prefer a panel like CPanel or Plesk and with a dedicated hosting plan you get to choose this. Of course you can also self-manage in the operating system without a control panel if you prefer.

Better Backups

A lot of shared hosting plans come with back up utilities that just are rather basic, leaving many webmasters frustrated. With a dedicated hosting plan you can install a more robust back up system, making this process much better in the long run.

Cons

The one major con of dedicated hosting is the price.  Typically a plan can range from $80 to $300 dollars a month depending on the server hardware and operating system.  Because of this, most webmasters find it’s too much money for their budget and they stick with shared hosting.  Dedicated hosting is more expensive because you are the only one who has access to the resources of the server. Unlike shared hosting, when multiple users have access to the same server, with dedicated hosting you are the only user on your machine. This is the main reason it’s so expensive. But it can also be the biggest selling point.

When it’s time to make the move to dedicated hosting just be sure you have moderate experience in managing a server.  While you will get some help from your provider, it will be mostly up to you to manage and maintain your new server.

e-Commerce Hosting: What You Need, What You Don’t

If you’re looking for a specialized web hosting service that caters to entrepreneurs seeking an online e-commerce endeavor, then consider opting for an e-commerce hosting package.  While many believe a standard web hosting plan will suffice to operate an online business, soon they reap a harvest of profits.

e-Commerce Tools

To be taken seriously by your competition offering the same products or services, secure an e-commerce web host.  It’s much easier at the onset to opt for one that offers everything you need instead of being forced to changed web hosts mid-course due to growing sales or edgier competition.  The most important e-commerce tools that you should demand include:

• Storefronts
• Product Catalog Builder
• Shopping Cart
• Payment Processing Tools
• Autoresponders
• Fraud and Security Prevention
• Integration Capabilities
• Adequate Bandwidth and Diskspace
• Search Engine Tools
• SSL Certificates
• Google Adwords Credit

e-Commerce Caveats

While many web host advertisements appeal with tantalizing offers, always read the fine print to know exactly what you can expect from the service.  Many entrepreneurs usually fall into one of two traps: free hosting and premium host plans.  Free hosting is best used for testing a target market or learning the ropes; however, it has numerous limitations and virtually impossible to expand your online business.  Seasoned gurus often become the victims of the second trap by signing their life away when securing a premium host package, especially when establishing an online business.  Granted, premium packages usually offer all the bells and whistles, but stop and ask yourself at what cost?  Compare prices and contract details before taking the plunge to secure an e-e-commerce host.

Another aspect that you may not realize unless you read the fine details of the user agreement that if by chance the web host company is forced to file bankruptcy, and assuming they own the legal rights to your website, then you’re totally out of luck if you agreed to the terms and secured the service.  Given this worst case scenario as an e-commerce entrepreneur, needless to say it would be devastating to your online business.

Enough emphasis can never be placed on the importance of research and reading the fine print, especially when it comes to e-commerce because valuable resources are at stake. Don’t be afraid to ask for references from your web host service.  It’s essential to know the exact plan details and the reputation of which host you’re requesting service.  Ask any fellow website owner to share his or her nightmarish experience of changing web hosts and moving a domain before an existing contract expires. Chances are they highly won’t recommend it!

Reasons to Choose Open Source CMS Software

As content management systems (CMS) continue to grow in popularity, many webmasters and website owners are moving toward open-source software. This type of software offers a great deal of opportunity for improvement, expansion and customization. The CMS world is no different and this should be taken full advantage of by the open-source CMS community, especially in these financially difficult times.

There are many reasons to choose open source CMS software over competing business systems. These advantages include:

• Cost
• Stability/performance
• Safety
• Support

The main reason user’s switch to open-source software of any kind is cost. Open-source is a free version of code created by a community of programmers and developers. In these difficult times, the most economical type of software is those that are free. To cut costs, many businesses are transferring to open source solutions while continuing to maintain the same quality and consistency offered by commercial systems.

The second advantage is the stability and performance provided by this type of software. Since open source CMS solutions tend to have a broader installation, they are more extensively tested and improved through those experiences in a professional environment. There are no target ship dates for open source CMS software because it is constantly being updated and expanded to ensure consistency and robustness.

The third benefit is safety in the code. Commercial software systems are all closed source meaning the code is hidden. Therefore, gaps, bugs and harmful code cannot be identified in advance, thus it cannot be corrected upstream. Finally, support is always a major factor in all software systems. With open source CMS solutions, there are extensive forums and emailing lists to contact experts for support, all of which is free.

When searching for a CMS, it is important to find one that is right for the needs of your business, be it commercial or open source. Each offer their own advantages and disadvantages, however, if it comes down to cost, open source may turn out to be the most efficient solution.

Although commercial systems will never replace open-source alternatives, they do provide excellent competition will their many appealing advantages, especially cost. The software industry as a whole is turning more toward extensively supported software compared to commercial options. Companies continue to switch to open source CMS solutions each day because it fits their business model best and improves their online presence.

Two Basic Steps to Search Engine Optimization

Search engine optimization is ever evolving but with a little patient and effort a site can be quickly indexed in the major search engines.  The following is a list of two steps to get you started with SEO and your site.

Step 1: Choose The Right Words

Not all words are the same. First, make sure the words you are trying to target for searches are relevant to the content on your site. If you run a site about dog treats, it’s probably not a good idea to target lcd televisions as a keyword. Second, take a look at the amount of results already present for the words you decide on.  In all likelihood, the larger the result set, the harder it is to place well on the results of a search.   Third, don’t target too many words. It goes without saying; you should never have more words you are targeting than content pages on your site.  Fourth, choose words that are searched often enough that they are worth targeting. A good place to check out the relevance, competition and search frequency of words is Google Adwords.  Use the tool to identify potential words and find out what words you have decided to target look like. You might also find some good alternative words this way as well.  Once you choose a desired set of keywords, it’s time to start optimizing your site for these words.

Step 2: Keyword Related Content and Density

In the optimization community density is the same as frequency. So, a sites keyword density is simply the frequency it appears throughout a page and a site.  Search engines rate the relevancy of your site to a keyword based on the frequency it appears at in your site. So at first glance, most people think a higher density or higher frequency in the site or pages is a good thing.  While, there’s nothing definitive on what the optimal density is, there is a general understanding that anything over 5% is treated as spam by most search engines.  So, how do you check the density you have?  Take a count of all the words in the text on the page. Then count all the occurrences of a keyword in that text and divide that by the total words and you get your density for the page. If you don’t want to go through this process, there are a couple of tools for basic keyword density analysis like live-keyword-analysis.com.

There is another, more used method for keyword density analysis that takes in to account all the text a potential viewer can’t see.  Take for instance your Meta tags, image tags and hyper link anchors, these all have textual components as well, and in most cases they are only seen in the html portion of a site. More complex tools take in to account this text and keyword density, producing what is generally known as a more accurate projection.

A Review of JustHost

JustHost is a fairly new web hosting provider that has become one of the biggest players in the hosting industry, almost overnight. This is because they have one of the most robust and fastest networks utilized by many servers which almost eliminates downtime. This reliability and performance mixed with a low price package with many features is a winner in any computer user’s book.

There are four primary areas where JustHost excels including:

• Control panel
• Customer service
• Price value
• Reliability

JustHost utilizes industry-leader cPanel software to allow users to create and manage their website in an easy-to-use environment. The program is simple yet powerful as you can manage domains, databases and provide added security all within a few clicks of the mouse. Other easy functions are configuring email accounts, viewing website statistics and implementing scripts.

Another excellent feature of JustHost is their customer service. The company provides users with around the clock support via email and phone. There is also a detailed help center that provides answers on almost any topic related to their system. JustHost has become one of the best resources in the marketplace. This is one area where the company takes pride as the customer comes first.

Also, the price value blows most web hosting providers out of the water. At only $3.95 per month and packed with numerous features, JustHost is providing an excellent service at an extremely low price. The best feature is unlimited storage, bandwidth, databases and domain hosting. Almost sounds too good to be true! There is also a great deal of e-commerce support for those looking to create a product or service website.

Finally, JustHost is one of the most reliable web hosting providers available due to their load balancing technology and speedy backbone connection. Your site is available on multiple servers due to load balancing so if one becomes unavailable your site will not go down. This almost eliminates downtime completely and gives you a small piece of mind.

JustHost is one of the greatest things to happen to the web hosting industry since the invention of the server. At the same time it is also one of the worst things to happen. All in all the company is excellent for users but bad for the competition. With the growing popularity of JustHost, they certainly are making the competition rethink their business model.

Are you Ready to Move to Multiple Domain Hosting?

If you are a webmaster, you must be aware of shared hosting plans which are the least expensive method of hosting your site. Web hosting providers offer this service because you are only using a small amount of disc space and bandwidth shared with others. One issue with shared hosting is they typically only allow one domain under one account.

For those with only one website, this is not a problem. However, if you plan to expand and create a network of websites, this will be an issue. Instead of opening a new account for each site (which can become quite expensive), web hosting providers offer packages that allow you to host all websites under the same account. This is known as multiple domain hosting.

This will save you a great deal of money by allowing more flexibility with your sites without the extra fees. The types of websites you build are up to your discretion but generally the content should be related in some manner. That way it is much smoother when linking to your other sites and they will achieve a higher page rank.

Many multiple domain hosting providers offer Fantastico. This allows you to easily develop different types of websites including:

• Classified ads
• Blogs
• Online directories

To keep the process as inexpensive as possible, you can register additional domain names through GoDaddy.com. They are among the cheapest on the internet. Once registered, acquire your DNS address and click on the “add-on domain” in your control panel. Then fill in the blanks with the new domains. Once complete, it takes approximately 48 hours for new websites to be recognized on the internet.

Other attributes you will want to setup in your new host include specific email addresses, databases, FTP accounts and subdirectories for each of your domains. Multiple domain name hosting plans usually start around $10 per month which is significantly cheaper than hosting each domain on a different account.

Multiple domain hosting is a wonderful option if you plan to expand your website to a network of sites. This is the cheapest, most efficient option available to those with growing needs. All major web hosting providers offer multiple domain hosting plans. It is always beneficial to conduct research and comparison shop prior to selecting a provider. This will ensure you will receive the best possible service to fulfill all of your business needs.

Microsoft’s New Developments

On October 29^th, 2010 at the Microsoft Professional Developer’s Conference, Microsoft unveiled a presentation denoting how developers now have the ability to create rich device experiences in the cloud. This event was broadcast live across the web to more than 20,000 developers simultaneously at 200 Personal Developer Conferences across the globe.

The Keynote Address

The keynote address from CEO Steve Ballmer and Server and Tools Business President Bob Muglia showcased how Microsoft is continuing to advance their platforms of the PC, mobile devices and cloud computing. With the recent releases of Windows 7, Windows Azure, Windows Phone 7 and Internet Explorer 9, they were able to focus on these platforms specifically. The plans for Microsoft are to combine the Web, phone and the cloud.

Building Momentum

Since Windows Azure became commercially available this year, Microsoft has seen an explosion of 20,000 applications. In combination with the RenderMan application, Microsoft presented how they can utilize Windows Azure to improve computer cycle efficiency through scaling. In turn, this will further develop project performance and decrease costs.

Other Conference Highlights

Microsoft also highlighted that over 70 partners that represent more than two-thirds of all active web traffic are utilizing Internet Explorer 9 and HTML 5. Internet Explorer 9 first launched in September 2010 and there have already been an amazing 10 million downloads.

Microsoft also informed the crowd that numerous companies will be utilizing Window Phone 7. Additionally, the Windows Phone marketplace is slated to launch more than 1,000 games and applications that fully utilize the power of the phone. The marketplace opens September 7th for user’s to upload and download applications.

Windows Azure

Windows Azure is one of the latest developments from Microsoft that helps developers build new types of business applications, commercial offerings and web applications. The software package provides many vital services that allow them to focus on applications, not the infrastructure, operating system and tools. The functions offered by Windows Azure are known as “Platform as a Service” (PaaS).

These fantastic releases from Microsoft are sure to revolutionize the software industry once again. Windows phones in the past have been mediocre at best. However, it appears as if executive management is looking to put much more backing into Windows Phone 7 to make it a front-runner in the mobile handheld device industry. Either way, Microsoft will continue to prosper with these innovative and performance enhancing products.

Difference Between Dedicated Hosting and VPS Hosting

When it comes to web hosting it seems as if every webmaster is striving to eventually purchase a dedicated hosting plan. However, the new cloud VPS hosting environment has changed that perception somewhat, especially for the more experienced site owners that understand the need for instant expandability. VPS and dedicated hosting have some very striking similarities, and to the untrained eye they may appear to be exactly the same. Both hosting types allow for excellent site performance and are used by business professionals on a daily basis, and both hosting types are a step above shared hosting. However, there are some significant differences between the two. The following information outlines some of the basic differences between dedicated hosting and VPS hosting.

Fundamental Differences

Dedicated hosting is used to describe a server environment in which you are given access to a web server that is not being utilized by any other webmaster. In other words, you have access to the entire web server ad its software configuration at all times, and you are basically leasing your own private web server. VPS (Virtual Private Hosting), while similar, does not give you access to an entire web server, but instead allocates a specific amount of server resources from a web server to your hosting account. VPS hosting is therefore an intermittent step between shared and dedicated hosting, sharing similarities with both hosting types yet leaning more towards a powerful version of shared hosting.

Cost and Setup

In terms of cost, VPS hosting can be purchased for a much lower price than dedicated hosting, with prices starting at only about $10 per month, depending on the plan and hosting provider. However, it should be noted that VPS hosting is one of the most versatile hosting types, with costs ranging into the hundreds for the more comprehensive plans. Dedicated hosting on the other hand is generally more expensive and the pricing is less flexible, with most hosting providers only offering a few dedicated hosting plans in both the Linux and Windows platforms. Fortunately, and ironically, the setup cost of dedicated and VPS hosting is usually less than shared hosting because plans can be paid for on a  monthly basis, whereas shared hosting (while cheaper overall) must be paid annually in many cases. If you’re on a budget and you need a plan that is more powerful than shared hosting then you may want to consider a VPS hosting plan.

Capabilities and Features

In general, unless you’re in need of an extensive hosting solution, you’ll probably find little difference between the performance of a dedicate hosting plan and a VPS hosting plan. However, some VPS hosting plans do have significant restrictions in regards to software configuration and installing your own software on the server. Even so, some VPS plans allow this, which is why it is important to check with the hosting provider if this is an important issue. Regardless of your needs or preferences, it cannot be disputed that dedicated hosting is more powerful than VPS hosting, unless you’re utilizing the cloud hosting environment.

cPanel’s Expansion below the Equator

Due to the strong financial performance of cPanel in North America, they have decided to expand to South America. This will be accomplished through their Fast Update service in conjunction with HostDime’s data center located in Brazil. This area has grown significantly over the past few years so cPanel has decided to take action toward these new and emerging markets.

HostDime’s Success

According to HostDime representatives, they have seen tremendous growth in South American regions over the past four years. They have worked with cPanel in the past but not on a project of this magnitude.

HostDime is an industry-leading web hosting provider with many services available. Founded in 2001, they have pioneered the industry by providing many features at an affordable cost. HostDime has continually expanded since conception due to their highly popular products. They are currently a global company with six offices worldwide.

The Fast Update Service

cPanel’s Fast Update Service is a feature offered by many partners of the company. They also consider this to be of the most important building blocks in assisting data centers in South America because it increases the speed of installations and updates.        The old method is finding connections to mirror servers. The new technology involves connecting to locally-housed servers that provides updates to cPanel servers.

The Fast Update service utilizes cPanel proprietary technology to find the closest mirror along with an algorithm that chooses the most efficient mirror for quick and reliable information transmission.

Advantages of the Expansion

This growth is expected to increase speeds of installation by 400 percent which lowers transit costs for cPanel and its customers. Also, these improvements translate to a decrease in the number of service interruptions, a reduction in bandwidth costs for data centers and the option for customers to relocate their resources to other web hosting areas of the world.

Once the expansion is complete, cPanel plans to add Spanish-speaking technical support, website efforts and product translations for these countries. Although most of the world speaks English, this will be a nice addition for those countries whose first language is Spanish.

This expansion is excellent progress for both companies and South American regions. Since they are considered an emerging market, it is important to lay the groundwork early for the explosion of commerce that will inevitably follow. There are many advantages for all parties as a result of cPanel’s product and HostDime’s service growth.

Is Cloud VPS Hosting Right for Novice Webmasters?

Cloud VPS hosting is one of the newest hosting types available on the market today, and has recently gained a lot of attention as a suitable alternative to dedicated hosting for serious business owners. The cloud hosting environment operates based on a unique technological concept that links a network of web servers together to create  massive collective pool of server resources that can be accessed instantly by each person on the network. Unlike conventional VPS hosting plans, cloud hosting plans are not limited by the restrictions of a single web server because they utilize every resource the web hosting company has to offer simultaneously.

Infinite Expandability

In the cloud hosting environment , even if you were to use an entire web server’s resources, you could still have instant expandability and high performance retrieved from another server on the network. This ‘floating’ command and server load distribution method is what has earned ‘cloud’ hosting its name. Although this hosting environment is ideal for professional businesses and large corporations , it is also suitable for small business and novice webmasters as well. The following information outlines some of the ways cloud hosting can be beneficial to even the most inexperienced and least demanding webmasters.

Comfortable Billing

Most novice webmasters want to keep their startup costs low and minimize the risk of investing in something that is not going to return a profit, as such, they’re afraid to commit to more powerful hosting plans like dedicated hosting. On the same token, there is also a fear of not being able to accommodate the needs of a rapidly growing and successful web site, which is every webmasters ultimate goal. The cloud hosting environment gives webmasters access to unlimited resources, yet only charges them for the resources that are used each month. Thus, you never have to worry about having too little, and you never have to worry about paying too much. This unique billing structure ensures a risk-free investment and gives aspiring entrepreneurs a reassurance that they’re efforts are not being contributed to ephemeral endeavors.

Extensive Features

Being a novice webmaster doesn’t mean you have to settle for less. Cloud hosting gives you the perfect starting point while also providing all of the resources need to facilitate a smooth transmission from novice to intermediate. Instead of focusing on upgrades and the needs of your site, you can put your energy towards the progression of your web sites and your online business in general, knowing that when needed there will be an abundance of server resources available to maintain optimal performance at all times. Even though less extensive plans are available at lower costs than cloud VPS hosting, these plans cannot provide the expandability and infinite scalability that cloud hosting cam. If you want to make your entrance into the web hosting community with the latest and greatest technology available then you should definitely consider the advantages of cloud VPS hosting.