Web Hosting Geeks' Blog » online business http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog Web Hosting Industry News, Latest Trends, and Analyses. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:48:19 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Budget Web Hosting: Is It Worth the Buck?http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2011/09/01/budget-webhosting-worth-the-buck/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2011/09/01/budget-webhosting-worth-the-buck/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:19:58 +0000 troyedmunds http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=2018 Today there are plenty of companies offering budget web hosting. These are the ones whose rates usually don’t go beyond $6, making them super-affordable especially by small and home-based business owners. The price also makes them extremely attractive too for any Internet user to start his or her own online business.

But then again, no matter how cheap it is, you’re still shelling out moolah, and there’s no money tree growing anywhere in the world. You must then want to know if you’re going to make the most out of every penny with budget web hosting.

It may be worth it because

  • You can already run your website for, well, a few bucks.

Sure, business owners can stick with generic domains such as wordpress.com, posterous.com, or blogspot.com. They can also choose to build a fan page in Facebook or sell their wares in Multiply and eBay, but if they want to build credibility and are planning to be doing online marketing forever, they have to learn how to invest.
A domain is often viewed by search engines, which Internet users usually utilize to look for information as well as products and services, as a testament of your commitment, professionalism, relevance, and even to your legitimacy. That’s why domain-hosted sites rank better, especially in Google, than public-hosted ones.

  • It’s so easy to set up.

One of the most common attributes of budget hosting options is they’re so convenient to set up. This is because they normally market them to first-time small and home-based business owners. A lot of them are actually very apprehensive to wet their feet into any more complicated than a blog, which is, of course, a full-blown website.
But how easy is easy? It’s not uncommon to across a budget web host you can set up in less than 30 minutes—that fast!

  • You don’t end up spending more than you should.

Budget hosting packages have very limited bandwidth. Though it’s way smaller than those offered by these options’ relatives, you really don’t need much when you’re starting out. You cannot consume a lot of storage or even bandwidth during the early days of your website, unless you’re going to pepper the pages with plenty of photos and videos. (This is not highly recommended, though, as these types of files can definitely slow down the loading times of your web pages.)

  • You aren’t really short changed with other services and features.

Unless you’ve chosen your web hosting company so badly, you don’t end up getting crappy customer service just because you decide to go for a budget web host. You may even find many of them offering free domain, server monitoring, multiple domain hosting, SSL technology, and even a money-back guarantee up to 3 months.

  • They can provide scalability.

This simply means you can expand your website with great ease. You’ll discover that the more you spend time online and sell your products and services, the more your website grows. You add a few more pages, a number of videos and audio, a Contact Us page and other content-specific web pages, as well as a shopping cart.
Not all budget hosting packages have a lot of room for hundreds to thousands of pages, but a number allow you to host several domains, including international ones.
But it’s not the most perfect setup either . . .

  • You can expect to share your bandwidth with not just one but several other websites.

If you’re opting for budget web hosting, then you should be very much aware that you’re not going to have any dedicated server. You’ll share one with several others. That would have been fine—if these sites don’t eat up majority of the space and bandwidth. Worse, these may be sites that gain a lot of traffic, which may mean plenty of downtimes for you.

  • You may be dealing with an incompetent reseller.

A common reason why there are so many web hosting packages online is the growth of resellers in the industry. In order to generate more income and expand their market, big-time hosting firms offer some of their web hosting products to resellers, who, in turn, sell them to small or home-based business owners. Resellers do manage their clients’ accounts, but they don’t own the equipment themselves.
It becomes a huge hassle and headache for you once these pieces of equipment start to bog down. There are not a lot of things they can do for you, except perhaps to offer you advice once the fix has already been done. But that’s not the worse. The worst thing is your reseller doesn’t do anything at all on your behalf. They don’t pressure the main web hosting company or they don’t inform you of the real problems. They may not even answer your call.

  • Their scalability has limits.

Again, they’re budget web hosting packages. As mentioned, thousands of web pages may be close to impossible since you’ll be sharing your space to several other website owners, who may also have a gazillion pages.
But how do you make it worth the buck?
We do believe that a budget web hosting package is an excellent investment, mainly for small and home-based business owners. Their needs are pretty basic, so there’s no need to spend $10 for almost the same features.
But that doesn’t mean all budget web hosting companies are great. They are not created equal. Some of them should be out of business ASAP. So you don’t end up wasting your money, choose those that

  • Are reliable

Their uptimes are around 97 to 99 percent. Otherwise, you’re bound to lose a lot of potential clients or customers for your business. It’s not enough they offer contact details. They should be accessible.

  • Secure

The last thing you want to happen is for someone to steal all your website information and content, including your customers’.

  • Are well reviewed

You can visit Geeks best Budget Hosting page to find out which budget hosting options come highly recommended by users.

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]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2011/09/01/budget-webhosting-worth-the-buck/feed/ 0 Essential Shopping Cart Attributeshttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2011/05/12/essential-shopping-cart-attributes/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2011/05/12/essential-shopping-cart-attributes/#comments Thu, 12 May 2011 21:59:06 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=1593 All online businesses have one thing in common and that is the need for a reliable shopping cart to process all of the e-commerce transactions that come through. In many cases the type of product you are offering will not even be the main factor that determines whether or not people purchase from you. Instead, your marketing strategies and customer service will play a major role in obtaining new business. If your website is equipped with a shopping cart that is user friendly and efficient then your customers will be more inclined to shop with you again. On the other hand, if your shopping cart is not up to par or lacks simplicity then this could actually keep people from returning. Some of the following features are considered essential to having a good shopping cart.

Ability to Up-sell

Anyone who has had even a small amount of experience in the retail or food service industry will already understand the importance of up-selling. When you up-sell you are offering customers something more than what they came for by enticing them to do so. For instance, if a customer comes to your website to purchase a gaming system then a good up-sell would be additional games or optional accessories. A comprehensive shopping cart will include a feature which allows the web master to group different products by category into an easy to use form. This will enable customers to simply check a box for upgrades or additional items. When the customer has reaches the check out point then everything the customer has chosen will be totaled up neatly and payment will be quick and easy. This feature is vital to providing your customers with the service they need but will also help to increase your sales.

Customer Feedback and Reviews

Generally speaking, people are more apt to purchase a product if they are able to read and look over user reviews from your past customers. It is important to remember that above all “word of mouth” is still your best selling tool, even with an online business. If customers can become confident that others have found your product and services satisfactory then they will feel more at ease shopping with you. This is why having a shopping cart feature that allows users; not only to read previous reviews but to leave their own is so important. In addition, user reviews are often indexed giving your site an even higher probability of receiving traffic.

The Importance of SEO

Search engine optimization is absolutely vital to your online business. If people cannot find you then they are not going to shop with you, it is that simple. This is why it is so important to be sure that your site is rich in high quality content with the right keyword density. But it is equally important to be certain that your shopping cart includes a feature that will enable it to automatically generate URLs that use the right keywords in order to index your site properly and bring you to the top of the list when it comes to searches. If you have good SEO with your site and your shopping cart is designed to automate this process then your chances of achieving success are far greater.

Perks and Discounts

Shopping online for most people is a method of purchasing things at the best price possible. There are a wealth of websites on the internet that are specifically designed for the purpose of providing customers with discounts and coupons of a variety of services and products. If you are promoting a product that is featured on other sites then it is imperative that your shopping cart come equipped with a bot that enables coupon and promotion input to be utilized. If people come to your site and are unable to use their coupons then there is a very good chance they will go somewhere else that will allow them to. Remember, as an online business owner you are facing a lot of competition. When you run an online business you are competing with thousands of other vendors that sell the same product as you. Make sure that your shopping cart can keep up.

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]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2011/05/12/essential-shopping-cart-attributes/feed/ 0 Pros and Cons of Running a Web Hosting Companyhttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2011/01/13/running-web-hosting-company/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2011/01/13/running-web-hosting-company/#comments Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:00:31 +0000 Dmitry http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=3575 Web hosting businesses are one of the fastest growing online businesses today. Many people are seeing the profit that can be made from owning one of these companies and so, many want to take advantage of it. But like starting any business, there are advantages and disadvantages to take into consideration before anything is begun. This article will outline some of the biggest pros and cons of running a web hosting business.

The massive potential that these companies offer is one of the biggest advantages. Because people use the Internet today for everything including communication, business, entertainment, and education, website hosting is sure to be around for a long time and is not something that is likely to disappear overnight.

Another advantage is that there are no limits when speaking geographically. Because the business is online, it’s possible to provide service to someone in the same town, or halfway across the country. If the business is handled properly, even the time zones should be able to be worked around quite easily. Promoting your business can be done anywhere in the world!

By being a web host service provider, the individual will be able to put their technical skills to good use. More and more people are obtaining these skills today but if they’re not put into practice, the person can often lose them. If an individual has the right training, knowledge, and background, these will provide as a good base for their web hosting business. Having these technical skills is essential. Not only will the business be virtually inoperable without them but customers also like to know that they are in very good capable hands. The combination of these skills plus having excellent people skills makes for a great combination for starting a web hosting business!

Once the business has accumulated a good number of clients, they will provide for a steady, regular income. By providing good value and great service, these clients will stay with the business for a long time to come!

Even though there are a good number of advantages, there are some challenges to running a web hosting company. One of the biggest disadvantages is that web hosting is a very competitive market. There are more and more companies emerging every day and some of these may be cheaper than what you are offering. While the quality of service may not be as good, customers are always looking for ways to get the best deal. To stay on top of this, one will need to make sure that they have a great service at a very competitive price.

Just like any other business, some money will need to be initially invested by the owner. These expenses include things such as hardware, software, infrastructure expenses, advertising, promotion, and merchant fees. For the first little bit when the company doesn’t yet have any clients, the business owner will be personally responsible for paying all of the expenses.

Another disadvantage that owners sometimes find is the amount of time needed for the business. Customers usually expect twenty-four hour support and at times this can mean fourteen to twenty hour days. Every client needs to receive proper attention so technical support will probably have to be hired eventually.

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]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2011/01/13/running-web-hosting-company/feed/ 0 VPS Hosting for Multiple Domain Hostinghttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/11/10/vps-hosting-for-multiple-domain-hosting/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/11/10/vps-hosting-for-multiple-domain-hosting/#comments Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:54:00 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=1217 Owning multiple web sites is the best way to capitalize on the infinite amount of benefits the Internet has to offer your business. In fact, the most successful online business owners have multiple web sites that diversify their income stream and take some of the anticipation out of managing and relying upon a single site. Unfortunately, a lot of web hosting accounts are not suitable for hosting multiple domains, as the server resources are generally limited by the restrictions that are enabled by the hosting provider.

Some hosting types are more suitable for multiple domain hosting, and one of the best choices for any webmaster that wishes to diversify their web presence is VPS (Virtual private Server) hosting. The following information outlines some of the main reasons why VPS hosting is perfect for multiple domain hosting.

Unlimited Expandability

Predicting the fate and server needs of a single web site can be difficult, and trying to do this with multiple sites that are constantly expanding is even more difficult, if not impossible. Sadly, most hosting companies and hosting types do not allow for simple expansion without an actual hosting upgrade. VPS hosting differs because the plan can be expanded on the spur of the moment without the need for an additional investment, or any kind of foresight on behalf of the webmaster. Cloud VPS hosting is particularly suitable for an ever expanding online business because it can be expanded instantly due to the unlimited nature of the cloud server environment.

Software Compatibility

A lot of hosting plans do not let you install new software on the web server, especially shared hosting plans. Fortunately, having a VPS hosting plan is like having access to a private web server that you’re free to experiment with and install as much software as you’d like on. This can be particularly beneficial when managing multiple sites in separate niches, as each site may need a different software that specializes in the administration of a specific type of web site. For example, if you own a forum, you may want to install a robust forum management software, however you may also need an eCommerce solution for one of your retail sites. VPS hosting combines the best of shared hosting (cost) and dedicated hosting (freedom) to bring you the perfect multiple domain hosting solution.

Cost and Support

Owning multiple domains is hard enough without the stress of paying multiple hosting bills each month. By centralizing your hosting expenses with a comprehensive VPS plan, you can not only provide better support for your web sites through enhanced organization, you can also eliminate much of the cost associated with owning and operating more than one site. A good VPS hosting plan starts at about $20 per month, which is a deal considering all of the aforementioned advantages of VPS hosting for multiple domains.

Aside from saving time and money, you’ll also have a more reliable hosting plan because VPS hosting operates in a secure hosting environment that is based on redundancy and diversification of server loads. This means you’ll never have to worry about your web server crashing or any of your sites being taken offline.

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]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/11/10/vps-hosting-for-multiple-domain-hosting/feed/ 0 Using Ecommerce Web Hosting to Build Online Shopshttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/08/20/using-ecommerce-web-hosting-to-build-online-shops/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/08/20/using-ecommerce-web-hosting-to-build-online-shops/#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:24:21 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=1067 A lot of money is poured into the web development industry every year, as new online business owners try to make their way into the online industry. However, it does not take a fortune to make money online and create an online storefront.

In fact, with an eCommerce web hosting plan you don’t even have to pay a web developer because you will have access to a comprehensive site  building tool that lets you design a web site with a functional interface that is integrated into the control panel of the web hosting account. If you are intimidated by the prospect of having to pay web developers and other companies to help you launch your online business then you may want to consider the following advantages of eCommerce web hosting.

Integrated Site Builders

Integrated site building applications are perhaps the most important aspect of a good eCommerce hosting plan as they allow the user to build impressive professional web sites with little effort and/or experience. If you want your online shop to look great without having to employ a web designer, then you may be interested in the convenience and simplicity of an eCommerce site builder.

Ecommerce Site Builders vs. Conventional Site Builders

Ecommerce site builders differ from other site building utilities because they give you the option to create and manage massive product catalogs that simplify the organization of your web site. These catalog builders index all product information and store it in a database that can be searched by site visitors at any time. It is important to have a search function on any eCommerce site, as your ultimate goals should be to satisfy the customer.

Payment Processing

Processing payments with your eCommerce plan is much simpler than trying to combine merchant services and a conventional web hosting account. This is because eCommerce hosting plans offer payment processing capabilities, without any additional effort or payment on behalf of the user. The most important part of the online buying process is convenience of checking out. In order to convert visitors to sales you need to make sure the checkout process is simple and enjoyable. If the customer does not enjoy the shopping experience, then they can easily leave your online store and visit another without leaving their chair.

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]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/08/20/using-ecommerce-web-hosting-to-build-online-shops/feed/ 3 Web Hosting For Online Businesses – Dedicated vs. eCommercehttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/08/19/web-hosting-for-online-businesses-%e2%80%93-dedicated-vs-ecommerce/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/08/19/web-hosting-for-online-businesses-%e2%80%93-dedicated-vs-ecommerce/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 06:47:21 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=1061 Establishing and operating an online business requires knowledge, skill and perseverance. However, even with the right mindset and skill set it is impossible to succeed without tools and resources. In order to ensure the optimal functionality of your website you’ll need access to a powerful web server that can transfer data to hundreds of computers simultaneously without sacrificing performance.

Although most webmasters start with a shared web hosting plan, it is important to note that 90% of successful online business owners will upgrade to a more powerful plan eventually. In order to prevent the unnecessary hassle of site relocation and data migration, it is best to consider the needs of your site and choose a competent plan initially. Dedicated and eCommerce hosting plans are perfect for online businesses, however each one presents unique advantages and disadvantages.

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting is a service in which you can lease a powerful web server that is dedicated exclusively to your web sites. This kind of private server environment is ideal for larger sites that are in need of extensive server resources. Dedicated web servers are synonymous with the most powerful kind of web hosting plans in the world. With a seemingly unlimited amount of disk space and bandwidth it is possible to host sites that have massive product catalogs and thousands of daily visitors. Although dedicated hosting plans provide powerful servers, it is important to note that they are not made for novice webmasters and many of the tools needed to operate an online store are not included.

eCommerce Hosting

Although eCommerce web servers are not as strong as dedicated servers, eCommerce hosting was designed specifically for online retail shops. Many prefer eCommerce plans because they are an “out-of-the-box” solution for online store owners that need a plethora of eCommerce tools in an inclusive package. Ecommerce hosting plans come with site building tools, shopping carts, product catalog creation and management applications, payment processing integration, SSL certificates and other resources that simplify, expedite and facilitate the establishment and operation of a secure and successful online storefront.

Conclusion

Both eCommerce and dedicated hosting plans come in various sizes and packages, so the capabilities of each plan will depend entirely upon the hosting provider and the chosen service. In general, dedicated servers are for more experienced webmasters that need a powerful solution for many web sites, or one large site. eCommerce hosting plans are perfect for novice webmasters, or online business owners that do not have the time or technical skills to manage and set up all of the necessary eCommerce tools on a dedicated server.

It is important to note that dedicated servers can host all of the aforementioned eCommerce applications such as shopping carts and product catalogs, however in many cases these tools are not automatically integrated. Ultimately the decision will depend upon your skill level, budget, and needs as a webmaster.

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]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/08/19/web-hosting-for-online-businesses-%e2%80%93-dedicated-vs-ecommerce/feed/ 0 Shared Hosting – How Much Can You Afford to Share?http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/08/16/shared-hosting-%e2%80%93-how-much-can-you-afford-to-share/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/08/16/shared-hosting-%e2%80%93-how-much-can-you-afford-to-share/#comments Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:50:37 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=1050 Your website is the focal point of your online business, as it represents your online identity and reputation on a continual basis. The performance, appearance and presence of your site directly affect the way your visitors perceive the professionalism of your online business. Every site operates on a web server, and this server ultimately dictates the full functionality and performance limitations of every web page on the site. Every time a page is loaded a small burden is placed on the web server, and if the load is too heavy the site performance begins to suffer, in the form of slow page loads, and even site down time. The likelihood of this decreased site performance occurring depends entirely upon the kind of web server being used, as some are more powerful than others. Shared web servers are perhaps  the least beneficial, simply because all of the server resources are shared amongst various sites simultaneously.

How Much Is Shared?

Fortunately, sensitive site information  (such as financial data) is not shared between unrelated sites in a shared hosting plan. However all of the server resources, such as bandwidth, data transfer, and even storage space are shared with other users that are renting a hosting plan with your web host. Your site’s IP address is also shared with these users as well, which means that their actions may reflect on both the legal credibility and search engine ranking of your site.  Since you are sharing all of these attributes with sites that are not under your control, it is possible that unforeseen circumstances could arise, such as being de-indexed from search engines, or even having your site taken offline temporarily.

How Much Can You Save?

The main reason why anyone would purchase a shared hosting plan would be to save money. However, when you factor in the issues that could result from sharing all of your server resources with dozens of other sites, it becomes clear that you may not be saving anything at all. In fact, the percentage of people that will eventually upgrade from a shared hosting plan is rather high. Therefore if you’re inevitably going to upgrade in the future, then there may be little sense in paying for a plan which will soon be obsolete. The truth is you can save a lot of time and money by starting with a plan that is right for you.

When Would Shared Hosting Be Optimal?

If you are operating a personal blog, or a .info domain that is not of high importance to you, then a shared hosting plan could accommodate your needs. Shared hosting is only recommended for individuals, and is not an ideal solution for the online business owner. If you are currently using a shared hosting account for your online business, you may want to consider switching to a VPS or Dedicated hosting account instead. Dedicated and VPS hosting plans offer flexibility, privacy and capabilities that cannot be found in any shared hosting service.

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]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/08/16/shared-hosting-%e2%80%93-how-much-can-you-afford-to-share/feed/ 0 Managed Web Hosting for Serious Online Businesseshttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/07/23/managed-web-hosting-for-serious-online-businesses/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/07/23/managed-web-hosting-for-serious-online-businesses/#comments Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:03:57 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=1016 The success of your online business is directly derived from the amount of time, money, and hard work you pour into it. If you already own an offline business then you are certainly familiar with this concept. It is not foolish to want the best for your website, as this will be your virtual home, and a digital representation of your business. Price should not be an issue when constructing an online empire, as it is important to remember that quality produces success in any venue. However, the main problem people have with web hosting is that the best plans seem to require the most knowledge to operate. For example, dedicated hosting gives you access to a private server with an immense amount of resources at your disposal. However, an unmanaged dedicated hosting plan would be quite useless to most online business owners. The solution to this problem is managed dedicated hosting.

What is Managed Dedicated Hosting?

Having a dedicated web server is almost pointless if you don’t have the ability to use it to its full potential. Web servers require frequent maintenance in order to perform optimally, and unless you have the ability to perform such maintenance yourself you’ll be paying for a hosting plan that is of very little use to you. Managed dedicated hosting offers you complete technical assistance, which means your hosting provider will handle the server administration tasks for you, allowing you to focus on the more serious tasks.

Fully Managed Vs. Partially Managed

Before you rush into purchasing a managed web hosting plan, it is important that you realize the various types of managed hosting. Some web hosting providers advertise managed hosting plans, however many of these plans still require a great deal of maintenance. What some hosting companies consider fully managed may be partially managed in the eyes of other companies. A good rule of thumb is – the cheaper the plan, the less technical support and server administration assistance you’ll receive. If you want an automated server solution then your best bet would be to find a reputable hosting company and purchase their most expensive managed dedicated hosting plan.

The Boundaries of a Managed Hosting Plan

Although you should feel entitled to quality support and superior server administration, there are some tasks that your hosting company is simply not responsible for. It can be easy to blur the line between web hosting and other internet-based industries such as web design and programming. Many people get upset when they find out their web hosting company cannot help them with a certain problem.  It can be extremely frustrating to find out that you’re paying for a top notch hosting plan and there is simply no department dedicated to helping you with your problem. To prevent this disappointment you need to understand the boundaries of your managed hosting plan before you purchase one. It may help to speak with a customer service representative to find out which parts of your online business are dealt with within your hosting plan.

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]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/07/23/managed-web-hosting-for-serious-online-businesses/feed/ 0 Rules for Choosing a Great Domain Namehttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/06/08/rules-for-choosing-a-great-domain-name/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/06/08/rules-for-choosing-a-great-domain-name/#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2010 23:09:48 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=939 Domain name selection is particularly important when starting an online business. This is the website address that is going to represent the company and convey the content of the site. There are many areas to consider when choosing a name and its best to thoroughly deliberate the following rules.

Primary Rules

There are nine main rules for choosing an effective domain name. These include:

  • The domain name should be the website name
  • The domain name should be the brand name
  • Shorter domain names are beneficial
  • Select a name not easily confused with others
  • Avoid hyphenated names
  • Avoid plurals
  • Avoid copyright infringement
  • Don’t follow the latest trends
  • Use an Ajax domain selection tool

Naming the domain name after the website is an effective idea so when visitors think of a website, they think of it by name. This allows them to instantly know where to go for a specific product or service. Also, the domain name should be the name of the brand being sold since that is generally what the public will first type into their browser.

A common debate is shorter versus longer domain names. Shorter domain names have the advantage of being easier to remember and easier to type with less of a chance of misspelling a word. Similarly, it’s good practice to select a domain name that cannot be easily confused with others. Slightly changing a word or adding letters, punctuation and short words confuse customers which deplete the site’s brand image.

Other rules include avoiding hyphenated names and avoiding plurals. Hyphenated names are easy to forget when typing and when sites are verbally recommended, there’s more room for error with saying “hyphen” or adding an ‘s’ to the end of the site than without. Additionally, it’s a typing annoyance to constantly have to hyphenate words, especially in a browser.

Along the same lines, copyright infringement was established so customers do not get confused by similar sounding websites. Any copyright infringement will undoubtedly add complications to the website’s success. It’s best to first check the US Patent and Trademark Database or copyright.gov to verify.

There are many website naming trends that have come and gone. It’s best not to become wrapped up in this since the trend will change as fast as it came. The most recent trends are found with Web 2.0 naming conventions that oddly misspell regular words. Also, utilizing a domain selection tool such as AjaxWhois will help identify those names that are available for use.

These are the most important rules for initially selecting a domain name. As more names are chosen, naming conventions will change to allow new website owners to stand out over the competition. These basic rules will remain consistent for domain name choices.

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]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/06/08/rules-for-choosing-a-great-domain-name/feed/ 0 Hosting Multiple eCommerce Domainshttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/05/31/hosting-multiple-ecommerce-domains/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/05/31/hosting-multiple-ecommerce-domains/#comments Mon, 31 May 2010 18:55:28 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=925 Running just one online business can be a hassle, as there are many administrative tasks that need to be dealt with on a daily basis. When you try to add several more businesses on top of that, things can become disorganized quickly and it is easy to get disheartened when things do not go your way in the beginning. Nonetheless, it would be foolish not to expand your business by diversifying your revenue streams with multiple websites. Therefore it is almost imperative to host multiple eCommerce domains if you are trying to steadily progress in the world of online business.

One Business vs Multiple Businesses

Of course, you could concentrate on building one business only, but just imagine how many opportunities you are letting go by taking this approach! Focusing on one business endeavor will never be as profitable as focusing on two, or three, and in the online business world, having a business means having a website for that business. While it is most definitely the the preferable course of action, hosting multiple eCommerce websites is not always an easy task, and there some things you’ll need to know to minimize the difficulties you’ll encounter.

Choosing a Hosting Plan

Perhaps the most important aspect of building and managing a website would be your hosting account. Your hosting account is what will show your site to the world, and it is also what lets you control every aspect of your site through an administrative interface in your control panel. Since your hosting account will come preloaded with many of the tools that will let you manage your site, you’ll need to know what these tools are, and you’ll need to know how to pick the best ones. One of the most important tools you’ll be using is the control panel, so make sure you choose an eCommerce hosting plan that includes a simple control panel like cPanel.

SSL Certificates

Another extremely important aspect of running several online websites, is the SSL certificate. SSL(Secure Socket Layer) protocol is a secure data transfer protocol that is used to ensure the confidentiality of data sent from one computer to another. The SSL certificate is posted on your site to let your customers know that their financial data is safe when shopping with you. Without this certificate you will lose the trust of many potential customers, as many of them will elsewhere thinking your site is not secure. If you’re going to have many eCommerce sites, often defined as more than ten, then you may want to consider purchasing a wild card SSL certificate which can be used on all of your websites.

Multiple Hosting Accounts

Keeping your site’s performance optimal is also very important, as many people will not shop on a site that has pages that are slow to load. This means you’ll need adequate server resources for each of your sites. Don’t be fooled by the hosting plans that claim to offer unlimited disk space and bandwidth, as this is often not the case. It may be wise to have multiple hosting accounts (one for each website), since you may be using plenty of server resources for each site.

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