Most people would opt for a Shared Web Hosting U service if they are concerned about the costs and if they are just starting out. A shared web hosting service is one which provides for multiple sites. Essentially many websites 'live' on one server which is connected to the internet, just like multiple tenants live on one apartment building. The websites that share the server share in the cost of maintaining the server and ensuring that their sites are secure, which means lower cost for each web site.
There are many great hosting companies out there. Most are up to date with their services and supplies. Some are far more advanced. There are a few things that you need to look for when deciding.
Just because you have used Affordable Web Hosting doesn't mean it has to be poor quality hosting. There are lots of very good quality hosts available at very affordable prices. Also be aware of what comes as standard with your hosting and what comes as paid extras. Check that your potential host uses a popular control panel such as Cpanel. Some hosts use free panels and although they work fine, if the time comes when you have to move your website to a new host, control panels like Cpanel make the process a lot easier.
Beware of companies that can quote you a price almost without hearing any details of your project. Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions! Your web site represents a significant investment and you should get clear explanations of what is involved and how the project is priced. On the other hand you should also be ultra clear and specific about the process flow of your business. Remember, your designer might know little to nothing about your industry and without sufficient specifics from you, there can end up being unexpected costs when the designer has to rework the design and coding.
Before deciding on a snappy name for your new Shared Web Hosting UK property, what do you want your site to say about your business? Are you going to offer information only, will it be an online catalogue, will you sell online or do you just want to encourage visitors to call your office? If you already have a company registered then it makes sense to register a domain name in the same name. If you are just setting up in business try and make sure your domain name matches your trading name.
The second thing that you should not overlook is customer support. You are of great likely need to get help from their technical staff here and there. One of the main thing to be noted here is that you should make sure your web hosting provider will going to provide you support by email or by phone or by live-chat 24/7.
Try to schedule the transfer at a time where there's least traffic. Start by creating custom error pages on the new host server. Let your website visitors know about the move. By giving them prior warning, you can ease the transition. Configure your existing email accounts on the new sever. Transfer your existing website via FTP to the new server. Test everything to make sure it all works. Set up all the extra features and let your site run for a few days. Once your new web hosting plan has been activated and your website is up and running, cancel your old hosting plan. Make sure you have retrieved all your data from your old account.