E-Marketing

Types of web hosting




Building a website may seem like a daunting task. If this isn't something that you feel that you can manage yourself, then finding someone to build it for you is a good option. Remember, your website is a great investment, so it's worth making sure that it is done well.

Be aware that many hosting providers offer very cheap pricing for the first month or year, but then you are often tied into an expensive renewal, so be sure to check what the price will be in the second month or year. Paying for a year in advance can make the package much cheaper, but only commit to this if you are sure that that package meets your needs - if you just want to try out hosting first, rather choose a monthly contract.

Look for a hosting package that includes your domain, website and email.

WordPress



Approximately 30% of all websites world wide use WordPress. This is very powerful yet flexible free software that can be used with most web hosting providers.

Advantages:
  • No html or coding experience needed.
  • There are a vast amount of free resources online to help you - try searching for 'wordpress basics'.
  • A WordPress site can easily be moved to a different web hosting provider.
Disadvantages:
  • Not as easy to use as some drag-and-drop website builders.
  • All the online resources can become confusing.


Sitebuilders

There are many web hosting providers that offer their own website building software. Examples are Wix, Weebly, GoDaddy. Advantages:
  • No html or coding experience needed.
  • Easy drag-and-drop functionality.
Disadvantages:
  • Limited help resources are available.
  • Your website can't be moved to a different web hosting provider.


HTML and CSS

Websites can also be built using HTML and CSS code, but this is for advanced web developers only. Advantage:
  • Highly flexible
Disadvantages:
  • Coding experience is needed.


Free web hosting

While it is possible to host your website for free, there are always disadvantages and is usually not recommended. Some of these options are:

Advertising
Some hosts offer free websites but with the drawback that your website will include advertising. This doesn't create a professional impression about your business.

Limitations
Some hosts offer their smallest hosting package for free, but with limited functionality. When taking such a package, one usually finds that you need to upgrade to a paid hosting package for all

No domain name
Other hosts, such as WordPress.com, offer free hosting using their domain name e.g. yoursite.wordpress.com.