Home > Frequently Asked Questions > Website Hosting
- What is web hosting?
- If I just want to hold onto a domain name, do I have to pay for hosting?
- I’ve seen hosting advertised for $10/month and $55/month. What’s the difference?
- Can you set up hosting for me?
- Does hosting include e-mail addresses?
- How do I set up e-mail?
- Can I get my e-mail from anywhere?
What is web hosting?
The web host is the computer system called a server that stores all the files for a website.
When you type in a website address, your browser (Internet Explorer, Safari, Mozilla, etc.) sends your request to a name server. The name server gives your browser the physical address of the computer storing the files for that particular website. Your browser then contacts the web host that stores the files for that website. The web host sends your computer a copy of the web files, and your browser displays them on your screen.
When you have your own website, you must have your site hosted if you want other people to be able to see it.
If I just want to hold onto a domain name, do I have to pay for hosting?
No. You can purchase the domain name and hold it until you are ready to have the site hosted.
I’ve seen hosting advertised for a lower monthly fee. What’s the difference?
Just like domain name registrations, web hosting charges vary widely. But in the case of hosting, there can be a huge difference in the quality of the product.
The first step in deciding on a server is deciding on your business and site needs.
- Do you need to monitor traffic on your site with statistical reports?
- Does your site have large files (such as .pdf or music files) that are downloaded often? Or do you expect a lot of traffic? Some hosts have a low monthly fee, and then charge extra for downloads beyond a certain volume.
- Do you need to have an ongoing relationship with your web host to set up forms and custom programming? With some hosts, it’s a challenge to get even a simple web contact form operational.
- How important is site reliability to your business? For most businesses, it’s crucial. The web host should have backup solutions in place to ensure continuous operation during power failures, and minimal disruption during spam attacks and other incidents.
- How long are you willing to wait to receive attention to your customer service requests? With some hosts, you can wait on hold for a very long time or several days for an e-mailed response (if you receive a response at all).
- What e-mail features would you like to have on your site?
- Do you need a secure server for e-commerce?
When you have your site developed by Harrison McKay, we’ll work through those solutions with you and arrive at a solution.
Can you set up hosting for me?
Yes. When we develop your site, we can handle all the technical aspects of setting up your site, including registering domain names, and setting up hosting and e-mail.
We have our own premium web hosting product, which we offer at a substantial discount to clients with websites developed by Harrison McKay. Please contact us for details.
Does hosting include e-mail addresses?
Hosting does include e-mail addresses (yourname@yourdomain.com). But web hosting companies vary in terms of the number of e-mail addresses offered, and whether or not webmail is an option (see “Can I get my e-mail from anywhere?”).
How do I set up e-mail?
Most hosts offer a choice of “POP” accounts and webmail. POP accounts can be accessed directly by e-mail programs such as Outlook. Once you’ve set up Outlook with your account name and password, you can have your e-mail downloaded directly to your computer.
Some hosts offer webmail as an option (see “Can I get my e-mail from anywhere?”).
We can help you get your e-mail set up.
Can I get my e-mail from anywhere?
If your web host has included “webmail” as part of your hosting/e-mail package, it means that you can visit a webpage from anywhere in the world, enter your account name and password, and retrieve/send your e-mail.
If this function is important to you, you should check to ensure that it is offered by your web host. Harrison McKay Web Hostings Solutions offers webmail access.