Getting started - what host to use with small business

newbiehost1 · #1 08-22-2011, 10:52 AM

I am completely new to web hosting so forgive me for asking what may seem 'stupid questions'.

I have reviewed reg123 and justhost along with what feels like a million others and do not know who to go with??

I want to set up a small business in the uk, just need about 10 pages with pictures and googlecheckout option (which i believe i can link to any webhost).

I have looked at sitefusion in 123reg but it is £9.95 a month and reviews are mixed?

All help VERY WELCOME and THANK YOU in advance!

MyBBWebHost-Leon · #2 08-22-2011, 10:58 AM

I would look to reviews on these forums. I have personally not used JustHost or Reg123, and so I don't know how good they are, but they are large companies and sometimes people may not find those as reliable.

Some hosts that are very popular around here are MDDHosting and SpeedySparrow - they are inexpensive, especially for the resource usage you need, and they have active representatives here.

**KekzHost** · #3 08-22-2011, 11:04 AM

I would recommend you to start from advertising forums here. Like for your needs you can pick smaller web hosting company. Start from searching the cheapest companies which offer everything you need, than check their reviews and opinions from other sources.

FRCorey · #4 08-22-2011, 11:05 AM

Plenty of places to look, course I always find googling Company name sucks to flush out any flags.

You may also want to look up the cookie law in the UK and see if a US based host may be more flexible.

JamesOakley · #5 08-22-2011, 11:06 AM

Hi and welcome to WHT

It sounds like your needs are fairly modest. I've not used 123reg (except for domain registration - for which they are good) or justhost, but I believe they both pay quite high referral payouts, so beware sites that may jut recommend them because of the payout.

A good rule of thumb is to avoid hosts that claim to offer you unlimited storage, but to find one that reliably offers about what you actually need for a price that is not way too cheap for that. You probably don't need more than about 25-50MB of space, so being lured by a host that can give you 300GB of space for $3 is unnecessary.

Always ask your prospective host a few questions before signing up, and check they have a period during which you can change your mind and get a refund.

The first thing to do is to choose yourself a domain and register it. You can find a host later. In the UK, I recommend 123-reg.co.uk or domainmonster.com for registering domains. Given you're based in the UK, get a .co.uk domain rather than a .com domain - it reassures customers where you are, it's cheaper (for us Brits), and I think they're easier domains to administer.

If you're brand new to web hosting, I suggest you find a smaller firm, as you will often get more personal support from them and that means more patience and help as you learn your way around the world of web hosting.

newbiehost1 · #6 08-22-2011, 11:07 AM

Hi, thanks for that.

I have been looking on here for a while and there are so many different reviews that I keep changing my mind.

This will sound stupid to you but I am starting a business for uk customers only so if I went with justhost which I think is in us so their server does it make a difference or am I best using a uk webhost??

thanks again in advance

**KekzHost** · #7 08-22-2011, 11:10 AM

Yes I completely agree with that. Best way to avoid 'unlimited' hosting providers and compulsory ask as many questions as you would like to know to their support team at live chat or phone. In that way you will notice quickly whether company is serious provider or not.

Taking hosting from UK might slightly increase speed but rather imperceptibly for your customers. So that should not be a decisive factor.

JamesOakley · #8 08-22-2011, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbiehost1

Hi, thanks for that.

I have been looking on here for a while and there are so many different reviews that I keep changing my mind.

This will sound stupid to you but I am starting a business for uk customers only so if I went with justhost which I think is in us so their server does it make a difference or am I best using a uk webhost??

thanks again in advance

Crossing the Atlantic takes a little while for internet traffic. About 200ms. So, conceivably, your site would load a little faster for UK visitors if the server is in the UK.

BUT: A slow, overloaded server, can make a page take 1-2 seconds to load. That makes the 200ms to cross the Atlantic tiny in comparison.

So, a good reliable host with US-based servers is better, any day, than an overcrowded and slow host with UK-based ones.

The advantage of picking a host in the UK is that their working hours are yours. So they'll have most support staff on and get back to you quickest during the time you're most likely to ask for help. Although, again, I read somewhere on WHT of someone who found 123-reg took a week to reply to their support tickets. At that point, it makes little difference what time of day you ask for help, so, better get a host with good support than find an appalling one in the UK.

newbiehost1 · #9 08-22-2011, 11:14 AM

Thank you, just seen other replies!

Yes I am going to use Reg123 to register and then a different webhost for my website.

They all promise do much when you are new it is so confusing.

It is quite basic what I need and yes you are right as I have been looking and was going to be paying £9.95 a month with reg123 using sitefusion but probably dont need most of what I will be paying for!

Can anybody recommend a good webhost for small uk business?

THANKS

JamesOakley · #10 08-22-2011, 11:21 AM

When I was just starting out I used www.virtualnames.co.uk, and found them to be reliable and with good support. One to add to your shortlist.

Sparrow-Sean · #11 08-22-2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Some hosts that are very popular around here are MDDHosting and SpeedySparrow - they are inexpensive, especially for the resource usage you need, and they have active representatives here.

Thanks for the recommendation WiredStorm

Quote:

Crossing the Atlantic takes a little while for internet traffic. About 200ms.

Latency is a killer when you think about it, though in effect traveling from the UK to either eastern or central US is not going to make it a big issue in reality because even when hosting your sites in the UK (if the server is overloaded) it is not going to make a big difference.

I get a 200ms connection back to the US but the sites that I use load quite fast, sometimes faster than some of the services I use here in Australia (go figure).

JamesOakley · #12 08-22-2011, 11:34 AM

<<snipped>>

And stay well away from any web host who thinks the rules of this forum don't apply to them. You want a host you can trust, after all, and that rules out those who break the rules.

[Web hosts aren't allowed to advertise their services in this section of the forum, so that people like yourself are free to seek advice without being bombarded with "offers" in reply]