What is a Web Host?

Web hosting is a service that allows organisations and individuals to publish a website or web page onto the Internet. A web host, or web hosting service provider, is a business that provides the technologies and services needed for the website or webpage to be viewed on the Internet.

Websites are hosted (or stored) on special computers called servers. When internet users want to view your website, all they need to do is type your website address (or domain) into their browser and hit enter. Their computer will then connect to your server and your webpages will be delivered to them through the browser.

I like to think of your company’s website as a home:

• Your web server is much like a plot of land

• Your websites are houses built on your plot of land

• and your domains are essentially the address of your houses

Since your website is hosted on a server, much like a house can be found on a plot of land, your web host acts as a sort of easy-going landlord. You will need to pay monthly/annual subscription fees (or “rent”) to have your website hosted online so your audience can access your site from anywhere in the world.

What are the features you should receive from a web host?

Email Accounts

With a domain name (e.g. www.yourwebsite.com) and email account features provided by your hosting company, you can create domain email accounts (e.g. yourname@yourwebsite.com).

Control Panel / FTP Access

The use of FTP lets you upload files from your local computer to your web server. If you build your website using your own HTML files, you can transfer the files from your computer to the web server through FTP, allowing your website to be accessed through the internet.

Website Builder

Your web host should provide support for installation of a content management system (CMS) or more simply known as a website builder. Options include WordPress (which power around 35% of websites on the internet), Joomla, Umbraco, Drupal, GetSimple, and SilverStripe.

In order to publish your website online, your business requires a web hosting service. Stuck on where to look for the right provider? Shoot us a message and we’ll be happy to help out and lend a hand.