Website Hosting
What IS hosting, and why do you need it? A host is the physical server on which the files that make up your website exist. The domain name "points" to the host, so when someone types your website name into a browser like Internet Explorer or Firefox, the browser knows which host to go to in order to load the files for your website. No host, no website. No domain, no website. They go together.
So you need hosting in order to show a website. What kind? Honestly, for 80% of our clients, our Standard Website Hosting option perfectly meets their needs. If you're not doing something fancy, using big databases or otherwise need uber-access and uber-power to the host, Standard Website Hosting is perfect.
What types of website hosting do you offer?
We offer two levels of website hosting to best meet your needs. All website hosting includes FTP access upon request and local web hosting support.
Standard Website Hosting - $120 a Year
Our Standard Website Hosting plan is perfect for the majority of clients with nice normal html websites. It includes up to 20 pop3 email accounts or email forwarding accounts that we set up on your behalf (depending on your website package or specific needs - unlimited is available). We can also install Google Apps for your domain, which allow you to use a Google Gmail email account @yourwebsite.com. It also gives you an administrative control panel where you can add, delete and change users at your leisure.
FTP Access is available if you plan to edit the website yourself, just let us know ahead of time and we'll get you a Website Data Sheet with all the information you need to access your website.
Advanced Website Hosting - $300 a Year
When you need more powerful hosting for your website, the Advanced package is there to meet your needs. If your site has or needs any of the following elements, you will need Advanced Hosting:
- E-Commerce or SSL
- MySQL Databases
- Joomla
- Flash
- Heavy PHP Needs
- Other Advanced Elements
Advanced Hosting can also include control panel access to the actual host itself and shell access if needed. FTP access is always available upon request.
Why host with a local company instead of GoDaddy, Network Solutions or other big name hosts?
Customer service! You can call us, stop by and see us, email us.. and you'll know who you'll get, every time. We're local, we're friendly, and we act as a go-between between the actual host itself and you. You can explain to us in easy, every day terms what you need, and we'll translate that into the needed Tech Talk to make sure your needs are met.
Do you actually have a host server in Southwest Florida?
Heck no! Have you seen the weather lately?
No, we don't actually physically offer hosting through our offices. Why? Because it's not safe, and we don't specialize in physical hosting. To do it right, we would need to ensure physical security of the server machines, from location to weather to locking the doors tight at night, and electronic security, from firewalls to backups to all kinds of unpleasant possibilities. No.
What we did instead was go out there and find some awesome host companies that provide good service, extremely rare downtime and high physical and electronic security. When you host with us, we set your website up on our host account with Dreamhost or Netfirms, and we facilitate everything. Your files, your email, your logon access, your security, the very functionality of your website.
Some of our clients already have hosting elsewhere, like with GoDaddy or 1&1. That's okay too - so long as you can provide us the logon information we need to access your host and help you with your website, we can work with other hosts. Occasionally we'll have a client who would like a website built that requires an Advanced Hosting package, and their host might not offer the needed functionality. We offer domain transfers and hosting transfers to make sure the website you want is the website you get.
If I already have a website hosted somewhere else, can you transfer it for me?
Of course. We'll be happy to sit down with you and look at your particular hosting situation and see how we can help. Just give us a call!