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After the registration of domain name selection of web host is another rational step a user need to consider. Though, finding an ideal host is a daunting task. One can find several companies offering web-hosting services to the clients. While locating keyword web hosting in the search engines one will find more than 100 million outputs!

One cannot deny the fact, for a successful online presence a dependable web hosting is must. Online presence and accessibility of a web site is must. If not, one should remain ready to loose clients and prospects. For an instance, if one compare this with a traditional business.

CATEGORIES OF WEB HOSTING:

One should select a web hosting deal according to his/her site. One cannot fulfill his/her requirements from same hosting deal for a personal web site, web site meant for email newsletter subscription and archives, e-commerce site or web forum. Web hosting can be divided into four prime categories:

1. Virtual (shared) hosting,

2. Dedicated server,

3. Collocation server and

4. Reseller hosting.

Two most applicable hosting are virtual (shared) hosting and dedicated server.

What is Virtual (shared) hosting? It is a condition in which several web sites share one server. It is a low cost hosting because price is divided between several users. One can locate a standard virtual hosting at a rate of $100 a year.

In a Dedicated server hosting company lease the whole web server from a particular web hosting company. The site of web server is the web hosting company. One can opt dedicated server as a suitable option who does not wish to share a server with other web masters. One can find a dedicated server in two forms managed and un-managed. If one talk about managed server, company will take care of all the setups of user’s server. However, in unmanaged server user needs to take care of all these by him/her self. The benefit of this sort of hosting is that one can fully lodge web hosting as per his/her requirements. Moreover, for a site with ample amount of visitors a dedicated server is the only rational choice. Due to higher cost, starting from $100 per month, those companies that know the worth of Internet business generally use it.

One can say that Collocation server is quite identical to dedicated server. Disparity lies in the fact that company doesn’t take the web server on lease. Their own web server is placed in the web hosting company. In addition to it, company has material access to their web server, which is not available while talking about a dedicated server.

If one mention about Reseller hosting it is aimed to those companies only wishes to begin their own web hosting business.

ASPECTS, WHICH ONE NEEDS TO CONSIDER:

There are many factors which a user needs to consider to prevent any future miss happens:

Web space:

Requirement of Web space vary from site to site. Off course, if user requirement is only a web site containing basic information about him/her and his/her work excluding the use of web applications, then space of 50 MB is quite sufficient. However, a complex e-commerce site along with numerous products in one’s database demands a capacity of 1 GB.

Bandwidth:

The term Bandwidth refers to data transferred from user’s web site and that comprise of graphic details, images, banners and files for download. One should have accurate knowledge of Content before going for an amount of bandwidth. When one talks about the majority of sites, bandwidth of 10 GB a month is quite sufficient, though for few other sites like sites related to desktop wallpapers can frequently consumes even hundreds of GB a month.

Up time or visibility:

It symbolizes time articulated in percents displaying the period a site remained online. One should not be cheerful because someone assured him/her to provide say for 98% up time because it is not going to fulfill his/her requirement. One should get at least 99.7% uptime. Believe it or not, it definitely matters.

Email accounts:

Email accounts are an integrated and crucial part of web hosting package. It is quite interesting to know for how much will one get only a so called catch –all forwarding which means that all emails sent to somewhere@mydomain.com will arrive to one’s email address or one can set-up email accounts for several users? Also the thing is for how much? Is it intended for 5, 10, 100 or limitless email accounts? In addition to it, there is no harm to verify whether user get a so-called POP3 email address (“real” email address), web mail or rather both? If one has a POP3 email address then he/she can check his/her emails via favorite email client and web mail facilitate the user to inquire his/her emails at any place demanding just a computer and Internet connection.

Form of Server, tools and control panel:

When one mention the two generally utilized hosting then the name of Unix-based or Windows platform comes first. It matters for the result program languages, databases and scripts that one can apply. When one talks about Unix-based platform, general selection is relayed to PHP language along with MySQL, however, when it comes to Windows platform ASP or ASP.NET language will be along with SQL Server. One should enquire that is database is available with package or not, if yes, then how many? Nowadays, contemporary web site must be database-driven.

Too, one should have full knowledge related to tools coming along with web hosting package, if there is only applications for web statistics, file manager and things it is not an concern issue.

Technical support:

A crucial aspect while selecting a web hosting particularly for a user without having adequate technical skills is technical support. A proper technical support does not take a responsive time more then a day. This is not liable only to selection of web hosting company, but, crucial to any of the company selling products and services, Software Company can be one of the examples.

The coordination of few of the companies is so well thought-out that it takes only 1 hour to give response to user’s queries! Through their source of contact one can predict about the future response. Do the concern company has only email support or also have phone support? Does they provide a toll-free number? Do they offer the facility of trouble-ticket system? Working time is another crucial aspect. What is their strategy of providing technical support is it during working hours only i.e. 9 to 17 or does they provide the facility of 24×7 technical support? An ideal way to detect their professionalism one can create a list of fake queries, drop a line to them and hang around to know their reply time.

Testimonials:

Several web hosting and software companies have this smart way to increase their customer strength. Testimonials section contains the approval of satisfied customers, attracting more people to their service. This section is not completely reliable. Several hosting companies offer their clients to analyze their portfolio, instead of doing that one should contact webmasters who are taking the service of concern host and register their opinions. One can take help of several sites for further information regarding best web hosting deals and suggestions.

With U.S. eCommerce spending growing year by year, it is getting important for online sellers to make their website eCommerce friendly by making it easier for online consumers to actually purchase products online.

Online customers are often lost in the website searching for the proper products to shop or shopping procedure to follow.

Does this mean online sellers are also lost sometimes wondering how to manage or design an ecommerce website? May be “Yes”.  Why lose a customer just because your website is not ecommerce friendly. Below are some basic ecommerce web design tips for online sellers to make their website eCommerce friendly and making it easy for customers to shop online.

Tip 1. Create Well-Defined Buying Process

It’s easy for customers to get lost in the huge eCommerce website. Creating and managing a Well-Defined buying process is very important. In an eCommerce website mention a clear path for purchase of any products or services. Make sure that your customer is not lost in the way from product to the shopping cart or visa versa. Search options for products have to be also very well defined and managed.

Tip 2. Place “Buy now” or Product Name Button Prominent

Where to project what is very important in an eCommerce website. If your products are featured in a page make the “Buy now” button or link prominent enough that it compels a buyer to click on it.  Even product’s pages link or button should be placed prominently. Customers are smart enough to find their products but why let them waste a min too.

Tip 3. Reduce the Number of Clicks to Buy

Make a shortest possible buying process for your customers. Shorter the process, lesser the clicks and quicker the transaction would be. Do give a chance to your customers to rethink on offer. In those few second may be your customer will lose interest and it will be a no deal for you.

Tip 4: Visible Pricing

Let your customers see the pricing. Customers normally evaluate products/services by comparing the rates. If you are confident that your prices are competitive why not provide them to your customers easily rather than making them to surf from one page to other. Make an easy way out making sure that the transaction is done.

Tip 5. Provide Online Customer Service

According to an industry research, an online buyer who uses the live chat is 20 % more likely to make a purchase than a customer who does not. Provide Online Live customer service to your customers by adding online chat option in your website. This will makes your eCommerce website complete.

Belmont Designs provides eCommerce Website Designing and Website Maintenance Services to SMBs at a reasonable cost. Based in Silicon Valley, Belmont Designs is the “go to” company for fast-track NetSuite eCommerce development, database implementation, and best practices in web design and online catalogs. They have been creating innovative and profitable eCommerce solutions for NetSuite customers since 2003 now. And although their true value proposition is NetSuite eCommerce integration and design, they work with any company that has an online catalog, shopping cart, or lead generation website that is currently underperforming.

Know more about Belmont Designs’s eCommerce Website Solutions: http://www.belmontdesigns.com/content/services-web-design.html

Request a free quote for eCommerce Website redesigning: http://www.belmontdesigns.com/content/free-proposal-request.html

Call us at 925-287-6408 or mail here: http://belmontdesigns.com/content/contact-us.html

How many times have you purchased new software or hardware, and avoided the help menu or user manual? Experts reason that about 90 percent of all features included with software go unused! Much of this comes down to lack of training for individuals using the technology – they use what they know and need most, and avoid anything that would require study or practice to implement. It’s human nature to take the path of least resistance, but with a little motivation you could better benefit from the money spent on technology for your business.
Instead of letting your technology investments continue on underutilized, here are 4 tips for getting the most out of your technology dollars:
1. Put the client in the driver’s seat of communication.
You can improve the quality of customer service offered by your company through the use of simple technology. The more connected you are to your clients, the happier they are with your work. Use technology to give your clients a way to initiate discussion with you, either through blog interaction or a discussion forum. Set up instant messaging so clients can contact appropriate staff members as necessary. It’s simple technology, but will result in improved client retention, repeat customers and better communication.
2. Create a business culture of continuous improvement.
One of the most amazing aspects of technology is how quickly it is updated and improved. Just when you think you have the best of the best, new technologies and processes are created in order to improve productivity. Even in the sometimes mundane office environments, new ideas will enhance efficiency and productivity. Encourage staff and consultants to let the new ideas flow – continuous improvement is the key for making the most out of your technology.
3. Take advantage of training opportunities.
If the cost of sending staff to training courses is a bit much to bear, and you’re unable to conduct monthly training seminars on your own – consider bringing in vendors and experts whenever a new version of software is released. You can also have managed service providers deliver training virtually as it is needed, in order to keep your staff up to date with the programs and tools used in the office.
4. Internal email newsletters with tips.
Most businesses recognize the value of sending newsletters to their clients to keep in touch and establish relationships, but what about internal newsletters among staff members? Send a weekly email to your staff with a single technology tip that explains how to do something that will improve their productivity or make their lives a little easier. Keep it fun and add a cartoon or a quick quiz to keep the staff looking forward to their weekly newsletter. Your ideas for topics can come from training and seminars you attend, or from questions staff ask the IT department. If one person doesn’t understand something, there are probably a few others who also don’t understand – but aren’t speaking up about it.