The term "shared hosting" refers to several terms used interchangeably: shared Web hosting, budget Web hosting and personal Web hosting. While they may sound like different products, they are based on the same idea: placing multiple accounts on a server lets hosting companies offer better rates. In fact, all Web hosting packages under $20 monthly are shared.
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When choosing a Web hosting account, you will sometimes be presented with the option to choose between a Windows or Linux Web hosting account. For the purposes of personal Web hosting or small business Web hosting, there is little difference, unless you have specific database or programming language preferences (and most beginner sites do not).
How much Web hosting is enough?
Because shared Web hosting is so inexpensive, there are limits to the amount of storage space and bandwidth, and the number of email accounts you typically receive. However, if you think you're in the market for a shared Web hosting account, ask yourself this: how much do I really need?
Consider what a shared Web hosting account is good for. As its alternative names (like "personal Web hosting" and "budget Web hosting") better indicate, shared Web hosting is suitable for personal and small business sites. If you want to build a site of 50 pages or less, need fewer than three dozen email addresses and don't expect millions of visitors a month, get a shared Web hosting account. Some hosting companies will try to sell you souped-up shared hosting accounts full of bells and whistles - storage, email and bandwidth being the most popular upgrades - but chances are you won't need them. 100 megabytes of space, 10 to 50 email addresses, and 20 to 50 gigabytes of bandwidth is plenty of leeway to build a large site. If you ever need more, chances are your Website has become extremely popular, and that's a good problem to have.
Blogs: the other form of personal Web hosting
Many new Websites are now set up as blogs. They're a popular choice because they can be set up on a shared Web hosting account, but publishing new information and articles is easier. Unlike a standard Website, which requires manual programming to update, a blog can be set up in minutes and updated in seconds using a Web-based control panel.
There are three popular forms of blog hosting:
· Free blog Web hosting: While there are plenty of free blog hosts, most don't offer a great deal of flexibility, nor the amenities included in most shared Web hosting accounts (like email and a domain name). · Paid blog Web hosting: There are many Web hosting companies that offer blogs as a Web hosting package. These are accompanied by email, domain names and additional storage and bandwidth. · Blog software atop a shared Web hosting account: Using this option, you purchase a shared Web hosting account and then install a blog system yourself. Many of these systems require PHP and a MySQL database, so make sure your hosting account includes these features.
Keep an eye on your usage
Remember, there are limitations to what a shared Web hosting account can do; that's why it's sometimes also called "budget Web hosting." If you find you're within 75 percent of your allotted storage or bandwidth usage in a month, consider an upgrade to a better shared hosting account, or even a dedicated server. Most Web hosting companies include a provision to disable your site if you exceed your allotted limits. But if you choose a reliable host with an established business and reputation, you should receive plenty of fair warning.
