Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi All,
There has been great information on this site and I have been reading it up slowly and steadily.
As I mentioned in my previous mail, I am looking to start a web based business. I am not sure what to look for when looking for a web host. What are the key elements to look for when looking for web host AND web master, from a capability standpoint.

How do I increase my visibility in WWW?
How do I make the site easily searched by users?
How do I look for a web host?
Any suggestions from e-commerce standpoint? If my clients are going to make purchases or fill forms, what elements in the web design need to be addressed?

What are the different pieces of the puzzle I need to look into to have a successful site?

Thanks very much for you time!

KJ

First you need to have a list of what requirements you are going to need from a hosting company (Unix vs Windows/web/database/e-mail server service/SSL).

Next thing you should look for are lists of web hosts that are listed high on `review lists`

then do a search for `<name of hosting company> reviews` (without the quotes).

This will give you a list of problems that customers have found over the years with specific hosting companies.



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Aaron Wood
CEO
San Diego Dream Weavers
http://www.sddreamweavers.com
awood@sddreamweavers.com

New and improved! Now with blogging goodness!
http://www.sddreamweavers.com/san-diego-seo-marketing-blog/

Came across this nice little cheat-sheet -

http://www.resourcenation.com/pages/3110/10_Things_to_Know_About_Web_Design.htm

But any feedback/suggestions from the gurus would be appreciated.

KJ

That`s a pretty good list.  One of my customers got burned by #10 with his previous web designer.

Also, #9 is a big one.  Keep an eye out for that when looking for a web designer.

One thing I`d add to the list in reference to hiring a web designer and a web master is to see samples of their work and/or to provide contact information to current and past customers so you can talk to them.

Regarding e-commerce what are you going to be selling and how?  If you could elaborate on that, it would be greatly appreciated.




-------------------------

Aaron Wood
CEO
San Diego Dream Weavers
http://www.sddreamweavers.com
awood@sddreamweavers.com

New and improved! Now with blogging goodness!
http://www.sddreamweavers.com/san-diego-seo-marketing-blog/

Thanks for the response Aaron!
So regarding #10 on the list, does it mean copyright protection?

I plan to have a web based dining guide where clients can read/write reviews, make reservations, buy giftcards etc..

Kjohri,
Before you jump in to finding the perfect web hosting company you need to sit down and write down on a piece of paper what your needs are i.e. What features is your web site going to have, and what is the purpose of your web site. I know you`re looking into creating a dining guide business, and you want for customers to write reviews, reservations and buy gift cards... My question to you is, lets say your business was up and running, how can I make a reservation? reserve what if you have multiple restaurants? Also, the gift cards? how would I purchase one? and would I be able to print it? What is your procedure, in knowing which gift certificate has been used or not?
These are only two questions that Im throwing out there...I`m pretty sure that I can come up with tons of questions... Once you address your web site`s main functionalities you will be able to choose the type of hosting service that you need.
In fact you wont know until you consult with a web developer and depending on your web developer`s skill level he will tell you which hosting service is the one for you. Some developers use Windows based Hosting "If they are .asp or .NET developers... Other developers are experienced with PHP and MYSQL "LINUX" based.
Just something for you to think about... GO WITH LINUX.




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Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

Not necessarily.  It means you should make sure and agree with the web developer that whatever is developed by the developer/programmer will belong to you when the project is completed.


-------------------------

Aaron Wood
CEO
San Diego Dream Weavers
http://www.sddreamweavers.com
awood@sddreamweavers.com

New and improved! Now with blogging goodness!
http://www.sddreamweavers.com/san-diego-seo-marketing-blog/

When I develop someone`s site, they usually go with the hosting I offer.  I`m not a bulk hoster and other than a few exceptions, I only host for businesses I develop or maintain.

There have been times when I have developed a site that is hosted somewhere else, and it is usually a pain.  The last one I did, I had to contact the client`s host every other day to get items installed on the server that I had always thought were pretty basic.  For example, Ioncube wasn`t installed.  Basic, basic PEAR packages had to be added. 

I haven`t done this yet, but I`m tempted to add a surcharge to the development cost if it is hosted somewhere else because it almost always takes me longer if that is the case.

So I guess what I`m saying in your case, if you are going to go the DIY route for web development, then pick the host first.  If you are going to be hiring a developer, choose the developer first and then ask their recommendations for hosting based on your site requirements.



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Small Business Marketing | Marketing Blog | My Kingwood Community | LinkedIn

Thanks Loren! This is good info.