How to Save Money on Domain Hosting and Website Cost

In many instances, when people think about having an affordable custom website designed, they forget about the cost of domain registrations, and of monthly hosting charges, but, unlike web design, which is a one time investment, domain registrations are annual, and hosting costs are monthly, so shopping around is important!

Here are a few key points to remember when looking for web hosting for your affordable business website:

• Different domain name extensions, for example .com, .net, .biz and others are priced at different rates.

• This means that not only might you be able to get your chosen name, albeit with a slightly different extension, but by opting for anything other than a .com, you might pay less for it too. Even though you may save a couple of dollars by choosing a less common extension, most people remember .com.

• Most large web domain registrars and hosting companies offer package deals from time to time that include a small amount of hosting space, and perhaps a single pop3 email account.

• While these types of packages may be a good idea for a very small starter site, if you are planning a site with graphics, photos, tables or other features, chances are you will need to opt for a separate hosting package.

• Another good idea, particularly if you will be having staff working for you, or plan to, is to sign up for more email addresses, which will help you sort through emails.

• Speak to the web designer you have chosen for the your affordable custom web design project, and find out how much space they recommend you opt for, based on your website plan, and then you'll need to address bandwidth, which will determine how much traffic your site can handle! There's no point in having a great site, that's well marketed, and receives a lot of traffic, only to find you don't have the bandwidth to support it!

• Check that the hosting package you choose has an FTP upload portal, which will make uploading your site, an updating it later on, much easier.

• Shop around for the best packages, and try considering smaller companies as well as larger ones, like godaddy.com, or yahoo.com.

Getting a professional, affordable custom website is entirely possible, although, you will need to take all factors into account. High domain registration charges, or monthly hosting costs, can add up, and may even end up costing you more than the web design cost itself!

If you are using a web designer, ask them to include the cost of domain registration and hosting, if they offer it, in your quote, as a separate item. You may find that it is easier, and possibly cheaper, to use their services, but if not, it gives you the option to shop around.

So remember, when planning an affordable custom website for your business, that design is not the only cost issue you will need to take into account. Make sure you get the best domain registration and web hosting package, that offers adequate space and bandwidth, along with email accounts, if necessary, and save all round!

Daniel Sims is Senior Designer at Caviar Web Design, a website design firm specializing in affordable website and graphic design for small businesses. Visit JMD Computer.

Source: - http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Save-Money-on-Domain-Hosting-and-Website-Cost&id=2132290