One of the biggest decisions any webmaster will have to make is deciding on the kind of web hosting they will need for their website(s) and the company that will provide that service. Cheap and free web hosts may be the best deal in the long-run if you consider all the limits most free hosting accounts have, but new and low-traffic websites won't need to buy the most expensive and resource-intensive host available. Generally, something in the middle of the extremes is best for smaller publishers and individual efforts.
Free Hosting
For new webmasters who want to start up a website without any financial liability, there are many web hosts that provide some version of free web hosting services. Popular blogging sites like Blogger and Wordpress help publishers build a blog in just a few minutes without any monetary commitment or technical software skills. The primary benefit of using these types of website hosts is the access you get to free internet publishing with the click of a few links in a browser-based input field.
The Downside: Virtually all free website hosts put limits on how the service can be used. Some don't allow any attempt to profit off the website, while some some hosts will go to the other extreme and put their ads on your pages. Almost every one has some limits on the types of content that can be posted.
At the very least, free hosts have limited backup options and offer generally reduced access to the data and software that makes the website work. While these are free and easy to use, there can be a limitation in the long run as you've learned more and want to expand the capabilities and reach of your site.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is a good, balanced choice for new websites and sites that get steady amounts of low or moderate traffic. Since shared website hosts put many users and domains on the same computer server, resources of the machine are available to each website or account as the traffic comes in and requires it. Many shared hosts allow you to put multiple websites and domains on your one account, provide complete control of file systems. The best ones even set up browser-based installations for powerful content management systems and popular website building software.
The biggest risk with shared hosting is that higher traffic users and busier websites will cause problems for the system and eventually they will get shut down or kicked off the server. Some hosts looking for a quick buck at the expense of their long-term reputation even sell too much space and bandwidth for the capacity they have, or you might just be unlucky and get stuck on a machine with heavy users or constant software & hardware problems. Its good to read through plenty of hosting reviews before picking a shared host - quality and reputation matters!
Virtual Private and Private Servers
Virtual private servers have a lot in common with shared servers but the title typically implies a higher threshold of resources and technical support. Fewer accounts go on each server and the price generally goes up.
But not every Virtual Private Hosting service is alike. Always find objective reviews and look for programs that offer money-back guarantees or hosts that give you a free preview period.
Dedicated Hosting
A dedicated web host is just like paying someone to maintain a computer for you and keep it connected to the internet. The only downside is the price! This is definitely the option for larger sites with lots of database queries and a whole team working on content and promotion!
Before picking a web hosting service, take consideration of what the website will need, what volume of traffic you expect, and what type of content will be hosted. Paying too much for web hosting can hurt a website's business model, but not having sufficient hosting resources can bring the whole project down. Video, music, and other high quality media usually requires higher levels of resources per visitor, so consider this as you're planning ahead.
