Find a Host
Houses usually have an address when you move in. Online, it's the other way around. After you register your URL address, you have to find a place (or computer) where your site will live. This computer is called a server, and the company who manages this computer is called a host.
If you just want to publish your site somewhere, without a lot of bells and whistles, you should be able to find a hosting plan that can fit almost anyone's budget (we're talking 3-10 dollars a month). Unless you become exceedingly famous, with 2 million visitors that suck up all your bandwidth, you should be fine.
Before you put down your hard-earned cash, make sure you check for the following things:
Support: Does the host have bulletin boards for their users? Frequently Asked Questions? Ways for you to enter trouble tickets if you're having a problem (e.g., "how come all my images are broken?") and follow up with them?
References: One great way to find a host is by looking at the sites you visit and seeing who's hosting them. A lot of people will put a banner or button to indicate whom they use, and nobody does that unless they're good (the hosting companies aren't paying for the advertising).
Access: Make sure you are given an Account Control Panel of some kind: this is an interface for you to configure all the things mentioned above.
Operating System: If you have no idea what we're talking about, you probably use Windows for everything. Microsoft is the king of the desktop, no doubt about it, but when it comes to Web sites, it's all about Unix. Not only is Unix hosting cheaper, but also it's also more stable and not subject to some of the more nasty viruses that have been cropping up lately.
We use Pair Networks--they have a basic plan for $9.95 a month, which is great for beginners. Other popular hosts are Dreamhost ($7.95/month), and Lunarpages ($7.95/month). For a look at the AmIHotOrNot of webhosting, check out Web Hosting Ratings.
Houses usually have an address when you move in. Online, it's the other way around. After you register your URL address, you have to find a place (or computer) where your site will live. This computer is called a server, and the company who manages this computer is called a host.
