Web design is only half of the equation for a new small business website. The other thing you’ll need to consider – unless you have a really good on-site IT person and a cooperative Internet Service Provider – is web hosting services. Most small businesses don’t choose to host their own websites; they select a web hosting provider to do that for them.
Web hosting 101
A web hosting provider gives your business server space for your website files and access to the Internet. Your costs will vary, depending upon what you do with your website. Support services, the number of website visitors you have per month and how much data you exchange with Internet visitors can all affect your web hosting costs. Your costs may also increase if your website accepts credit cards or other electronic payment forms.
A business that wants to have a website will also want its own domain name. Choosing and registering a domain name is inexpensive. Usually, you can register a domain name for a year for about $10-$15. Most domain registrars offer multi-year registration and automatic renewal services that allow you to keep your business domain name for as long as you like. (Don’t let your domain registration expire because your website will stop working.) Once you’ve registered your domain name, you can make your website visible on the Internet.
To get your website up and running, you’ll need to select a web hosting service and determine how much server space you’ll need. If your website consists of just a few pages, some images or other small graphical files and other simple features like a blog, you probably don’t need more than basic hosting services. Basic web hosting services can cost anywhere between $10-$15 per month and are usually paid for in annual terms.
Grantstreet Creative offers high-quality web hosting services, and when you purchase a Basic or Enhanced business startup package from us, your first year of web hosting is included in the price of the package. Our Premiere Business Package includes 2 years of complimentary web hosting services. Our Basic startup package includes custom logo design, professionally printed business cards, custom website design and web hosting services. We give your business a professional look and take away the hassles associated with getting your business website up and running! Our renewal terms are highly competitive, and will help ensure that you never overpay for web hosting services.
If you would like more information about our web hosting services, our website design services or our business startup packages, please contact our Creative Director, Dave Ramsell, or give Dave a call at (330) 243-0651 to set up a consultation.
Photo Credit: Cylonka, via StockXchng
