Whether you're just starting out with a new Web site or building a number of sites, eventually you'll probably want to shop around for a Web publishing service. (If you're like me, you'll probably move your favorite sites around a little bit, too.) All sorts of Web publishing services are available to you, the differences pretty much hinging on price and service. This chapter will take a look at some of the basic issues you should consider when shopping for Web services. It will also look at some specific offerings and see how they compare.

This chapter discusses the following:

• Questions you should ask and features to look for in a Web service

• Using free services—do you get what you pay for?

• How to add e-commerce solutions so that you can sell products (and maybe even make money)

Finding the Right Web Host

There are so many ISPs and Internet Presence Providers that choosing one can prove incredibly difficult. In certain cases, you may use a pricier service because you know the people who manage the ISP or you've had a personal recommendation. In other cases, the cheapest (or almost cheapest) service may suffice, just to put up a quick site. You may even find use for one of the free Web hosting services, some of which offer clever templates and solutions to interesting problems.

So, to find the right Web service, you'll need to know a little something about your Web goals. You'll need to decide what's important to you, what you can skip, and what you're willing to pay for.

Let's consider the items that are likely to be important to you when you're selecting your Web service provider. They range from basic to somewhat involved, so it's probably a good idea to have a pencil and pad handy to jot down your answers.

Before we get to the list, the first question to ask yourself is, "Am I willing to spend money?" If you're not willing to spend money, you can immediately eliminate a great number of the IPPs out there that charge for their services. Instead, you're looking at two basic options—either using the ISP-provided server space that you may already have, or signing up for free server space, which is usually ad-driven. (The server company places an ad on your site.) See the section "Using Free Servers" for more details on a few of the most popular no-charge options.

The rest of the questions in this section assume that you are willing to spend a little for services:

Aside from these slightly more advanced issues, you'll also need to consider the issues discussed in Chapter 3, "What You Need to Get Started," concerning storage space, throughput limits, and other basic IPP questions. And, to top it all off, you may be interested in other services the IPP can provide for particular accounts, such as e-mail accounts, e-mail forwarding, domain name registration, and so forth.

An IPP doesn't have to be in your immediate geographical area, but I can tell you from personal experience that an IPP or ISP with good customer service—people eventually answer the phone when you call, for instance—can be worth a few extra dollars. An unbiased recommendation from a current customer or a magazine article can also be worthwhile, if only to keep you away from a potentially deadbeat IPP.