On occasion, I get asked who my web host is and how I decided on them as my web host and who the best web host is. It’s simple really. When determining the right web host for you, you’ll need to ask yourself a few simple questions:

1. What base platform will you be needing/coding in? Will it be a server-side script such as PHP or ASP or will it be just simply HTML?
2. Do you prefer a cheap web host, who may not be reputable, or do you prefer a reputable web host which may cost a little more?
3. How much are you willing to spend on a reliable web host?

Once you determine what server-side scripting language you’ll be using and needing to program with, you can narrow down which type of hosting service you’ll need. If you’ll be programming in PHP you’ll be working on a host who supports Linux and Apache, which are able to run PHP. If you’re looking to run or program ASP code, you’ll be working with a windows host with IIS. PHP is an open source code and there are numerous “community” developed software components available on the internet who are PHP based and are available for the good of the community, meaning FREE. This may be a determining factor for which server-side script you might choose.

Next, you’ll want to determine if you want the cheapest service available, or if you prefer a service which is reputable, reliable, and a little more costly. Honestly, even if you don’t think you’ll be expanding your site beyond your original scope, you’ll find it to be much less of a headache if you choose a host which is reputable, reliable, and has the options and service(s) you’re interested in. If you’re not sure if the web hosting company you found is a reputable one with good service, do a quick google search for the web hosting company name. If it is not a reputable company, you’ll find bad reviews and complaints strung about the search results. If it’s a good company, you’ll see good reviews, and possibly, little to no reviews. Finding a host who provides good service, great features, and reliable service can be tricky. Especially if you require phone support from time to time. I have had several clients come to me with different web hosting providers and after the brief encounter with their hosting providers, I’ve realized that not all are created equal, and mine is excellent.

So, who do I use as a web hosting provider? I use and have used Media Temple (mt) for my web hosting needs for several years. They run Linux servers with PHP and apache installed and offer great additional services and option which are included and offer expandable services and features. They’re a very reputable company with an impressive client list, and importantly, they are embraced and loved by the web design community. They have several server options to choose from to match your needs, and they are expandable at a moment’s notice and include great features such as one-click installs, decent spam filters, and have an easy to operate control panel to control your web services. If you’ve never heard of Media Temple (mt), give go to their site and check out what they have to offer.