Posts from — September 2010

Nowadays it is very easy to register your own web domain, because there are so many different places offering domains and the prices are very reasonable and are suited to most people’s pockets. In this day and age where the Internet is a huge tool for advertising and businesses, domains get snapped up pretty quick so it may be hard to find the one you want. Below I will talk about different types of domains and how much they cost.

Domain names have different extensions at the end, which you will have come across before. These are things like .com, .net, .co.uk, .info, etc. These endings are called top level domains, or TLD’s for short. There are many different top level domains and some may be more suited to your website than others. What I mean by this is that if you are offering a product or service to people in United Kingdom, then a .co.uk domain would be more suited than a .es domain. Likewise with the United States, a .com TLD would be better than using a .co.uk, however there are no strict rules on this so you can use whichever you want.

There are many different places you can register domains with. HostSG provides cheap domain registration at only S$22. A .net is around the same price.

Once you have purchased a domain you can do a few different things with it, such as point it to your web hosting or park it. Most people buy a domain with the intention of creating a website, in which case you will need to point the DNS to your web host. The DNS settings should be provided by your web host. It is very simple to do, however please remember that it can take up to 24 hours for the changes to take effect , depending on who you register with. Another thing you can do is park the domain and make money from it, however this is a whole other story and you may wish to look into it more if you have no plans to use your domain.

Maybe you are a business, or you are an individual looking for web hosting. Whichever it is, you need to find the best web hosting possible and avoid the bad ones. Choosing a bad web host can be a nightmare; it can mean lots of downtime, bad support, bad prices and an overall bad experience. You do not want to have to go through this at all, as it can be a right pain in the backside, especially if you have a business trying to make money and the site won’t load.

In this article I’ll give you tips on how to spot a bad web host and also how to spot a good one. The first thing is if they are offering unlimited disk space and bandwidth then run! Now, most of the time these web hosts offering unlimited features tend to oversell, which means that they cram too many people onto one server and are not enough resources. This is not good in any way and will end up crashing the server, which means that your site will experience downtime.

The next thing you should do is check how long they’ve been around, and if they have any good reviews or testimonials. To find these have a look on their website, or better yet search on Google as testimonials on their website may be biased as they can choose what goes on. Also, make sure that the prices aren’t ridiculously low, as most of the time you get what you pay for.

It isn’t hard to find a good web host, all you need to do is have a look at the testimonials and reviews and work out whether or not you should trust them. If they are brand new then you should be wary, as you’re not going to be able to tell whether they’re reputable or not. I recommend going with an old host has been around for a long time, that has fair prices and many good reviews. If you search on Google for trusted web hosts, you will find many of the big names that are trusted amongst the Internet world.

Just remember that choosing between a bad web host a good web host could mean losing or gaining lots of profit. You do not want your website to go down at all, for two reasons: it doesn’t look good on you as a business and it also directly affects profits. Be wise in your choice.

In an ever increasingly competitive environment, businesses have to be competitive or lose out. With e-mail hosting they can create cost-effective email solutions that promotes their brand and increases productivity without wiping out their operating budget.

Once upon a time only the biggest businesses had their own e-mail hosting. The reason for this was because it required a big sum of money, lots of hardware, lots of IT staff, and a lot of software that was required to set up email hosting. Small and medium-sized businesses had to use standard e-mail accounts with third-party companies, and these did not reflect their brand at all. It could also cause problems for them as they had no control over anything - if the servers went down then they would be in trouble as they couldn’t do anything about it.

We are now in times where there is a lot of new technology and outsourcing, and this has changed a lot of things on the web for individuals and businesses. Businesses now have full access to very efficient and affordable e-mails tools and software, that their staff can use to communicate with each other and to also communicate with their clients. How it works is that these businesses outsource the work of managing an e-mail server, which greatly reduces the costs for the business, as they don’t need to purchase software, hardware or IT staff. It also allows them to convey themselves to the customer. If they were to create their own e-mail servers then it would cost a lot more and so they would end up with less profit, that is why they choose to outsource.

Because there are hosting services for e-mail, all sizes of businesses can use tools such as mobile e-mail on the go. Hosting solutions exist where the user can sync their mobile phone to their e-mail account with the server, and so they can check their e-mails on the go. Of course, this increases productivity within the business and also staff are able to respond back to their supervisor or boss even when they’re out and about.

Because there are specific businesses that offer e-mail hosting it allows those companies that choose it to focus on their business and spend their money on the most important things in the company, not just on e-mail hosting. They provide businesses with affordable solutions that allow them to stay ahead of the market and making profit.

HostSG offers high reliability cloud computing email service known as Cloud Email. With full features provided such as anti-virus, anti-spam protection, multiple server cluster, outgoing email monitoring and email archival, Cloud Email is the next generation email hosting platform for business use. Contact us today to see how we can increase your business productivity.

You have properly used a third-party e-mail host before, whether you know it or not. An example of a third-party e-mail host is Gmail, or Hotmail. There are many different e-mail hosts out there, most of them are free however you can pay for upgrades on some of them. I’m going to discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of buying e-mail hosting, either for personal use or for business use.

If you are an Internet marketer, or a business then you may already have e-mail hosting, whether it be your own server or a third-party server. For the purpose of this article I’m going to assume that you do not have your own e-mail hosting at this moment in time. If you are an Internet marketer or a business, then you may collect people’s e-mail addresses for subscriptions or to inform them of the latest products and deals that your business is offering. There are a few different services that you can use to collect these e-mails and send out bulk e-mails, for example awber or GetResponse. These services provide you with e-mail hosting, however they control it and can delete you whenever they want, which means you could lose your subscribers.

That is why you could purchase e-mail hosting for your business. There are many advantages to this and I’ll list them below. The first is that it is much more secure than using a third-party. The reason for this is that you have increased control and only you can access the server, whereas with a third-party solution anybody who works for them has the potential to take the e-mails and view them. You also have more control over technical issues, for example if something goes wrong with the server or you wish to upgrade something then you simply can, however with third parties you cannot simply just edit things as and when you want. Sometimes it can also be cheaper to get your own e-mail hosting, if you are sending out a lot of e-mails.

Of course, with everything there are also disadvantages. If you have no knowledge of servers or how e-mail hosting works, then there could be a decrease in security with your own e-mail hosting as you may not know how to patch certain flaws or prevent viruses. There can also be increased costs if you only send out a few e-mails. If you are sending out bulk e-mails then you will most likely save money. You also have a responsibility with your own e-mail server, to make sure that no spam is sent.

HostSG offers high reliability cloud computing email service known as Cloud Email. With full features provided such as anti-virus, anti-spam protection, multiple server cluster, outgoing email monitoring and email archival, Cloud Email is the next generation email hosting platform for business use. Contact us today to see how we can increase your business productivity.

If you are creating an online business the first step is to choose a domain name. This will be the access point to your website for your customers. An important thing to remember is that people associate this domain name with your brand, so if you can choose something that is simple and easy to remember then people may remember your business easier. For example, if you are selling shoes it would be better to have the domain shoes.com than mikesamazingshoes.com. Look at those two domains yourself and think which would you remember better. Shoes.com, exactly.

Of course it is not always easy to get an exact domain like shoes.com. Nearly every single quality one word domain has been taken, however if you are very serious about your business and have money to invest then it may be worth contacting the person who owns the domain and purchasing it. I must warn you though, one word domains are very expensive and if you want to buy one then be prepared to part with your money. So long as it can be simple and easy to remember then it will be good, even if it isn’t just a single word.

Once you have an idea for your domain you need to make sure that nobody else has a business with this name. You don’t want to get into any legal complications. You have a choice of whether or not to buy all of the domain extensions, or just one on its own. Remember that if your business gets popular it might catch the attention of somebody who buys domains and they might buy another extension of your domain and try selling it to you for an expensive price. It is recommended that you buy all of the domain extensions of the domain you choose if they are available.

Once you have chosen your domain you need to go to a domain registrar and purchase it. Of course, to buy it it needs to be available. If it is not available then you may need to contact the person who owns it and buy it from them for a more expensive price. However, if you’re buying from a registrar it should be fairly cheap depending on the extension. When you buy a domain it is usually for one year and then you must renew it after a year if you decide to keep it. To find a good domain registrar simply go to Google and have a look for a well trusted registrar.

HostSG provides cheap domain registration from top level domain to country domain name extension.

When you decide to create a website on the Internet for your business or for yourself, it is very important to protect it by following all of the necessary steps that are involved in the legal process. Part of the legal process includes registering your trademark, the designs, and the domain name in question that you plan on using. These are the things that people will use to identify your business or brand name, and you don’t want anybody else to use them without your permission as this can harm your reputation. The Internet is very big, and it is very important to protect your intellectual property, as sometimes there are people that decide to steal ideas from you, and if you do not protect your intellectual property, then there is nothing you can do about it.

The first thing that is recommended when choosing your domain is to use something very unique that nobody else has used before, so that people can identify the name with your brand. You need to make sure that the name you choose is not the same or similar to an already existing company, as to not create any legal implications that could later be disputed. Creating a unique domain is a big part of protecting it, and you will see that with many different companies they use unique names so they cannot get into trouble. Just keep in mind that when you are choosing a domain it must be unique.

Protecting your domain is different from protecting a trademark in the real world, as your trademark might only apply to the country that it is registered in, however domains are universal all over the world and so they must be protected worldwide. There are many different services that you can use to protect your domain, and some of these services offer information about domain names and trademarks that are under attack from legal teams so that you can avoid these. You can also get a legal team to help you if you have any issue, and these lawyers specialise in the cases of Internet brand names.

The biggest purpose of using one of these companies is to make sure that nobody else tries to register your domain or anything similar, just as you have avoided purchasing a domain that’s similar to somebody else’s. With these services you can find out who is buying domains with your trademark and you’ll be able to sort it out before it gets into a big problem.

For those navigating the treacherous waters of the business world today, one must look beyond traditional measures in order to maximize consumer spending. Traditional advertising campaigns are no longer sufficient to meet the needs of a global economy and technology continues to adapt to keep pace. One of the newest trends on the market evaluates the use of a Dedicated Server vs Cloud Computing.

The major difference between the two is that a dedicated server is a physical piece of equipment housed in a room somewhere. Cloud computing, on the other hand is a virtual server which allows customization, load balancing, and storage. Due to the confusion between the two, many businesses are now opting to utilize a hybrid hosting system which combines the two.

There are many differences between the two systems. A dedicated system is a structure that works on a specified website that has been rented from a host. It has the advantage of providing services without the competition generally associated when multiple servers sharing a single site. Additionally, the monthly fee is always the same regardless of how much navigation or space is used.

Cloud computing, on the other hand, is becoming more popular in that it is capable of allowing for spikes in traffic, offers a broader range of exposure, and provides many amenities not available in the other option. Although it is a shared server, it can balance a higher load, easily expand websites based on individual needs, and provides hardware upgrades on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the cost is directly dependent on the amount of computer power required which often fluctuates widely in a new business.

One concern many have when working on the Internet is the level of security provided to those visiting various sites. It has been revealed recently that cloud servers are less capable of providing the level of protection many expect from websites today. Google is just one example of a cloud server that has experienced safety issues in recent years.

The differences between a Dedicated Server vs Cloud Computing are significant and the selection between the two should be based upon individual need. For those who are expanding into a web-based market, one should research the options carefully before making a commitment.

Another emerging concept that has the power to change how we perform tasks is taking place before us as well, and it is called ‘cloud computing.’ Simply put, it is the ability to use resources and tools via the Internet without actually owning or being near them. The only requirement is to be able to access them.

The term ‘cloud’ is used to indicate the whole of computing services accessible via the Internet. It is an all-encompassing description of the complex internet-connected networks that exist in datacenters all over the world that power services and applications behind the scenes.

The concept of utilizing resources in these networks is being adopted by businesses both large and small. These resources are categorized to describe their function, and include:

1.Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
2.Platform as a Service (PaaS)
3.Software as a Service (SaaS)
4.Web 2.0

In the most general terms, Infrastructure as a Service means that companies may no longer need to own and house their own back-end servers and other network computing infrastructure besides an internet-connected PC or laptop in order to maintain business functionality. This capability can be purchased on a subscription basis from entities that market these services in a ‘virtual’ manner. This allows businesses to keep their costs low by not having to purchase, maintain and recycle their own equipment for this purpose, and also mitigates the possibility of business interruption due to the highly available nature of these solutions. This equates to increased uptime and profitability for Infrastructure as a Service customers.

Platform as a Service is also known as ‘cloudware’, and refers to the availability of development tools in creating web applications and services to the end user. Like IaaS, you never ’see’ the inner-workings of this environment unless you are a computer programmer or IT resource, but it exists nonetheless and again affords those who use these tools the ability to reduce costs while running their businesses.

Sofware as a Service is defined as software applications that are subscribed to and accessed only through the Internet, and not installed on local PCs or laptops. Applications built by and accessed via Google fall into this category, as well as the many photo sites to which you can upload your pictures and videos, edit and share them with others. These solutions are gaining tremendous popularity, because end users do not need to install, update and maintain software locally - only connect to it and use it when the need arises.

Web 2.0 describes the whole of the social networking movement on the Internet, and includes but is not limited to destinations such as Facebook, MySpace, eHarmony, LinkedIn and Twitter. These sites offer the ability for people all over the world to share common interests, stay connected and learn more about each other - and these sites aren’t just for the young. Statistics show that the over 50 generation is logging onto these sites in greater numbers than ever before. In fact, in one month alone, Facebook adds over 17,000 new members.

The next time you are on the Internet and upload a photograph and use the online tools to modify that picture, you are participating in ‘cloud computing.’ The picture is probably loaded to a site that uses IaaS for their servers, PaaS in order to provide the visual interface in which you modify the photograph, and SaaS applications you’ll use to access your email program and social networking sites in order to send it to or post it for those with whom you would like to share the picture.
HostSG offers Cloud Hosting service at low fees with option to up-scale to your requirement. From Cloud Sites, Cloud Email to Cloud Server, these are specially designed cloud computing solution at on-demand basis.

Have you heard yourself saying, “I don’t understand? I have a gorgeous site, a really cutting-edge splash page with a flash introduction, up-to-date technology, I paid a small fortune for this site, and I’m getting plenty of hits but no one is buying or staying in the site.”Well, you may be one of a growing number of businesses, both large and small, who believed all the hype about the latest in new technology. Many business owners want their website to have that cutting-edge look, and so will ask for things such as animation, music, flash, and other “bells and whistles” that would be detrimental to their site. These extras are probably driving potential customers away because they increase download time and are not search engine optimized.

In the rush to join everyone else on the Internet, businesses have ignored vital steps in the process of getting their business on-line. They assumed that because everyone else had gimmicks such as a splash/intro page, this was the right way to go. The result: businesses chose design companies who readily took their money and who designed exactly what the client wanted without clearly focusing on marketing goals. To be fair, oftentimes the graphic design company has no idea that a site designed with all the latest technology doesn’t necessary translate into a site that has the functionality that an on-line business needs. This is because the graphic design firms specialize in graphic design, not in marketing. Many graphic design sites are full of splash pages, scrolling text, animation, etc. They use these tools because it allows the graphic designers to display their creativity and their knowledge of these “bells and whistles.” Creativity is good but all the latest cutting-edge technology translates into a lack of functionality to effectively market any on-line business including their on-line presence.

When having your site designed, remember that first and foremost, you are building your site to increase prospects and sales. Don’t look for a graphic design firm that believes all you need to do is get in the search engines and place banners to be successful. Don’t hire a designer that is new to the Internet–meaning they have years of print design experience but have just decided to expand their horizons to the Internet. Don’t hire a graphic designer that doesn’t have a professional copywriter or marketing person on staff and don’t hire a graphic designer just because they are the cheapest. Remember, cheap can cost you money–you get what you pay for. Hire a marketing/design firm that understands the difference between form and function and can apply it in a marketing perspective. Remember, many of these latest bells and whistles are very expensive and your site may not need them to be effective.

Every single design element affects your web sites functionality and marketability–from the decision about how the navigation will work to choosing the right colors, fonts, graphics, content, HTML code, and more. These will not only influence potential customers but search engine indexing as well.

If and when you’re ready to begin your on-line presence, start with a business plan and strategy. It is essential if you really want your business to succeed. Don’t be afraid to research marketing trends and investigate a marketing/design firm that will fit your needs.

If you are currently on-line but your business is not progressing as you think it should, don’t be afraid to request a web site analysis.

There are firms that will analyze and help pinpoint areas of your on-line presence that need improvement for a successful Internet presence.

Last, but not least, keep an open mind to what the firm offers as suggestions for making your Internet experience a profitable one. Remember, this is their livelihood, this is what they do and they have the experience to back it up.

Are you ready to be successful?

Today I am going to talk about two types of servers, one is Virtual Web Hosting and the other is Virtual Private Servers.Over the last couple of years Virtual Web Hosting has been the only way to go when choosing a web server. One of the reasons that Virtual Web Hosting became so popular was because they supported the necessary files and allowed you to have more freedom than other conventional web hosts. But now you can have more freedom than ever before with Virtual Private Servers. Moreover, Virtual Private Servers should not be confused with Virtual Hosts, because they are completely different.

Before I go any further I must explain what the difference is between a Virtual Host and a Virtual Private Server, so that you can fully understand. In this article I will also go over the advantages and disadvantages of both types of servers, to help you decide which is right for you and your business. Let’s get started with Virtual Hosting.

Virtual Hosting

Virtual Hosting is also known as Shared Web Hosting, where you are sharing the physical server and a single set of software applications with other users. Virtual Hosting has been extremely popular in the past for it’s fast deployment, strong resources, and most importantly for having a very reasonable price. Another advantage to Virtual Hosting is that you have a powerful, reliable, and professionally managed server without having to have advanced technical skills, making it ideal for an individual, small business, or even a beginner webmaster.

The disadvantage of Virtual Hosting is that you are sharing the server with other users, which are configured and controlled by an administrator, not you. So basically you have your hands tied behind your back, because you have to contact the administrator everytime you have to adjust or change your configuration settings. Even if you managed to get a hold of the administrator, they may not fulfill your request. It’s up to them, they are the administrator. If you were the administrator you wouldn’t have these limitations and would have full control.

Virtual Private Servers

Virtual Private Servers are a hot topic these days and for a good reason. Before I get into the advantages of a Virtual Private Server, let explain what it is first. A Virtual Private Server is a single server that is partitioned at the root into multiple dedicated servers. This allows you to share the cost of the network connectivity, hardware, and system maintenance with other hosting customers, while maintaining your flexibility and freedom.

The real advantage of Virtual Private Servers is that they allow you to have complete control and they have the security advantages of a dedicated server at the fraction of the cost. You have access to the virtual root, Telnet, web configuration files, and full CGI-BIN access. I can’t forget to mention that you also have access to your password, aliases file, and sendmail configuaration file. For many reasons you can see that a Virtual Private Server is an excellent solution for small to medium size businesses that have an increasingly complex needs.

Moreover, there is one disadvantage with Virtual Private Servers, you need to have some program knowledge to control and configure the settings. Sounds overwhelming, most businesses that offer Virtual Private Servers have very detailed manuals making them easier to configure and control no matter what your program level is.

Which one is right for you? Well, that all depends on you and the size of your network.

If you have or plan on having just one web site and have absolutely no programing knowledge, then Virtual Hosting is the recommended and economical way for you to go. A Virtual Host can cost anywhere from $20 - $50 a month for an account, rather than a $60 or more for a Virtual Private Server.

On the other hand, if you have a larger network that requires multiple web sites, like ours, and you have some programing knowledge, then a VPS Hosting is ideal for you. You can host up to 50 web sites on a Virtual Private Server account, instead of having multiple Virtual Hosting accounts, which is not as economical.

When it comes time to get a web server, make sure that the server fits your needs and that it supports the essential software for a prosperous online business.