Your business web hosting
plan needs to offer specific features to help you gain a competitive
edge. After all, to be competitive, your business website should do
more than simply provide visitors with information. If your business
will do any direct selling, marketing, or offer free downloads to
visitors, here are some specific features that you'll want to have
included in your business web hosting package:
- Mailing list
management programs (list server) - A
mailing list program maintains a subscriber database for a mailing
list that distributes messages to those listed in the database. It
is a feature that offers the creation and management of automated
mailing lists, and as part of your business web hosting plan, it can
be a valuable marketing and revenue producing element in your online
activity.
- Statistical
data on visitors - Make sure that
your business web hosting plan provides you with the information you
need on your visitors. This goes far beyond a simple counter. You
want reports that come in a variety of formats (charts, graphs,
listings) to help you understand your website activity.
-
Autoresponders - An email utility
that automatically replies to an email message with a "form letter"
response. Also called mailbots, emailbots, or email-on-demand,
autoresponders can capture the contact information of inquiring
visitors. This information is then automatically entered into your
prospect database. Having this feature available through your
business web hosting plan allows you to easily
distribute newsletters, survey customers, make company
announcements, or deliver training materials.
- Security
- To accept payment online, you'll need to have a protocol that
encrypts data transfers. You'll want to ask potential business
website hosting providers about the availability of SSL (Secure
Socket Layer) Security. It will protect data transfers and confirm
identities, saving you and your visitors from the destruction of
hackers.
- Anonymous
FTP - Most business web hosting plans
offer File Transfer Protocol (FTP), which is the ability to download
files from your server. If you want your visitors to have access to
free downloads without a password or other identification, you want
Anonymous FTP. This will create fewer steps for your visitors,
maximizing the "user friendly" capabilities of your site.
Your business website hosting
plan is one of the major ingredients of your business plan. Make a
list of your business needs. Don't take for granted that your business
hosting company can offer the features you need to conduct your
planned activities, and ensure you choose the right business
web hosting package for your needs.
View our list of Top Business Hosting Companies