Web Hosting FAQ

Here are some pointers to clear up any technical jargons and some of the mysteries of the web and web hosting. If you can’t find the answer here, you can always contact us and we will be happy to help answer your questions.

Where are your servers?

We currently have 3 Data Centres. 2 Data Centres are based in the UK (Nottingham and London), and our latest Data Centre is based in USA (Dallas).

What is Web Hosting?

When you design and build a website, you need to connect your site to the public Internet so that your potential customers can find you. You can either do this by building your own server, firewall, security, Internet link, and back up services or you can choose a hosting company to do this for you.

What does a Web Hosting Company provide?

Hosting companies provide shared resources enabling you to take advantage of shared costs as well as providing you with peace of mind. Good hosting companies will provide a range of security and back up services to ensure a trouble free running of your site.

What are Resilient Links?

Duplicate or multiple Links to the Internet means should a line failure occur all traffic is re-routed to the alternative Internet connection to the servers, so your website continues to be accessible.

What is a Carrier Class Link?

The service provider guarantees high availability, high throughput, load balancing (with multiple links) and that the bandwidth is fully allocated to the hosting company rather than shared with others.

What is the benefit of Multiple Server Web Hosting?

Providing multiple servers means failure of one server will not impact the service level as traffic is routed to the second and other back up servers, making your website accessible to users.

What is Power Back Up?

Also known as UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) will ensure server availability even when there is a mains power cut.

What is Website Back UP?

Unfortunately all computers at some time experience failure, and if they are not fully backed up all data stored on them can be lost. Servers are simply more powerful computers, so they are not immune to failure. Also human error by inexperienced users during editing can delete a page or an entire website! Your website should be backed up on a regular basis so that it can be restored in the event of a major failure. Reputable hosting companies provide services or software for you to do this.

What is Web Hosting Value-Added Services?

There is a range of services that you may need once your website is up and running, which at first may sound unlikely. However, as your website matures and the traffic grows, your website will need additional features, services and functionality to support the growing demand from your users. These services can range from E-commerce, Scripting, Stock Control, Password Controlled Pages, Enquiry Forms, Traffic Reporting, and a myriad of other useful functions. A quality hosting company should be able to respond to your needs and satisfy your growing requirements.

What are your Web Hosting Packages?

We provide a range of packages to suit most needs, but we can also offer bespoke and taylor-made hosting package for your website. Click through to our Web Hosting Page to see in detail.

What is SEO (optimisation)?

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is a collective reference for the actions taken by website managers to improve their relative performance within the Search Engines Results Page.

What is SERP?

Search Engine Results Pages (SERP) is the page presented to potential customer as a result of a query made (also known as “search term”) by the web user’s chosen Search Engine (SE) such as Google, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, etc.

What is Black Hat Methods?

These are illegal methods to trick the Search Engines into believing your content is more relevant to the users than they in fact are. These methods are extremely dangerous and can have dire consequences for your website performance within SERP.

What is Webmail?

This is an Email account interface that can be accessed via any web browser with the correct username and password from any location. This way you can access your mail, read emails, create new emails, and reply to incoming emails from any PC or laptop in the world without having to rely on having your personal computer with you.

What is POP3 email?

This is a central email account that enables you to send and receive emails using your domain name via applications on your PC such as MS Outlook, MS Outlook Express, etc.

What is SPAM?

Unfortunately, just like your post at home, emails are prone to receiving unsolicited mail also known as SPAM. These are a nuisance and use up precious bandwidth, storage on your server, use up memory on your PC and waste users time in sorting and deleting the unwanted mail. Even more worryingly, most viruses are transmitted by SPAM or Junk mail.

What is Junk filter?

It is automated software that attempts to recognise SPAM by comparing a range of known parameters. Whilst this is not always 100% proof as Spammers are always developing new routes and cloning methods, successful Junk Filters can trap the majority of your unwanted mail.

What is Bandwidth?

This is the amount of data sent and received by your domain in any calendar month.

What is a Domain?

Domain is the website address name or the main URL by which your site is known within the Internet addressing system. Usually www.YourDomain + country extension such as .co.uk (UK), .com (World Wide not USA as most people commonly believe), .es (Spain), .be (Belgium), etc.

Why is Country Extension important?

Your country extension is not just about your location, but it is a signal to Search Engines that indicates your target audience. So your site .co.uk says your target audience is in the UK, whilst the same name with .com means you target worldwide (although you can restrict .com to a specific country). Try this by searching within Google for a specific keyword such as “Web Hosting” but select “Pages from the UK”. Then do the same search but this time select “the Web” and now compare the SERP. Notice any difference? You should. It also can signal the main language of the site although within the website coding there is an additional area that can specify language of each page which is very useful for multi-lingual sites.

Should I buy a domain first before having a website?

Yes and No. Yes you can buy one, most domain registrars allow you to hold a domain name without having it pointing to a real site. However you should not buy a domain name until you have had a clear understanding of your website function, content and impact on your SERP.

How should I choose a name for my Domain?

Your name can have a serious impact on your visibility within the SERP and optimisation of your site. Don’t go on every website you can find and search for the clever name you have just thought up. If you do this, you may find yourself losing the name to unscrupulous domain dealers as they get reports of all searches. Brainstorm at least 10 names and rank them from 1-10 (Do not search for them even in Google or Yahoo!). Then start searching for availability using a reputable Domain Registrar, and once you see they are available don’t be tempted to leave it for another day or try one more domain dealer! If it is in your top 10 and it is available, then grab it. In the scheme of things, Domain names are not that expensive so don’t risk losing it to a squatter.