I have been helping a few small businesses with their website problems lately. Many of the problems I encountered were not the result of bad webmasters, but of bad hosting. In 3 recent cases, my answer to the bewildered business owner was simply to change hosts.

When a brick and mortar business is trying to get a website launched in as economical fashion as possible, with limited budgets, and limited knowledge, the last thing they need is an obstinate, difficult host with outdated packages, and outdated tools!

What a host should offer

I have been reluctant to recommend a particular host in the past, but from all I have seen lately, I am changing that policy.

The less you know about website building, the more you need to know about choosing a good host. There will come a time when you will learn the ins and outs, but in the mean time, you need to be able to work and produce while you learn. Latter, you will realize that you need to write some new URL’s and redirect some of the older ones to them, and this is made much easier if you have a host that offers a simple, easy interface to work with.

That is just one example of hundreds of considerations, and a host which offers simple use for beginners, and tools suitable for a pro for the more advanced user is what you need for success. I have found just such a host.

The best hosting package I have found

The best hosting I have come across for the average sized website is Lunar Pages, hands down! Let me give you some examples: Even in the cheapest package they offer unlimited domain hosting, unlimited space, and a huge number of extras that a webmaster can really use. The “Fantastico” installer is itself worth the price of the package.

The WordPress installation example

WordPress as we all know, is a very versatile, highly respected open source blogware package. It is also one of the best content management systems on the market. WordPress powers some real heavey hitters like CNN, and Ford Motor Company websites, and it is just one of many powerfull tools which can be added to your website with the fantastico installer.

If you have ever spent hours  installing  “WordPress” by hand using the “5 minute” install, only to find you have to start over because you somehow missed a file, you will know what I mean.

Fantastico is fantastic

With this installer, you simply point and click a time or two, fill out the passwords, and it is there! There are more than 100 scripts available to be installed, including blogs, forums, wiki’s, shopping carts, and almost anything else the budding webmaster needs to develop a cohesive, functional site. It comes free with the package.

C-Panel

The Fantastico installer is itself installed in the c-panel (if you have ever had to deal with any other control panel, you will easily see c-panel’s superiority) which is a marvel of simplicity. Building a website with these tools has lowered my blood pressure several points, and saved me more time than I can explain.

I have had no downtime problems, quick responsive answers to questions, and easy use with the cpanel. After suffering much at the hands of many other hosts, I can recommend this one without reservation!

If you are considering moving to a new host, or just wading into the water you should at least take a look at what they offer.