Mosaic Web Designs » Website Hosting

Web Hosting Review: ICDSoft

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:59:54 +0000

Summary

We have used the services of ICDSoft since 2001. In addition to the several web sites we host with ICDSoft, many of our clients use the service as well. ICDSoft services include web hosting, web mail, and domain name registration. If you want to set up a simple web site that does not require start-up fees or a big monthly price tag, ICD Soft is the way to go. You get a solid, reliable product without spending a lot of money.

Strengths:
-Affordable
-Reliable
-Unsurpassed customer service
-Easy-to-use admin panel

Weaknesses:
-No website building tools are included
-May not be the best choice for complex web sites

Affordable
You can host your web site for only $5 per month! We still haven’t figured out how they do it….. this is just a great price for everything you get in return.

Included with your $5/month fee is an unlimited number of email accounts accessible via webmail, ample storage space for a personal or small business web site (you can also upgrade to 3x as much storage space for $10 per month), basic site statistics, and 24 x 7 tech support. There’s a long list of other amenities, but those are the key ones to look for. You can also register your domain name with ICDSoft for only $5 at the same time you sign up for your hosting account.

So for $65, you can get your site up and running for 1 year, including domain name, with ICDSoft. And currently, renewals are $60 per year, so you won’t get sticker shock after the first 12 months are up.

If you run multiple web sites, additional plans are offered at 50% off.

Reliable
Our web sites have experienced minimal downtime with ICDSoft. In fact, we can’t recall the last time our sites were down! We have worked with large-scale clients who pay thousands of dollars per month for web hosting that have more downtime than that. And as mentioned earlier, we just don’t know how they do it….

Unsurpassed Customer Service
On the few occasions when we have required tech support or had a quick question on how to access one of the many web tools provided with the service, we have been blown away by the quick and helpful response. ICDSoft guarantess a 1 hour response to questions. But all of our inquiries have been answered in about 5 minutes using their online “live” support feature. Truly impressive.

ICDSoft offers a 30-day money back guarantee. So if for some odd reason you aren’t satisfied, you can get your money back.

No website building tools are included

If you plan to build a simple website using site builder tools, checkout one of our other recommended web hosts. ICDSoft does not include any easy website tools. You will need to use HTML and software such as Dreamweaver to create your website.

May not be the best choice for complex web sites

If your site requires a specific e-commerce package, content management system, or other proprietary software, ICDSoft may not be the choice for you. Contact ICD Soft directly for additional information regarding your specific requirements.

How to Sign-up
Ready to sign-up? It’s a very simple process. Visit the ICDSoft Web Site and click the “order now” link. Or select the “full hosting details” link to learn more about the services offered.

Compare Web Hosting Services

admin — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:58:31 +0000

Following is a quick comparison between 4 of our top recommended web hosts. For more information, visit the respective web host website.

				Yahoo! Web Hosting
Monthly Hosting Fee	$6.00	$9.96	$4.08	$11.95
Website Builder Software	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Website Builder Design Templates	n/a	75+	800+	250+
Annual Domain Name Registration Fee	$5.00	Free	$1.99	Free
Email Accounts	no limit	500	100	1,000
Disk Storage	1000 MB	25 GB	10 GB	no limit
Monthly Data Transfer	20 GB	250 GB	300 GB	no limit
Available upgrade to larger package	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
24 x 7 Tech Support	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Money-back Guarantee	60 days	30 days	No	30 days
	Read review			Read review
	Learn more…	Learn more…	Learn more…	Learn more…

How Do I Choose a Web Hosting Provider for my Website?

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:40:22 +0000

There are literally thousands of web hosting providers to choose from. Who you select really depends on the specific needs of your website. If you are just getting started, one of the basic services from a reputable company such as Network Solutions or Yahoo will cost between $8 and $12 per month. That’s very inexpensive compared to other costs of marketing. The cheapest (but still reliable) web hosting service we have found is GoDaddy. The simplest package starts at around $4 / month. We host several of our websites on GoDaddy and have been consistently pleased with the service.

Some things to look for in a web hosting provider:

A reputable company
Uptime / downtime
Number of email accounts
Disk storage space
Data transfer / bandwidth limits
Ability to upgrade service levels as website grows
Easy-to-use administration control panel
Software options
Customer service levels / response time
Security and virus / spam protection
eCommerce availability (if you plan to sell online)

Some web hosting providers that offer acceptable service based on the above criteria are:

There are many more. But that should help narrow down the list. You really can’t go wrong with any of these.

How Much Do Web Hosting Services Cost?

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:34:38 +0000

The price for a good web hosting service for a basic website typically ranges from $5 to $15 per month, depending on the complexity of the web site and additional services provided. If your website begins to receive a high volume of traffic or you decide to add more complex functionality to your website, you may need to upgrade your service. Even advanced service levels should cost less than $25 / per month. It’s really quite affordable when you consider everything you get… space on a server, bandwidth, technical support, and an easy-to-use admin panel that lets you access the files on your website.

Some reliable web hosts are:

Insider Tip:
You can usually save money if you register your domain name at the same time you sign up for a hosting contract. Many web hosting services will throw the domain name in for free or at a very low cost.

What is a Web Host?

admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:10:51 +0000

A web host allocates space on a server to “host” your website and then makes your website accessible to the public. If you want the public to access your web site, then you need to sign up with a web host. OK, you could host the site yourself and not use a web host, but let’s face it, you wouldn’t be reading the “Beginner’s Guide” if you had the technical savvy to do that!

Web hosting companies provide a number of other optional services, including email administration, file backup & recovery, disk storage, bandwidth, databases, specialized software and much more.

Some popular web hosts are:

There are many, many other web hosts available. Any of the above will most likely provide good service at a very reasonable cost for basic websites. As your website grows, you can increase your service level.