Can anyone recommend a website host company?

[thedame71]

I am helping a friend set up an online art company and need to find a good reliable and cost effective company to host the website. Some one recommended BT Connect but then I have read some bad reviews.

Anyone around who has any knowledge of this? (I clearly don't!!!!)

www.spacesurfer.com do hosting

reliable and cost effective won't go together

I use xcalibre.co.uk

You can find cheaper hosting companies - I've used most of them - but they won't be very reliable which is EXTREMELY frustrating

I use my (sort of) uncle's company but to be honest, I've not done often as usually use people's free webspace.

I use 123-reg.co.uk for domain names etc and they do hosting but not needed them before so not sure what the hosting is like. Happy with all other services though

We use Namesco, £10 a month approx and never had an issue.

HTH!

flump.net
The boys at flump respond almost instantly to queries or problems.

I can host for you from £30 per year depending on content. My partner and I host several small to medium sites. Mail me if you want a quote [email protected].

I use Redback Internet Solutions , cheap and never had any problems, good support via email and MSN. HTH

Message withdrawn

kittyfish - do you have a website with any info? just wondered as going to research other hosting companies for the websites i build (currently most use free webspace but looking for cheaper hosting for those who don't have webspace).

Doh, no I am rubbish at organising my own site. Check out www.elegantsurroundings.com, www.lakshmi.co.uk,

perfecthosting.co.uk
they have been great for my website. you get 60 days free and if you would want to end your hosting with them, all it takes is an e-mail and no fuss.

Hit the wrong button there, . As I was saying, check out (sorry about lack of links) the two sites below and www.milton-farm.co.uk and www.cotswold-guardians.co.uk for some good examples of the size and type of sites we host and create. Prices from £30 per year depending on size, number of updates needed etc. Hosting costs are dropping so don't pay loads thinking you will get reliability - you won't necessarily. If you need any advice just let me know.

Hellybelly - I host my site with jamroll.com for free. You don't get any popups or anything just 4 tiny word ads at the bottom. They will really help you out on the forum if you need any support - I've never had any problems with them.

kittyfish do you know anything about website optimization and anyone that you can recommend..that s cheap and good? or anybody else that knows ..dh wantsinfo and thnks MN is brill for advice ...thanks

I'm not much cop about seo but I know a man who is (partner luckily!). It is all about robots and the google dance. I shall get some more specific info and let you know. Seo companies tend to offer top slot on google but don't deliver - an expensive rip off by all accounts. Give me a day or so and I will find out. In the mean time bravenet.com are excellent for resources and articles on this and many other subjects.

Ok as I understand it Google has an algorithm for its page rankings which no one has yet cracked. However, you boost your chances of a good listing if you do the following: enable robots on your site, link to other sites, trade directories etc, have good key words and phrases, use .htm rather than .html as it is a 'truer' address iyswim (not sure I do ).

You can pay Google for a good ranking or you can pay a company though I couldn't recommend one. Depending on what you are trying to achieve with your site you may not need a great google ranking. Let me know if you need any more advice and do visit bravenet who are always on about seo issues.