Top 10 Web Hosting Companies
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The keywords are endless.
Any web site claiming to have a top list of web hosting companies are scams. They’re designed to offer top spots to companies paying the most for referrals.
Nothing more than profit centers.
Don’t get me wrong, advertising is fine. I often recommend web hosting to my readers, but I’ve used Bluehost for half a decade. Other sites are simply creating a list of “top” web host based on a fake criterion. That’s an outright scam.
If they really cared about their visitors, they would only suggest the best one. Why would you tell people to go sign up for someone ranked 10th?
Look at these top list across the web and you won’t find Bluehost on the top. You know why? It’s not that they’re lacking something, its because they don’t pay a high referral fee; nearly half of other host. I could make more money suggesting others, but I don’t trust anyone else.
In the end finding the right web host can be one big headache, I suggest doing a little research and see what real people are saying.
For the past five years, I’ve used Bluehost and been thrilled by the service. Unlimited bandwidth & space, 24/7 phone/chat support, plus a free domain.
That’s good web hosting.
Don’t fall for the top web hosts scam, make the right choice first.
Firefox Add-ons for Webmasters
I switched my default browser to Firefox years ago for better security and faster browsing.
Over the years, I have become more dependent on Firefox for not only allowing me to view the Internet but also having such a large collection of user created add-ons that make the software even better. These add-ons have become an essential part of my web development practice.
Here are the best tools directly from my toolbox.
1. FireFTP
FTP Managers are huge advantages to any webmaster and even more so when it’s been packed into the same program you use to browse your website with.
Great alternative to the normal desktop programs, it works like a charm.
2. Alexa Sparky
Alexa is the number one source for finding information on website traffic in the world. The team has created a useful add-on, which allows you to receive traffic information about the site your current visiting without having to visit the Alexa site itself.
I use this add-on to check different sites backlinks and traffic trends. When using the add-on it will submit non-personal information to update its traffic information.
3. YSlow
I have become a perfectionist about my site load times since adding YSlow to my toolbox. YSlow is an add-on developed by Yahoo that provides useful information about your sites memory usage, and then gives reports on how to lower the overall time it takes to load your website.
The lower you get the total memory usage means the more people that can view your website if you have a bandwidth cap placed by your web host.
One last thing, Yahoo also packed the popular Smush.it (image compression) tool in this package.
4. FireBug
I use this tool the most out of everything in my designer toolbox. It allows you to make live changes to your websites CSS, HTML, or JavaScript. Microsoft has provided a similar tool for Internet Explorer but it does not match up to Firebugs abilities. If you decide not to add any of these add-ons, I would suggest to at least download this one.
HTML Validator is a tool used when building and maintaining any website. It gives you detailed reports of any errors or warnings it may have found while scanning your websites coding.
They packed another feature inside making use of the Tidy service, which will automatically correct all errors and allow you to download the newly error free coding.
6. MeasureIt
Basically, all this add-on currently does is measure. I find it excellent in finding out element and image sizes. They do plan to release updates to have a snap feature on CSS items, making this add-on even more useful.
7. ColorZilla
I often want to know the color of an object without having to go through the pain of checking it. Colorzilla solves that issue by allow you to use an eyedropper to get colors off anything in your Firefox window.
It also contains an interesting feature that will pull a webpage’s most used colors and give you the pages color scheme.
8. CSS Usage
CSSUsage is an add-on to FireBug; it is a rather unique tool by providing an ability to scan CSS files to find out if you have any unused elements located on your website.
I use it to clean out my CSS files to keep my total memory usage low.
Foxy SEO Tool has compiled multiple tools found all over the Internet used to improve your websites optimization into a toolbar located underneath the address bar in your Firefox window.
35 Web Design Mistakes You Should Avoid
This article is an ever-changing list of some common, controversial, and often forgotten mistakes that are made in web development. Most of them will apply to any website or blog, but please keep it mind that there will be cases where these would not apply and some you may dislike.
1. Presuming the phase “If you build it, they will come” – Even if you achieve the perfect website you still have to take steps to market that site. It becomes increasingly more necessary that you take the time to put the word out about your website online and offline. If you do not take the time to brag about your site, no one will.
2. Do not blend advertisements into content – It may increase your click through rate in the short term, but when a user thinks they are clicking on an internal link and then finds out you just tricked them – most will not be coming back.
3. Avoid splash pages (intro) to your website – These luckily are a dying fad, but at one time these were what a lot of websites prompted visitors with when they first gained access their website instead of the content they were attempting to reach.
4. Make unvisited links a different color from visited links – This is a basic usability tip. Users recognize the default link color easily, and are use to seeing visited links change color – it helps ensure they do not revisit pages unintentionally.
5. Ensure that your website is cross-browser compatible – Browsers are not created equal, and not all of them interpret code the same way. Like it or not, you need to make sure that your site appears correctly in popular browsers – browsershots.org is a great tool for doing this.
6. Music Players – Do not place a music player on your website; if I wanted to listen to music I would open my music player. It simply annoys visitors, and they have to hit the stop button every time they load another page. If you run a site related to music, then allow the user the option of starting the player when they are ready.
7. Do not overuse Flash if not necessary – Not only does Flash increase the load time of your website, it hurts your SEO, and excessive usage of Flash might also annoy some visitors. I suggest that you only use it when necessary.
8. Keep browser features intact – Do not break the back button, forward button, adjustments to focusing or any other browser functions – some people rely on them.
9. Do not open links in new windows – Allow the user to control his/her destiny, if they wish to come back to your site then they will by using the back button or other browser features.
10. Get your point across quickly – You need to make sure that the user can quickly identify the contents of the webpage; if they cannot figure out what the page is about then it’s pretty common they will just leave. Use your title tags, and headings to spell a clear message to the user.
11. Do not adjust the browser window size – Let the users control their own browser, resizing a browser can affect other tabs/windows they currently have opened.
12. Do not use hidden text – You should never attempt to trick search engines by using hidden text to fill your page with keywords or content to improve search engine ranking – this is simply an easy way to get ban from search results all together.
13. Do not try keyword stuffing – When adding the keyword tags to your pages ensure that the keywords you pick are relevant to the content on the page. The best thing to do is make sure each keyword is mentioned in the content multiple times. If you choose not to follow this rule it could result in a ban from Google.
14. Do not use visible visitor counters – Not only are these things unprofessional, they are completely pointless for visitors to even see. You should instead use an app like Google Analytics to quietly track all of that information for you.
15. Do not underline or change colors of normal text – Users have come to identify underline and different color text as links. Try to follow this simple rule so that users are not confused about what is a link and what is not one.
16. Format Content Correctly – Different standards apply when writing internet based content – you’re not writing a book. Make use of elements like bullet points, headers, sub headers, and list. Break content up.
17. Do not use tiny font sizes – Ensure that contents readable for all different kinds of visitors. The older the visitors are the more likely they will have a harder time reading the content, and most of these same people are unaware of browser resizing options.
18. Be consistent – Do not change the theme or link colors midway in the site. Ensure that your theme follows the same throughout the site.
19. Do not put text (content) into images – Put text in HTML when possible. Web designers will sometimes use images for their content or information because they mutilate fonts and sizes easily. But this is non-robot friendly (SEO), cannot be easily resized (like text can), doesn’t work for text reading software for the blind, and will increase load time.
20. Avoid bright harsh colors – Ensure that the font color is easy to read on your choice of background color. Also keep in mind just because you can read your bright pink font on your yellow background doesn’t mean everyone can. I have always found that black font on a white background to be the best choice.
21. Provide a basic search function – Search ability is one of the most important navigators in a website. You can now give your visitors the power of search by using Google’s Custom Search Engine.
22. Use ALT and TITLE attributes – Make sure you are making use of these attributes because it will not only help your SEO, but also help the blind with text readers.
23. Do not require a registration unless necessary – Do not force users to sign up when it’s not necessary. Period.
24. Make use of standard fonts – It would be wise to use standard web fonts when creating a website, because if a visitor doesn’t have the font you have selected then it will pick a different one to replace it.
25. Using Pop-ups – Making use of pop-ups for content based pages or even ad based pages has become a bad idea over the years with the increase in pop-up blockers.
26. Over-crowding – This is pretty common for web designers to add to many elements to pages. It gives off an unprofessional look and is difficult to navigate through all the information.
27. Lengthy Pages – People avoid reading lengthy pages. Being brief with your message will normally cause those pages will have a higher readership rate. If necessary setup a series of well navigated pages if you have a lot to say.
28. Slow loading pages – Believe it or not, people still have dial-up. Visitors will quickly move on to a different webpage if yours doesn’t load quickly enough. Attempt to trim your pages down so even the visitors with the worst internet connection can access information is always a good idea.
29. JavaScript based navigation – Not only does Google promote you to avoid the use of JavaScript based navigation, but also some users and companies run with scripts off while searching the internet making them not able to properly navigate your website.
30. Get a Sitemap – Sitemaps are simply a page with list of the most important or all of the pages on your website. Creating an XML Sitemap file for your site helps search engines discover the pages on your site easily.
31. Do not disable right clicking – Normally the webmasters doing this is attempting to stop the you from gaining access source code or image locations, but it’s highly annoying and users can still access those areas even after right click function is disabled by using the main menu.
32. Refrain from complex URLs – A keyword based URL structure will not make only improve your websites search engine rankings, but will also help visitors easily indentify content by URL name.
33. Do not use images for navigation links – When creating your websites navigation you should make use of text instead of images. Text based navigation is not only better on your load times but also you should never do something that you can easily be create with a style sheet.
34. Optimization of CSS & Images – Take the time to optimize your CSS and images – this will help lower load times and total weight of your website un-cached will be reduced. CleanCSS.com.
35. Common problems exist with Flash, Frames and AJAX – you can’t link to certain web pages. Try not to use Frames at all and use Flash and AJAX sparingly for better SEO results.
User Submitted
36. Do not have video start playing automatically – too many sites do this these days and I do not ever want a video to start playing every time I hit a particular website’s homepage.
37. Animations and flashing text effects is so 1999 – Cheesy Animations and those flashing text effects that can be done using CSS were widely popular in the earlier years of the internet but we have moved past that.
Questions to Ask When Starting a Website
I’ll begin with saying ground work to a site should not to be taken lightly. When creating websites in the past I’ve skipped these important questions.
It cost me time and money. You should always take the time to prepare yourself because you will learn soon that being a webmaster is not an easy one.
I’m sure right now you could be thinking what color will that cool dinosaur banner could be, or you may be trying to find some neat background for the site. Whatever you’re thinking about, it’s pretty common that right now your mind is racing with tons of ideas and the loads of drive to start your first/another website. While I of course would hate to eat up your time from finding the correct color for the dino banner, I do believe there are some questions that you need to keep in mind before even getting started with the graphics / technical process of site development.
1. What will be the subject/point of your site?
Well what is it? This can sometimes be a tricky question. Some people find themselves so excited about building a website; they never took the time to think about the point of the site. Really a website can be about anything, for some of the first time webmasters you may want to pick a hobby or you may want to make a site for your local bowling team. While more experienced webmasters may want to provide a service or products which would entail much more work than a simple site about hobbies.
Whichever it may be you need to define what you would like your website to be about, once you have that understanding you will have a clearer view of your obstacles.
2. What does a visitor expect from coming to or returning to your site?
Why would someone want to come to your site? If your website is a personal site with your hobbies, interest, or photos of your kids and while I’m sure everyone finds that very interesting (sarcasm) mainly the people visiting that site would be friends/family. If you provide a service or product you want visitors to expect what they would from any professional business they may walk into everyday.
Another question to ask is what will keep them coming? This is very important, you have to if you play on providing an informational service you need to know what will keep them coming for more. Once you know how to please your visitors they will enjoy coming to your site.
3. Will you have the passion to keep the site going long term?
Go ahead and call me guilty, because I have done this like so many others when it comes to taking on a project. I get so excited about it, even spending hours at a time trying to brainstorm and nothing comes of it.
You need to be sure that all your hard work will not go to waste.
Of course if you are simply creating your first site I encourage you to keep at it, even if the site you make doesn’t work out you will hopefully learn quite a bit and be more prepared with tackling your next side show attraction.
4. Who will be your target audience?
Trying to target products or services to the wrong target audience can hurt your visitor count. You will need to get an idea about who will be visiting your website for the information or products your providing and then design / word your site around that crowd. This will not only help you build and keep your target audience, it will also make your visitors feel right at home.
5. Do you have the time for maintaining a site?
We all wish we had the skills like “Time Wizard” and could stop time, but sadly we don’t. You will need to determine if you really have the time to work on the site as much as you want. Mostly everyone has a full-time / part-time job that will take up tons of time.
So you will need to make sure you set out time to baby your website. Providing updates and changes to the site is what will keep visitors returning. Most people will not keep coming to read the same articles over and over again.
Bottom line
I assume you took the time to think over each one of the questions. I can’t stress enough about not touching on some of these key points can really leave you disappointed in the future. I hope you now have a better general idea of your website and are the obstacles you may face.
How to Select the Correct Web Host for You
Whether you’re a guru or complete beginner to webmastering, you don’t want to make the mistake of choosing the wrong web host. Being brand new means, it may be hard to choose between all of the options or technical terminology may become intimidating. Experienced developers may find that their current host does not live up to your expectations.
A perfect web host for everyone is not possible. We all have different requirements and exceptions. Nevertheless, I have been through my fair share and here are suggestions that will increase the change of finding that perfect web host.
Not familiar with web terminology or just don’t want the hassle? I’ll make it easy for you, get Bluehost. For the past five years, I’ve trusted Bluehost to not only host my blog, but my company and clients. And they haven’t disappointed.
Unlimited bandwidth & space, 24/7 phone support, plus a free domain.
It doesn’t get any better. Bluehost rocks.
What do you need from a Web Host?
You first need to identify what features are important to you.
A large share of host have an inflated feature list and never truly expect you to make use of the entire package. You need to define what you need in a web host so that you get everything and more. How many FTP or email accounts do you need? What are the minimum amount of domains and databases required? Do you need pre-installed items like WordPress or stat counters?
Here are multiple things to consider:
Bandwidth – Normally bandwidth would not be the most important part of selecting a web host for the average webmaster, but it is essential to mention due to some host look to inflate this number by claiming to offer unlimited or unrealistic amounts of bandwidth (Refer to TOS to guarantee your limitations). Most webmasters will never take advantage of no more than a few gigabytes a month. Nevertheless, some web hosts do offer ridiculously low amounts of bandwidth – ensure that you have enough bandwidth for your site to grow.
Terms of Service (TOS) – Before signing up at any host, you need to dig through the TOS. Terms of Service are the legal documents that outline the limitations that are present on your hosting plan (stuff they do not mention in the pitch page). These documents also include information involving cancellation, automatic renewals, acceptable account activity, service availability, refunds, and so forth. Make sure you take the time to read this document.
Number of Domains – How many domains will you need? Many bargain-hosting companies limit webmasters to only one domain. If you plan to host multiple sites ensure that you have the options for multiple domains. I would never sign-up with a web host that required me to buy a new plan for every domain that I own.
Number of Databases – If you use any Content Management System (WordPress, Joomla, etc…) you will need a database to support that CMS. It is important to establish that you have enough databases for your needs.
Control Panel – When I select a web host the type of control panel that the host uses is one of the most important factors for me. Currently most web host use a control panel called cPanel, instead of developing a custom one. Web host like Globat, GoDaddy, DreamHost, and many others have created a custom control panel, which in my opinion can be difficult and awkward to use. I suggest only choosing a web host that uses the standard cPanel (like Bluehost).
Customer Service & Support – Having the ability to pick up the phone and call your web host if you experience issues or have questions is another necessary feature that I look for when choosing a host. It’s very frustration attempting to explain your dilemma in an email that may take days or even weeks to receive a reply. I believe it also speaks volumes about a web host that is able to offer a free phone support service to their customers.
Tools All Web Developers Should Know About
If you are new to web development, you may be unaware of the free tools found all over the internet. In this article, I show the tools that are found in my toolbox.
Firebug (Firefox Addon)
I use this tool the most out of everything in my designer toolbox.
It allows you to make live changes to your websites CSS, HTML, or JavaScript. Microsoft has provided a similar tool for Internet Explorer but it does not match up to Firebugs abilities. If you decide not to add any of these tools, I would suggest to at least getting this one.
Notepad++ is a free source code editor. This is a great option for anything one that is looking for programming software.
I would suggest that you try this out before purchasing one.
An FTP Client is an essential tool for running a website. They speed up the time between uploading and downloading files from your web server. Filezilla was not the first software I stumbled across but ended up being the one I now use for all my FTP needs.
It does not offer anything different that you would not except from a normal FTP Client but this is a better options then purchasing one. It gets the job done.
Thunderbird is an email management tool developed by Mozilla. The software allows you to receive email from all of your account in one handy program.
It’s an awesome solution for email organization.
Google always creates useful applications and Analytics is no exception.
It gives detailed reports about your web traffic. You can see numbers on user country, browser choices, popular pages, bound percentage, and more.
CleanCSS allows you to optimize your CSS to decrease load times and bandwidth usage. It can fix errors, format coding, and other useful options. You and visitors will benefit from an optimization.
BrowserShots helps you ensure cross browser compatibility. It will take photos of your website in over 40 different browsers and allow you to download them for long-term usage.
Browser compatibility is necessary for websites and this tool does it.
Google Webmaster Tools is another wonderful gadget that Google has given us. The Webmaster Tools allows you to basically invite Google to crawl and index your pages, know which keywords are bringing in visitors, gives detailed crawling information, and quite a bit more.
It’s worth checking out!
Site Explorer is similar to Google Webmaster Tools.
You can see top search queries, crawl errors, inbound links, and other information.
Smush.it is an image optimization tool by Yahoo. You have the option of using the site or the Firefox Add-on named YSlow, which contains the tool.
If you download the add-on, it will scan all the images on the page and place make a zip file available for download.
