Hosting Your Web Site

At Fauna Art Studios we know that the average business owner simply can't research the many web site hosting providers out there, and how do you get past the hype? We've spent a considerable amount of time finding the best dedicated server provider in order to offer you the web space and features you need at a price you can afford.

Local ISPs sometimes offer business hosting as an add-on to their dial-up service, charging for every little feature, like a private cgi-bin for scripts or autoresponders (both of which are among the many features included FREE with our hosting plans), resulting in high monthly payments you don't need.

Even worse, some ISPs and many hosting providers, configure their servers so that the thousands of sites hosted there all share the same IP (Internet Protocol; a unique number that identifies the server or site) address. And they don't tell you about it! If one of those hosting customers happens to be blacklisted as a spammer, everyone else under that address is affected. For the hosting provider, it's a way of cutting costs. 

Our web hosting accounts either come with unique IP addresses or have that option available!

Some things to consider about hosting

First, you need a clear idea of what your business and your site need. If you already have a web site, how much server space does your site take up now? What are your plans for expansion? Sites have a way of growing quickly, especially if the webmaster leaves old files on the server when they're no longer in use. Even if you feel your website's development has reached a reasonably stable stage, sign up for a plan that gives you at least double the space you need. If you decide to add a shopping cart later or lots of images of your products, you will be glad you did! Our plans offer generous amounts of server space for your growing site.

What tools will you need? If you are just planning your site, now is a good time to discuss these options with your design team. Or, if you already have a site, perhaps it's not running as efficiently as it could:

Will you be running scripts (such as order forms, feedback form, shopping cart, newsletter signup, etc.)? You'll need your own private "cgi-bin" which many hosting companies don't include (they might give you access to public ones where you are either not allowed to install your own scripts or have to go through the hassle of having every script upload approved, a nightmare when you are trying to test a script).

Is there information your visitors request over and over? An autoresponder would solve your problem! This is a text file that the visitor calls automatically via an email link. We offer unlimited autoresponders; others charge for each one.

Do you need a shopping cart? We have several scripts available free of charge, or we can custom-develop your e-commerce site.

What about email? Our hosting accounts include a number of POP3 email accounts, plus unlimited aliases and redirects to keep up with your business's growth. You can also access your email accounts through your web browser from anywhere.

Your own domain. If you run any kind of online business, owning your own domain name is imperative. Your hosting account features true virtual domain hosting, and for a small, one-time fee you can park additional domain names to the same account. We also offer domain registration and renewal services.