Posts Tagged ‘Choose’
WordPress is the blogging platform favored by a rapidly growing number of bloggers and online business owners.
WordPress is free, which is part of it’s appeal, as are many of the enhancements that can be installed to change the look and function of WordPress, including WordPress themes.
However, although there are hundreds of free WordPress themes that you can download and use quite easily, sometimes it’s wise to invest in a premium theme instead. Why? Here are 5 reasons:
1. Customization
The best premium themes are far more customizable than the best free themes. If you want to have the most options for design and search engine optimization without having to learn HTML backwards and forwards, a good premium theme is definitely your best choice.
2. Support
It’s common for the developers of free themes to offer very limited support. And sometimes they offer no support at all. The developers of the best premium themes have more incentive to offer support and will usually have both detailed instructions that are updated frequently and an active user forum. Even the best themes can have technical glitches from time to time, so having good support is manditory when using any WordPress theme.
3. Updates
There is also less incentive for developers of free themes to fix bugs and update their theme when WordPress goes through one of it’s many upgrades. Sometimes they’ll stop offering the theme altogether. Purchasing a good premium theme will usually give you a lifetime of bug fixes and updates so any issues with be corrected in a timely way.
4. Quality
There are very few free themes that come close to the quality of the best premium themes. Everything from design elements to search engine optimization is covered by a good premium theme.
5. No unwanted adware
Free themes sometimes contain hidden code that inserts ads or other things that benefit the theme’s creator instead of you. The best premium themes do not have adware and often you can purchase a license to remove the companies’ logo, etc. so you can ‘brand’ your site and your client’s sites as your own.
While there are good free themes available and honorable developers, the 5 advantages of using a good premium theme should be taken into consideration. If you want to create a site that will hold up well over time and give you the most options, the best premium themes are your best bet by far.
A dedicated server gives businesses unprecedented control over their server environment. Whether it’s managing a demanding application, a complex development platform, or a high traffic internet storefront, a dedicated server delivers power and flexibility. In a tough economy however, the decision to move into a dedicated server can be hampered by budget concerns. If this sounds familiar, maybe you should consider a virtual dedicated server. A virtual dedicated server is a cost effective alternative, combining the flexibility and performance of a dedicated server with the lowered expense of shared resources.
Understanding the difference
It’s important to clarify definitions when talking about a virtual dedicated server. Most providers will offer a VPS product, or Virtual Private Server. A VPS uses software to create a virtual ‘slice’ of the server resources for a particular user. To all appearances for the user, they are on their own server. This is done in a way that protects all the users on a server from being impacted from a runaway process from a particular user, and it usually works pretty well. There are limits to access, and in many ways a VPS is a pumped up cousin of shared web hosting.
Getting to the root of things
On the other hand, a virtual dedicated server creates an actual OS instance in the user partition. This allows users complete and total access to all normal server functions. With root level access to the operating system, administrators have the freedom to do exactly what they want. As with a VPS, each segment is quarantined and isolated from the others for performance and security. When you evaluate potential providers, make sure you find one that gives you the level of access you require.
The rest of your shopping list will look very similar to what you would want in any dedicated hosting service provider. Virtual dedicated servers will come in Linux and Windows flavors, allowing you to choose the OS for your particular application. As with any dedicated server, you’ll determine single or dual processor function, RAM and storage space, and bandwidth allocation. But those are the obvious things.
Details that make the difference
As you go through your evaluation checklist, pay special attention to the details that will make the difference in efficient operations. Do they offer manned support around the clock, or are you going to get a voice mailbox in the middle of the night? Do they have certified engineers on site? Do they have a back end infrastructure that can support enterprise class customers? For that matter, do they have enterprise class customers? If they do, it’s a strong indicator as to the quality of service they provide.
The other benefit to a large provider is the quality and quantity of available related managed services. Performance enhancing services like load balancers and network attached storage, security minded services like firewalls and intrusion protection, managed backup and other application specific services can play a significant role in your IT department. The economies of scale offered by a larger provider mean those valuable services are available at a fraction of the delivery cost.
A virtual dedicated server is a cost effective way to get the power and flexibility of dedicated hardware at a budget friendly price. Not all virtual servers are created equal however. By determining your requirements in advance and understanding the key differences between virtual server offerings, you can make the right decision for your business.
Choose Joomla Themes and Joomla Template Free Themes
Websites are many businesses focal point where they advertise and make the majority of their money. You want to make sure you have a proficient website that will draw customers and keep customers coming back. Your website should be informative, eye appealing and easy to navigate. If your website is not easy to navigate, someone else’s will be. With just the click of a mouse people can leave your website and click onto a competitor’s site. No business can afford that to happen.
Choose one of the crisp Joomla themes that you can personalize yourself. Draw customers to your professional website which in turn will give you the chance to make more money.
Maybe you want a theme for fun for your blog. Joomla has seventy themes for you to choose from. Your friends and family will be impressed with your blog. You can also use your blog as a journal. Keep track of your life; add photos of your family. Make a blog about your children growing up. You can keep track of milestones, funny things that happen, words that come out of little kids mouths and more. You will be able to save your memories all on your blog. Friends and family can catch up with your lives in their leisure time.
If you are just starting up a blog or business you may want to try a Joomla template free theme. Hospitals and other businesses can find a free theme that will be very helpful to a nonprofit organization. There is a nice variety for you to make your statement.
You can even make money by having your own blog. For example, if you have knowledge in a certain subject you can gain readers and start to make money with your blog. Two good examples:
Teach people how to relax. Our world is very fast-paced and people need to learn to take time for themselves. You can write your blog with excellent products to use such as buying an inflatable tub, foot soak and foot lotion. You may want to have a page where people can purchase your favorite suggested products. You can also share ways to relax a person’s mind. Let people know that they should not feel guilty relaxing especially if the person has a family. A person will be well-rested and better able to take care of their spouse and children.
Another example of how to make money with a Joomla template free theme is to start an informational blog on how to get a job, unique job ideas in the current economy, resume writing tips, interview tips, etc. Many people are losing their jobs and/or being laid off and are looking for ways to make money. You will be helping people and you may make extra money for yourself writing resumes for people, posting a link to your business website, etc.
In addition to Joomla themes, Joomla offers you the chance to download modules, plugins, and an enormous range of components to install to make your life easier. Make the most out of your website.
For more information on Joomla themes and Joomla template free themes please visit: http://www.shape5.com/.
Before coming directly to characteristics of good and cheap web host first it’s better to have review of the fundamentals.
Defining Web Host.
A web host is a service provider that places websites of its customers on a server, which is connected to Internet.
For proving this facility a web hosting provider is generally having high-speed Internet connection as they have to host thousand of web sites on many servers depending upon requirement. Essentially the host providers rent out space where a user can get his website made available to whole world through www i.e. World Wide Web.
The best part of web hosting facility is that now its easy to manage the website even for a layman as all the technical aspects like maintenance of complicated server technology, technical maintenance etc us now the work of these providers. Now one can easily focus on his own Internet business for rest there is host provider.
Now coming to the point following are the features offered.
Features
The followings are the features available in most web hosting plans:
? Control Panel
A control panel is an interface by which access of website on web server is made possible, it helps in setting up and constantly updating as well as customizing the website. Some host providers customize their own control panel so as to enable them to upgrade and expand it when and where required.
? Disk space
Most of the sites that have less data or graphics or video clips or big downloadable files can use 50MB of disk space easily. This helps in further growth for reseller as he can use that space of host providers for other purpose.
? Bandwidth
It is the amount of data sends or received through a unit of time. When a visitor downloads files from website on his own computer then that time it is the bandwidth which is making that possible.
? Email Account
With the use of POP3 email accounts one can check email from Outlook, Netscape Mail, Eudora or any other Email software.
? Scripting language
As now the latest technology is based on Unix and Linux platform only host that support latest versions languages like php, perl and CGI must be selected as that can only provide the optimum utilization of money one is paying.
? Database
For displaying big amount of data like user accounts, stock prices, maps, Interactive news, message boards and forum etc that should be accessible also there is a need for an account that offers a database. For this MySQL, most popular and powerful built on Linux operating system is used. Besides language, many other features are also there like ability to handle millions of entries all at once, flexibility and speed allowing storage of logs and big pictures, ability to scale well under heavy traffic conditions that all together makes MySQL ideal for database-intensive or e-commerce-enabled Web sites.
Customer Support
Customer support is also an important criterion while selecting a good web host service and it is equally important both for an expert as well as a layman.
Following are the essentials for a good support system:
? size of the database.
Size of the database is an important feature as it helps in providing quick search for any answer and thus helps in getting solution of any problem without even bothering customer support staff. If the database is large its easy to search for information from it. Some web host providers even provide video tutorial guide, which helps in step-by-step setting up of account even for a layman.
? efficient customer staff
In order to get fast and good response quick customer support is a must. The following are few forms of customer support:
a. Email support
b. Phone support: Generally for sales and technique aspect it is used. A well-equipped and knowledgeable staff knows and problems and provide with immediate and relevant remedy without wastage of time.
Clove Chat support: Some web host companies like Lunar pages and Globat even have live chat support for their customers, but irrespective of how many support channels a company is offering its more important that the available staff is responsive to the need.
Price calculation on basis of ratio of Disk space to Bandwidth ratio What is the amount that one must pay depends upon the disk space and bandwidth that is available with the host plan. Thus price must be ascertained keeping in mind the above two factors.
Popularity
Besides all of the above features it’s all in vain if web host is not offering an effective marketing plan. It is so because if a web host provider is not having good customers or members as well as steady growth of them, then it’s not possible for them to survive in this competitive world.
The popularity of a particular web-hosting provider can be judged by the number of awards won as well as the reviews of other websites and also from the ranking in Alexa traffic.
All the hosting providers listed on our Top 10 Cheap Web Hosting Directory are among the top 40,000 most visited websites in the world.
Trustworthiness, Speed and Uptime Guarantee
For any company if its website is not available or accessible, then it tends to not only loosing of customer but also it hampers credibility therefore its important to check if web host provider is guaranteeing at least 99% uptime. However to ensure maximum uptime, installation of redundant back-up systems is quite important “Redundant means having an alternative Internet connection on the verge of interruption of main Internet connection. It tends to minimize downtime and is a part of host provider’s management system For a matter of speed, how fast a site is depends upon the types of network connections. Other matters like routing, web server set up and local area networks also play an important part but still they are after the factor of Internet connection.
Many hosting providers still connect to the Internet through T1, or T3 connections. However the best one would be one using OC (Optical Carrier) lines.
A T1 line offers data transfer rate of 1.5 Mbps (megabits per second), while a T3 line supplies data transfer rates of 43Mbps. OC-1 refers to a circuit that transmits 51.85Mbps. Higher levels are multiples of that speed. Ultra-High Speed OC3 and OC12 lines offer 155Mbps and 622Mbps respectively. Some hosting providers have connections to major Internet backbones at the speed of OC48 (2488Mbps) and OC96 (4976Mbps).
Evaluating vendor partner relationships and their quality of service is a regular part of doing business. For the same reason that employees are held to performance standards, your vendor partner’s ability to perform is a critical factor in the success of your business. Your managed dedicated server hosting provider is no exception, but it can be difficult to make an accurate assessment in the areas that count the most.
The problem is that comparing managed dedicated server hosts isn’t the same as shopping around for a new home appliance. On the surface of it, most providers seem somewhat similar. Plans are largely defined by processor speed, memory and storage space, and bandwidth. On closer examination, there’s a tremendous difference in the approaches that providers take to deliver service. As many IT managers have learned the hard way, if you make a decision based solely on price point, you are asking for trouble.
White boxes versus brand names
One of the easiest ways for providers to cut corners is with white box server hardware. Throw some off brand motherboards, memory, hard drives and network cards into a rack mount server chassis and you’re ready to go. It might be fine for a computer hobbyist to build his own PCs with hardware that isn’t certified complaint, but is that what you want your business critical web site and other applications running on? Make sure your provider is using brand name high quality hardware.
Support- the 3am call
There was a lot of discussion during the election about the emergency 3am phone call. One of the reasons that resonated is because people actually get those late night calls, and no one knows that better than harried system administrators. When you have to call your provider in the middle of the night, will you be able to talk to an actual human being? Do yourself a favor and answer that question before you have an outage.
Enterprise class infrastructure- they’re already doing it
What’s the best way to know if you have a dedicated sever provider who can deliver world class service? Take a look at who their other customers are. If they have large enterprise customers, then they are already doing it. You benefit from tremendous economies of scale in bandwidth overhead, datacenter redundancy, 24/7/365 support, and technical expertise that would otherwise be budget breaking for the typical SMB. They will also offer related services like managed backup and network attached storage, firewalls, load balancers and other security devices, and high end application support for databases and other software. They can do this because, by virtue of their larger customers, those resources are already in place.
More than most vendor partners, your managed dedicated servers host is a crucial element to the success of your business. In many cases, that provider is responsible for the public face of your company. In a tight, competitive economy smart business are giving them every advantage. When it’s time to review your relationship with your managed dedicated server host, be sure to look deeper than price point and feature set. By measuring the added value of a high functioning host versus the cost of a poor performer, you can be sure your provider is delivering the service you need.