When we talk about Internet Service Providers, we are generally referring to those companies which offer web hosting space.  Sometimes they will provide Internet connections, web design and other services, such as registration with Internet search engines.

Web Hosting services are available in a huge range of prices and services, and given the scope of the Internet, your web hosting provider can be located pretty much anywhere.  There are a number of major service providers, such as Geocities, Tripod, Xoom, Homestead and Angelfire, which offer free personal web hosting space.  The catch here is that they generally require you to display Banner advertising with your site, and this can become a nuisance, particularly for the people who visit your site.

When selecting a service provider to host your web site, it all comes down to a careful balance of price and quality of service.  Here are some important criteria:

• How long have they been in business?
• Who are some of their current clients?
• How much storage space do they offer, and does this include e-mail accounts?
• What kind of technical support and usage statistics are available?
• Can you or your business have your own unique domain name?
• What types of security measures are in place to protect your data from hackers?

Next: Planning a web site