When looking for an ecommerce web host you don’t want any old cheap web site host. There are special requirements that you need to look for in ecommerce web site hosting that are above and beyond basic hosting. I’ll start by covering the basic types of hosting servers, then we’ll go into some other ecommerce web hosting needs.
A shared hosting server is just an empty room in cyberspace. Using an analogy of a bricks and mortar store in a strip mall, the mall owners provide the empty space. They provide the electricity. They may also provide maintenance and security for the building, but that’s usually about all.
A shared or virtual server is like you leasing a section of the mall. You might or might not receive maintenance and security, depending on the landlord, but you can then rent out space to other, smaller businesses in your section of the strip mall.
With a dedicated server you get a complete server. The hosting company provides power and an operating system, generally with a control panel interface, but the rest is up to you. You have to install software, upgrades, do the backups, etc. from offsite. Your server sits collocated with a bunch of other servers all tied in to a major artery on the Internet backbone.
You can also, for a fee, choose managed hosting where you lease the server and contract out to a service that does the mainenance and upgrades.
The first option, renting space on a web host, is suitable for 99% of the people, even those in Ecommerce. However, there is more to it (of course) than just grabbing a $3.95/month host and figuring that’s all you need.
Spam is the scourge of the Internet. It’s like cockroaches that you can’t seem to get rid of. Spam filters are the pesticide you use to try and get rid of Spam, but there are certain limitations if you are running an ecommerce business.
A database is, in simple terms, a searchable repository of data. A customer database would include names, addresses, email addresses, purchases (including date of purchase and the amount of purchase), whether they are subscribed to a newsletter, etc.
A good mail list will have multiple autoresponders, allow you to send sequential emails on a schedule determined by you, automatically double opt-in and opt-out subscribers
Just like your home computer, a web server needs an operating system to run.You have an option of two basic operating systems on your web host account: Windows and Linux.
A domain name is registered with a Registrar. It translates the IP Address given you by your web host into a name that people can understand.
