Over-Simplified Diagram of the Internet
	Host Server
	Internet Service Provider (i.e. AOL, Earthlink, PeoplePC)
	Your Computer

What is a web host? A web host is essentially a computer that "serves" or delivers your website to the public. When you type in a URL like http://www.soarinsolutions.com, your computer talks to your ISP, which finds where the page is located, and downloads the website from the web host to your computer. To better illustrate this, check out the diagram on the right.

How do I choose a hosting plan? Finding a web host that's right for you can be an arduous process. but Soarin Solutions is here to break it down for you. Here are the most critical things to look for:

• Storage Space - How large is your website?
  If you plan on having large images, music and movies on your website, you're going to need to have a place to put it all. A simple website with about 5-10 pages and minimal graphics will probably be less than 1 MB (MegaByte). A larger website, like www.FashionClub.com, with hundreds of pages, large images, flash and movies will be closer to 100 MB. Even larger sites with a bunch of video clips, like www.apple.com, would be closer to 1,000 MB. Find the plan with enough storage for you, but don't forget to leave enough room to grow!
• Bandwidth - How much traffic do you expect?
  Whenever anybody visits a website, they're downloading a copy of that website from the host to their own computer. When multiple people are on a website at the same time, the web hosts are serving multiple copies of the pages simultaneously. Most web hosts will limit the amount of bandwidth, or data transfer, per month. Choose the plan that's right for you, based on the number of visitors you expect to come to your website each month.
• Support - What happens if I need help?
  Let's face it; we don't live in a perfect world. Things happen. So when you have a question or a problem, the hosting company needs to be there for you. Some companies offer 24/7 live phone support; some offer phone support during business hours; others offer email support or no support at all. Soarin Solutions recommends that you call or email them with questions to see how easy it is to get in touch with a person. You never know when you'll need it!
• Price - How much should I pay?
  Prices vary based on the services that are offered, so we cannot recommend just one price. A good average price for a small website might be around $10-$15 per month, and a larger website might be hosted for about $35 per month. But no matter what price you pay, just make sure to do your research first!

How can Soarin Solutions help me? Lucky for you, we also offer our own hosting plans! You can feel secure in hosting your website with us because we guarantee that we will do everything possible to give you the best hosting experience. We always have experienced computer technicians on hand!

Tip - do you trust the maker?
To make sure that your host is reliable, do a Google search (or whichever search engine you prefer) on the name of the hosting company with the word "complaints" to see if anybody has registered any complaints. Or you could also check out sites like www.yourhostsucks.com.