For your website to be part of the Internet, it needs a name and address. The name is the domain name you register which is the address to your website. You get your address by buying web hosting from a website hosting service. It then installs your website on its server which is connected to the Internet. Now you're part of the World Wide Web and surfers can find you. In this article, we'll look at how to find the right professional website hosting service for your needs.

First, let's look at the types of website hosting plans available. The most basic plan is known as shared website hosting. This means that a number of websites are hosted on the same server. However, if your site is extremely resourceful and intensive, you might choose a dedicated website hosting service. This is an expanded form of dedicated hosting in which your website hosting company manages your dedicated server for you.

So how do you go about choosing the ideal website hosting service for yourself where there are thousands of website design companies that offer professional web hosting services? First you have to determine the specific requirements of your website hosting. The first requirement is technical. It covers the server platform and hardware.

The server platform is the operating system the server runs and is either Windows or a Unix OS such as Linux. Each OS has its own set of features. Your choice depends on the type of website you're planning. If you're just going to use static web pages, then either is fine. But if you're looking to incorporate dynamic content such as databases or shopping carts, you need to consider what type of server the scripts run on. For example, if you're planning on using Microsoft applications such as MS Access, or SQL server, then you'll need a server running Windows, all these technical issues can be discussed with professional web hosting services, most of these services are also offered by professional web hosting companies in the UK.

Then there are hardware requirements such as disk space and bandwidth. These determine the amount of data you can store on your website and the volume of data you can send and receive. These specifications can vary between different professional web hosting companies in the UK.

Similarly, your bandwidth requirement will depend on your anticipated site traffic. It's wise to err on the side of caution as a data volume higher than that stipulated in your agreement can attract high surplus charges. An important related consideration is scalability. You should look for website hosting services that allow future seamless upgrading should your requirements grow in the future.

Next, there's the matter of your actual operating needs. This concerns such matters as how many email accounts and sub domains you require. As a minimum you should go for hosting that offers 20 email addresses and 20 sub-domains. But these numbers can be much higher depending on your requirements. For example, some hosting plans allow unlimited domains. You should also make sure your website hosting services offers a control panel which gives a graphical interface to access configuration and statistics.

Finally there's the matter of reliability, customer service and support. Your website hosting Service Company should be able to guarantee 99% server up time. And 24-7 technical support is essential.

So how do you go about looking for a website hosting services? First, you have to determine the technical requirements outlined above. Then look for established companies and make a shortlist. Next, check on forums and review sites for reviews and feedback on your short listed professional web hosting services companies. The length of time the firm has been in business is a good indicator of their level of professionalism and stability. Cost is important but it shouldn't be your main criterion.

There are many professional web hosting companies in the UK for you to choose from. Often website design companies or web design and development companies will offer this service. It's generally best to entrust website design companies which can provide all your web development needs. This results in efficiency and clear communication as you only have to deal with one website Design Company.