If you use a shared web service, you're allotted a certain amount of bandwidth every month. Each host has a different way of dealing with the situation if you go over that amount of traffic.

Some will suddenly shut your site down, which means your visitors will see only a page telling them you've exceeded your allotment. Others will allow your page to keep running, and will charge you for the extra bandwidth.

If your site gets popular quickly, you could find yourself facing hundreds or thousands of dollars of extra charges for that usage.

This is why it's vital to keep an eye on your bandwidth usage and the traffic that goes through your site every day. If it begins to look like you'll exceed your bandwidth allotment, it might be time to look into getting a dedicated server.

It might be tempting to use one of the shared hosting servers that claims to offer "unlimited" bandwidth. However, in the end, you'll probably find that there are limits written into the fine print.

Shared hosts also have a lot more down time than a dedicated server. By upgrading, you'll be increasing the amount of time your site is available to its visitors, and eventually attract even more.

Upgrading to a server of your own will improve reliability and performance, as well as giving you total control over your website.

You'll never have to deal with unexplained downtime, bandwidth limits, or restrictions on what scripts you can run. You can also run more sites on one server - as much as a few hundred. However, be sure that you plan for the extra cost.

In the end, having a dedicated server will bring in enough traffic to pay for itself, but you could be surprised by the initial cost.

There's a setup fee, and a dedicated server can cost as much as $200/month. However, if you stop and think about it, you'll realize that that amount per month in exchange for reliability is a good deal, versus poor reliability and occasionally being charged several hundred dollars for bandwidth overage.

Put an end to the nightmare of shared hosting look into your options for a dedicated server. You won't have to deal with problems from scripts other users are running, downtime, or extra charges just because you've become popular.

If you're happy with your existing provider, ask about their options for dedicated servers. If you've had to deal with bad customer service and other problems, however, you might be better off shopping around.

If your site is growing in popularity, keep an eye on the bandwidth your visitors are using. If you don't pay very close attention, your site's popularity could end up costing you a lot of money.

Instead of having to worry every month whether or not you'll exceed your allotment, try switching to a dedicated server that will put an end to unexpected fees and extra downtime.

In the end, a dedicated server may cost a bit more, but it's well worth it. Control, reliability, and all the bandwidth you need to serve your site's visitors make a dedicated server cheap for the price.