Hosting

The number of web hosting companies is astounding. There are many great companies offering world-class services. The resource we found most useful and unbiased in rating many host providers is webhostmagazine.com. At Berkana Web Solutions we happen to use Jumpline.com because we determined the 'virtual private server' hosting option was right for our business model. This option won't be right for everyone. We have been very happy with the level of service we get on their toll-free support line.

I mention the toll-free support line because this can be one of those hidden costs when selecting a host provider. While the annual rate may be low, some do not offer a toll-free support line, that means you pay for every call you make to them. Consider also any limitations to file transfers. Some companies charge for any FTP, some hosts may place other limits on FTP. Obviously, these extra costs will ultimately increase the overall expense for the service.

Berkana Web Solutions does not resell hosting services, but we can help you make a choice that is right for your business.

• How To Choose The Right Web Hosting Plan For Your Business By Jeremy Gislason
  "Any business, whether they’re brick and mortar establishment or an online business, needs a web-site. A web-site needs a host. A web host stores all the .... generally available at a lower overall cost than traditional dedicated hosting, but provides the customer with much greater control and access to the web-site."

Maintenance

Keeping your site fresh and relevant is important. Since your web site is a reflection on your business and your commitment to quality, an outdated site will immediately give your visitors a negative impression. This will be very difficult, if not impossible, to overcome. We offer ongoing support and maintenence as a service, but also support the use of a content management system.

A content management system will allow your company to perform routine updates to your web site without the expense of a web designer. After some research and trails, we decided to use WebEdit by Interspire for our own site, and recommend it to our clients. The cost is reasonable and we like the dedicated support and knowledgeable staff that comes with a paid product. Among the many other choices are Contribute by Adobe, or the open source Joomla.