If you want a web site then you need a host. Local bands have their own needs for hosting.
It is hard to find out what those needs are compared to price.
We need to define our needs so we can find the right host.
- Price - Most important to get a good low price.
- No Ads - You don't want any intrusive banner ads that you don't get paid for.
Free hosting makes its money this way. You have no say about the banners that are displayed.
- Domain Hosting - You want a host that can host your domain.com.
- Storage - Musicians will need more storage than most web site owners.
You will probably host a lot of pictures and mp3s.
You will need a good amount of storage. 20 - 30 megs of storage is a safe bet.
- Bandwidth - Bandwidth is how a musician gets screwed.
Every time a person downloads that 5meg mp3, you just used 5megs of bandwidth.
It really adds up.
- E-mail Accounts - Everyone in the band is going to want myname@myband.com.
You will need a couple e-mail accounts at your domain.
- Scripting - You will also want your host to have a wide variety of scripting compatibility.
You need to find a host that can provide these needs. Host have strengths and weaknesses.
You will have to shop around and find, what you think, the best bang for the buck.
The host I recommend for my clients is eHostingbiz.com.
Their packages are real nice for a tight budget. For $5 a month, they offer 50megs of storage, unlimited bandwidth, and they are easy to use.
They also allow you to make money off people you refer.
If you can refer 12 people your hosting is free.
Make sure that, whatever host you use, they are able to serve your site 24/7.
A good host can give you 99% uptime.
Check out their reputation with a search for their name.
If you find web sites dedicated to the down fall of that host, I might look at someone else.
You can also see if anyone has reviewed their service at epinions.com.
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