24Shells Blog

How to further compress your website…

When the idea is to save as much bandwidth and place less burden on the server, a successful strategy is to compress files and thus remove unnecessary codes and tags. This compression driven, load lightening exercise will ensure that you make optimum use of your allotted server space.

To this end, begin by eliminating all optional white spaces and HTML coding gaps. While you do this, it might appear that only few character spaces are being tackled, but even these few extra characters do matter. Especially, if you take the case of HTML codes, there are a lot of unnecessary gaps. There’ll be needless default values and Meta tags, which merely increase the size of a web page and thus lead to slower loading qualms. Additionally of course, bigger the web page, higher is the data traffic reaching your server. If this angle can be taken care of, why pointlessly sacrifice any amounts of bandwidth. There are a lot of tools which can help you achieve the objective. For instance there is the free HTML optimizer, which lets you easily optimize the code. All you need to do is enter the HTML code and the free optimizer shall deal with all excessive white gaps and will reduce the web page. Another option in the category is HTML Tidy. It is a cleaner that can be used to remove blank spaces and tackle tags. Manually or with a software tool, you can erase all excessive white spaces and that shall in no way affect your web page’s display.

Next step is compressing the CSS files. Again, like HTML code, CSS files too can be unnecessarily bulky. Blame it once again on the spaces and breaks. A little effort and the tightened CSS files will make quite a difference. In fact in some cases, the CSS files are in a terrible mess and then for the sake of savings, the CSS file compression exercise really is essential. Additionally, of course, with these tips, viewer experience is enhanced and thus more visitors feel like returning to your website for an improved web experience. CSS compressor programs are many and they can help accomplish the task. PHP techniques can also be used. CSS Tidy too is available. Whichever, tool you deploy, just make sure that your CSS files are cleaner and optimized.

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You pay for your bandwidth … use wisely!

When a web host sells you packages, you bargain for bandwidth. Makes sense, but then when you use this bandwidth, why do you never try to economize? In fact, a lot of times it happens that people tend to exceed the allotted bandwidth limit and in response server crashes. Upon facing such incidents, you contact web host and the rectification process starts. Would it not then make sense to deploy a few measures that could help you reduce the server load and thus restrict scope of such mishaps? This is especially critical in case of expanding websites. As business grows and data expands, web owners and web managers can take a few steps which can help deal with the shortages effectively. In fact, these steps will also ensure that your web pages take fewer seconds to load.

Images vs. CSS & Text

For the sake of visual presentation, we often end up crowding our website pages with images. Yes, they look impressive, but nonetheless images radically impact the pace of web pages. Of course, images ensure that your styled text looks as it is irrespective of the situation, but for this purpose using as many of them is not a great idea. In the deal, you end up using more of your bandwidth and thus putting excessive load on the server.

A solution to this problem is offered by CSS text. With CSS codes, you can create similar impact and the coding will not impact your server capacity. However, if at places you still feel that only images can suffice, you can still save on your bandwidth by keeping the below mentioned measures in mind:

• Substitute larger graphics with smaller ones. Heavy images require considerable download time and thus if you can find alternative smaller pictures, the problem is half solved. It is best to put up images which are less than 12KB. You can also make alterations to your images by using edit software programs, which shall again help with the endeavor.
• Use the right image format. Many think that JPG or GIF or PNG are all the same, but when it comes to saving bandwidth, they play different roles. Basically, if it is a photographic image, JPG is the format. GIF on the other hand is for flat color images and PNG is good for both, but images in this format are not for mobile displays. In order to reduce server load, save images in different formats and depending upon the usability and image size, use the preferred format. In case you are using JPG format, to the extent possible reduce quality and that shall again make your image lighter. In case of GIF format, lessen the index colors. The exercise might take a little extra time, but it is definitely worth it.
• The cropped version of an image is always smaller than it’s original and thus if you must put up more images on your website, crop them first.

More tips shall follow in subsequent entries…

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24Shells is awarded Top Pick Web Host 2011

24Shells was recently awarded “Top Pick Web Host 2011″ by the Web Hosting Search team. 24Shells has proven over past 8 years that the sincerity in customer service results in strong growth in the Hosting Business and that leads to customer satisfaction. From Web Hosting, VPS hosting to Dedicated Servers, 24Shells assures quality service and professional support with friendly touch.

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Is any web hosting company good enough?

There are various companies currently operating in the domain of web hosting. However, when you buy a domain name for your first website, this very fact tends to confuse. With too many choices available, the selection process complicate. Of course, you will compare various providers and will prepare your checklist in terms of hosting space and pricing, etc., but actually finalizing one particular web host is not easy. Though, there is no rue of thumb here, but to enable decision making we have a suggestion. Scrutinize internally and externally.

External scrutiny

By external scrutiny we mean weighing the various external options, in this case the web hosts. Prepare a list of web hosts which you feel the good. Good actually means credible. Once the list is with you, analyze these web hosts on various parameters. Check out their pricing policy, offers, capacity, and previous track records and thereby narrow down the list.

Internal scrutiny

Once you are through with the external scrutiny proceedings, it is time to initiate the internal scrutiny process. By internal scrutiny the idea is to emphasize upon your website’s requirements. Not all websites are identical and therefore, neither are their needs similar. Each website has its own demands and thus the web host you select should be able to fulfill your website’s requirements.

To understand this better, let’s consider a few examples.

Case I: On a lot of occasions it has been noticed that people are not very clear on their ideas and perhaps are looking for a cheap platform, whereby they can try and test results. For such purposes free web hosts are best suited. Of course you wouldn’t enjoy the kind of technical backing with a free web host, but at negligible price, you can launch your ideas. With time, if you feel you’d like to go full swing, transfer to an established web host like 24shells. You’d be happy to know that 24shells does not levy any transfer costs and thus shifting is easy and cheap.

Case II: Many small and medium scale businesses and individuals require a website simply for the sake of web presence. If you too fall in this category, you need not pick a web host who is not very flexible with the pricing structure for smaller websites. Basically, you do not require much bandwidth and thus a restrictive plan is suitable. But of course, because you are a professional setup, you can experiment with a free web host as this might require you to compromise upon your website’s security. And additionally of course, you’d require email ids and regular assistance. This criterion will help you further shortlist.

Case III: For an established setup requiring frequent data exchanges a robust web hosting schema is a must. If your website is going to frequently cater to various online visitors, it is important that the system is well protected. In such cases you can simply ignore those web hosts who are not as well equipped.

The key notion here is to emphasize upon your website’s needs. Depending upon the traffic and web activity you can select a suitable web host.

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Detailed Info on Reseller Web Hosting

Reseller web hosting is a simple model, which as the name suggests, works on the idea of reselling. In this case, hosting space and bandwidth is purchased from hosting services provider and in smaller chunks is resold. Like in any other business where a retailer buys from a wholesaler and enjoys volume discounts, in this case too, bulk space is purchased at an economical cost. The buyer now resells web hosting to various buyers, at a higher price and thus makes profits.

This reseller web hosting model is most visible in case of web designing firms. These firms buy web hosting space from a hosting provider like 24shells. Now when clients contact such web design firms for designing their websites, they offer complimentary or discounted web space. This is basically a marketing exercise, which helps win clients. For a company or individual, this is a convenient proposition because they need not contact two different vendors for designing and server space. Moreover, site maintenance responsibilities too are taken care of by the same person.

Reseller web hosting as a small scale business

Reseller web hosting is an economical business proposition. For a new business setup, buying and selling web space is money wise viable. Moreover, for new entrants reselling is a suitable learning platform. This model does not require the manager to understand detailed technicalities and thus there is the option of extending web hosting services, without making too many mistakes. In fact, a reseller has to pay attention only towards branding and marketing efforts. Technical issues are all handled by the actual web host. Moreover, a reseller need not bother about the infrastructure. Again, web host who sells space will take care of this facet. In fact, this is the reason why reseller web host need not spare much amounts on the business setup.

But this does not mean that no money is required at all. Of course, one has to pay for the web space and very importantly, budgets have to be created for marketing and advertising expenses. This business too faces rampant competition and thus too survive one must focus upon brand building.

Brand building in case of reseller web hosting works in two important ways. One, you make contacts and win customers. Second, you provide excellent post sales customer services and thus flourish. If there is a gap in any of these fronts, the web hosting reselling business will not last for long. Thus, while technical know-how is not as pertinent, developing personal relations is critical. In fact, it is for this reason that many companies prefer these middle men. A web host has a huge client base and to attend all, communication systems are devised. The personal touch is missing. While few would argue that as long as good services are available, this is immaterial, for another group, personalized services are preferred, even if they have to pay more. Thus, reseller web hosting is a good proposition for you, if you can thrive on relationships.

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Education and web hosting … is the link beneficial?

Once upon a time, children and learners and educators were found in libraries. Today too they are found in libraries, only that these libraries have undergone a huge transition. No longer is a library a silent and dreary place, full of racks filled with books. When we now say library, we mean a virtual space where not only books from published authors are stored, but there also is vast information, as polled in by many. In other words, education and learning now begins with a concept called web hosting.

World Wide Web is the place where students learn and teachers teach. Instead of physical classrooms there are virtual learning rooms. In this schema, the school or college address need not necessarily be a street or road address which can be found on the map. The address now is a name which can be found at a web hosting server. Virtual learning or online learning is a revolution in itself. All thanks to this learning platform, many aspiring students who earlier due to lack of time or money could not pursue education, now are able to study at their choice of time and pace. Along with this flexibility, the online schools offer tremendous opportunities. Now even professionals can pursue higher education, while they work. Students too can enroll in multiple courses and thus can broaden horizons. With web hosting based schools, tutors too are able to reach out to larger groups of students. Online discussions are enabled, which not only add depth to the learning programs, but also help educators earn better.

Web hosting in the education domain is particularly a boon for students residing in far flung areas. For these students pursuing full time education from a school proves very expensive and difficult. Distance acts as a major barrier. This problem too is tackled by the influence of web hosting in the education sector. Cheap web hosting plans have ensured that education is now economical and well-suited.

There’s another way in which web hosting and thus internet has benefited the education sector. Online advertisements and associations have importantly enabled proliferation. All credible schools and universities have their online portals. These websites help students find as much info on any educational setup. Just type a course name in a search engine and various universities offering the mentioned course will be flashed in a second. Alongside, a host of websites will be yielded in the research, which will help searcher find all about the course nitty-gritty. Search results will also list rankings and thus one would know which all institutes are good or average. This is the power of information. Decision making is convenient with the linkage between education sector and web hosting.

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