Some people might say that this Web hosting podcast is sort of like one big list of FAQs. I get a lot of frequently asked questions on or about the Web hosting industry so in the next few weeks I want to share with you some of the most common questions I get - and give you all the answers you seem to be looking for.

Who is the best Web host out there today?

Can’t say that I have a favorite, because I am trying to do my best to stay fair and balanced here. I would say shop for what you need and find the host that matches your budget.

Where is the best place to buy new domain names?

Well with this one I will be willing to say that GoDaddy.com has been pretty reliable for me in this department. I don’t know if I would buy anything else from them - but as far as domain names go you should be in good hands.

Why do some Web hosts offer unlimited services?

It is a gimmick to sell more Web hosting accounts. I have said it before and I will say it again. There is no such thing as unlimited in Web hosting. Every server has its limits.

Why would I want to get a dedicated or semi-dedicated Web hosting plan?

Well if you find yourself needing more of the server’s resources, such as RAM or CPU usage then a dedicated plan would be a good way to go. This way you have a little more room to stretch your legs and you can work the server a little harder as well.

Why do all Web hosts seem to like to put pictures of servers on their home page?

Maybe they think there are some sick freaks out there that get turned on by all the metal and hard working server action? For the most part I think they just want everybody to know they do hosting and hey, thats what a server looks like.

Related Podcast Link: Listen to Episode 100!

Need to know how to kill off your spam? No need to hire a hit man. I’ll let you know how to do it with your own SpamAssassin. Also customer service tips, often asked question in hosting and some of the latest headlines from inside the industry. The Web Hosting Show is now on the air.

Download the Web Hosting Show, Episode 100!
Running Time: 15 minutes | File Size: 6.95 MB

Here are just a few topics that we discussed on this week’s episode of the Web Hosting Show.

• Is “Unlimited Hosting” an Overused Term?
• Simple Steps on How to Use SpamAssassin!
• General Tips for Customer Services Workers!
• ICANN Slams RegisterFly Yet Again?

The name might be the Web Hosting Show but we try to cover more than just your general hosting topics here. I like to cover all ends and every angle of the business.

From Web hosting help to development questions to running a better hosting company. We have something here for both Web hosts and regular old webmasters to learn from.

Link of the Week: Quick Stats on Lunarpages.com

Well after last week’s release of the Web Hosting Show’s Ecommerce Web Hosting Guide, I got a lot of E-mail from you. I figured I could spend a few minutes here answering some of the most frequently asked questions about it that I got in the past week. This first question comes from Barry.

Hey Mitch, I want to start an Online store but I am not sure which route I should go down. I only have a few products to be sold and I think going for a shopping cart might be too much too soon. Is there an easier alternative than installing a shopping cart script? Thanks! Love the podcast!

Yes, after getting your first E-mail and we talked back and forth a few times, I think I have a good idea of what you are looking to do. I think you would be alright with just using Paypal buttons for now. Just list your products via a regular old Web page and put the Paypal payment buttons under each product. This is the quickest and easiest way to turn yourself into an ecommerce Web site.

Later on down the road you might want to invest the time and money into getting a shopping cart - but no reason to do that right now, especially if you aren’t sure how the business will pan out in the long run.

Now Gene wants to know about easier ecommerce solutions.

Mitch I really enjoyed your podcast special last week. My problem is I don’t want to be bothered with doing all of this. I would just like a few branded items and an easy way to produce them. Any thoughts?

Sure, I mean honestly you don’t have to do any of the stuff I suggested last week if you want somebody else to do all of the virtual heavy lifting.

Check out CafePress.com and get yourself a store setup there. From there you can upload your own images to be placed on mugs, shirts, mouse pads and more. I have used it before and I can vouch for their professionalism. Everything I have ordered through there has made it here and is made of quality goods.

Have any other ecommerce, Web development or Web hosting questions to ask? Get them sent to me with your name and URL and you might get yourself featured on the Web Hosting Show podcast.

+ Check Out the Podcast This Was From! Listen to the Web Hosting Show, Episode 94!

You have seen them, you might have even used them - what are the advantages and disadvantages of free Web hosting solutions? I’ll look at both sides of the story.

Also on today’s show I’ll let you know about image hosting, the latest industry news and answer some of your ecommerce questions. Buckle up and sit tight, the Web Hosting Show is on the air.

Download the Web Hosting Show, Episode 94!
Running Time: 12 minutes | File Size: 5.86 MB

Here are just a few topics that we discussed on this week’s episode of the Web Hosting Show.

• Why Should You (or Why Shouldn’t You) Get Free Hosting?
• Answers to Some of Your Ecommerce Questions
• Should More Hosts Get Into the Image Hosting Business?
• Celebration Ideas for the Web Hosting Show’s Second Year!

Like your favorite pair of plastic pants on a Friday night, the Web Hosting Show is back and is more than happy to be bringing you the latest and greatest from every corner of the World Wide Web. I got a lot of positive feedback after last week’s special Ecommerce Hosting Guide edition of the broadcast. I want to thank all that sent me kind words. Might have to do that type of dedicated guide show again sometime.

Link of the Week: Get Free Press! Let Me Interview You!

Now back on podcast 86, I did a lot of talking about how Web hosts need to make sure they have some sort of knowledge base for their customers and workers to get quick and easy answers to questions that may come up more than once. I guess you could consider it a type of Web hosting help site that the Web host runs itself.

Well, I have found a very nice back end for you to make that knowledge base into a reality.

KnowledgebasePublisher is an open source publishing tool that will allow you to export the brains of your customer support and put it all on the Web. It is so easy to use that you can be managing knowledge base on your Web site right from your own web browser.

KnowledgebasePublisher allows a content administrator in your company to easily add/edit/delete and post current information to your website at any time, day or night.

Some of the included features are:

• Related Articles
• Users Can Ask Questions
• Protection for Categories
• Unlimited Categories

There is a lot more to love from this tool as well. Who knows, I might install it and get it running for the Web Hosting Show sometime soon. It has been a long time since I have been this impressed with a Web site back end script. All you need to do is install it, personalize it a little, and the rest of the work is done for you.

+ Check Out the Podcast This Was From! Listen to the Web Hosting Show, Podcast 88!

Now this is an idea I have had for a while that any Web host could make good use of. If they opened it up to the public, then they could make good use out of it as well. I would like to see more Web hosts start up support wikis for problem situations that might come up. Now I am not talking about your standard help site or forums.

I want to see something that both your customers and support staff could update. I could see this setup very easily using a wiki. It would have to be moderated, of course, but it could really connect both the Web host with it’s support staff and it’s users as far as what questions are out there and what needs to be fixed.

If you didn’t want to give you clients full access to this type of system then you could at least setup a place where they could post questions. Not questions that need to be answered as soon as possible. Questions that are more general that might come in handy knowing if a bad situation ever pops up in the future.

As far as I know, there are not any Web hosts that do this just yet - but if you know of one or you are one please, let me know! I would be more than interested to check out your setup and see how you handle your own Web hosting knowledge base.

+ Check Out the Podcast This Was From! Listen to the Web Hosting Show, Podcast 86!

Tis the season to be thinking about what you are getting your loved ones. Now will you knit them a sweater with love and care? Probably not - that takes way too much time. I’ve got the perfect stocking stuffer for you to give and I can promise nobody will be looking to return your gift anytime soon. Ready or not, here I come because the Web Hosting Show is now on the air.

Download the Web Hosting Show, Podcast 86!
Running Time: 10 minutes | File Size: 4.15 MB

Howdy there folks, I am your chosen one and media rock star of the Web hosting industry Mitch Keeler, and I want to welcome you to the number one Web hosting podcast out there today - the Web Hosting Show. This is the radio show, podcast, netcast, audio transmission that you need to listen to week in and week out to know how you can make the Web hosting industry work for you.

• Giving the Gift of Web Hosting for the Holidays
• How and Why Web Hosts Should Create a Knowledge Base

So grab your Thanksgiving Day leftovers, grab a loved one and listen to the number one Web hosting podcast across the nation. I can promise you if you are at least not entertained, then you will be informed. If you are not informed, then I can nearly promise you will be entertained. Who knows, maybe even a small selection of you will be both entertained and informed.