One of the many frequently asked question when it comes to web site creation is how can I get that web site running faster? Well, if you have a lot of images and video - you might want to look at optimizing both for use on the Web. Plain text travels fast, but once you get into some of the extra goodies that add flavor to your web site you might be running into trouble.

How Can I Optimize Images for the Web?

Images are probably the easiest to optimize for the Web. Not many people do it correctly though. Most image formats are compacted enough as it is - but you need to use a few of the best formats for the best performance. Use .png, .jpg, .gif and please oh please stay away from .bmp. The .png format would be my absolute favorite to get the smallest file size and be best looking picture once the compression of the image has been said and done. Read more »

I got an e-mail from a Web Hosting Show listener last week who wanted to know if I had any points or tips for web hosts as far as their web site content and layout goes? Looking out there at the market today from web host to web host a lot of the web sites are starting to look the same.

To keep things simple, I thought I’d break this up into two topics. There are the things that web hosts need to do and then you have the things I’d like to see web hosts do as far as their web site layouts go.

Layout Tips Web Hosts Must Do

• Comparison Between Web Hosting Plans
• A History of Your Company and Details About Your Server Locations
• Reviews of Your Web Hosting from Your Clients

Layout Tips Web Hosts Could Do

• Better Support Pages (Maybe Use a CMS like Joomla or WordPress)
• Notifications (via RSS) of Recent Changes, Downtime or Upgrades
• Easy Way to Access Support from the Front Page

All in all hopefully once a web host is done with their web site they can say it stands out from the rest and doesn’t look like “just another template”. Web hosts, if your looking for something different you can do - just try mixing things up a little ‘bit. Look at the competition and don’t do what they are doing. Individuality is an important key to running a web hosting business because without that your just another generic choice to the consumer.

Did you know you can make back the money that you have put into your hosting account? With the few tips and tricks I have for you - your hosting account can go from an expense to a income. The Web Hosting Show is on the air.

Download the Web Hosting Show, Episode 126!
Running Time: 13 minutes | File Size: 5.70 MB

Here are just a few topics from this week’s episode of the Web Hosting Show.

• Who is the Best Free Blog Web Host?
• Tips on How to Pay for Your Hosting Account!
• Windows Hosting - Why Should You Bother?
• What is the Top Solution for Free Web Site Hosting?

I’m back yet again to labor over the thing I love - and trying to make the web hosting world a better place not just for me, not just for you, not just for Cousin Larry with the fuzzy eyebrows. No, I want to make the web hosting industry better for everybody.

When it comes to dealing with customers, keeping “customer service” in mind is always a good thing. You want to make sure these people are being taken care of because no mater if your the guy who owns the hosting company or your just the grunt that works at one, good things can always come from having a happy customer.

Have are just a few personal customer service rules I always take into consideration when dealing with people who are having trouble or questions about their setup on the World Wide Web. These are from me to the web hosting customer support folks out there. Next time you answer a support ticket, take these tips into consideration. Read more »

Does the web hosting world need a union?

I might sound like a hippy - but I’ll rant and rave about it anyways. Plus I’ll share with you customer service tips for web hosts, five things that totally suck about web hosting and lot more on this episode of the Web Hosting Show.

Download the Web Hosting Show, Episode 125!
Running Time: 15 minutes | File Size: 6.54 MB

Here are just a few topics from this week’s episode of the Web Hosting Show.

• 5 Things That Suck about Web Hosting!
• Does the Web Hosting Industry Need a Governing Body?
• Give AOL’s Xdrive Another Shot, Really! Please?
• A Few Customer Relation Tips for any Web Hosting Worker

I’m wound up tighter than a customer support worker in India who just found out the guy down the street is making $1.25 an hour, while I’m left with only a donkey to show for my work.

Related Podcast Link: Listen to Episode 124!

When it comes to basic webmastering - one of the basics you learn about is watching your stats and learning how to read them to see if what you are doing is working. This is extremely helpful for web sites that have ever-changing dynamic content. The suggestions I am going to share with you though could even go for those people with static content as well.

Use Several Stats Packages!

Most web hosting accounts come with a few stats packages you can use to keep up with the incoming visitors, traffic and downloads. You might also want to use a few others. You don’t just want to hear one opinion on how your web site is doing. You want as many as you can get. Some other good (and free) solutions are: Read more »

Related Podcast Link: Listen to Episode 124!

Having a server or entire network go down is never a good thing. The web host should always have a good plan of action when this sort of thing comes up. They should be ready to inform the public about the problem and last but not least they should never ever panic.

Have a plan. Lets say a worst case scenario has just taken place for a web host, a server has gone down and they don’t exactly know the reason yet. What are they to do? Running around like a chicken with its head cut off is just not an option here. Web hosts need to make sure they have a good guy in charge, that can direct support to handle new e-mails and help desk tickets.

They need somebody who can send the system admins in after the server to find out the issue. Every web host should have a plan in place before bad things happen so that when they do happen the Web hosting support gurus know - ok, this is a code red so we go to backup plan 233. Read more »