By now you are probably wondering why we have so many of what we call the “best web hosting” providers listed on our Top 10 List. This is because all other top web hosting lists are wrong. They choose to evaluate each web host in relation to the other hosts and assign an arbitrary number to them to show they are the best or the worst.

Notice that we do not have any numeric values listed on our website and while one web hosting provider may be listed above another, this does not mean they are better or worse for YOU.

Instead, we decided to change things up a bit and rank each web host based on the values you care about most: Support, Features, Price, and Functionality.

So how is this different? Simple – each host is #1 for its own reason or we would not be showcasing them on our website. So each web host we provide information on has something they work best for, as we have discovered along our web hosting work and research that one web hosting provider is perfect to host a business or e-business, while they are very poor for personal web hosting or blogging. Then there are other web hosts who are best-suited for personal or family web hosting but really don’t have the features necessary for the business world.

Here is a detailed list of our current Top Web Hosting providers and what they are #1 for to help you find the perfect web host.

IX Web Hosting - #1 for Overall Web Hosting - IX Web Hosting is great for businesses, blogs, personal websites, adult hosting, and nearly everything else you can imagine to use your website for. Check out our IX Web Hosting Review for further details.

ThinkHost - #1 for Eco Friendly Web Hosting - ThinkHost is green hosting at its best, meaning they are conscious of the environment in everything they do. Use them for personal websites, blogs, and web hosting projects based on personal needs.

DreamHost - #1 Webmaster Choice Web Hosting - DreamHost is definitely one of the most popular web hosting providers on the planet and for good reason. Use DreamHost for music and media hosting, a simple green hosting solution, or blog.

EasgyCGI - #1 Advanced Web Hosting - Do you like Windows? You’ll love EasyCGI! They have various web hosting options for your small business, Fortune 500 enterprise, or dedicated server. Not for newbies, but great for professionals.

StartLogic - #1 Cheap Web Hosting - You need a website and you need it cheap, then StartLogic is for you. They have hosting for as little as $5.95/month, which can help you get your blog online ASAP.

BlueHost - #1 Secure Web Hosting - 24/7 Support was literally defined by BlueHost, so you can rest assured that you’ll be taken care of and your website will be backed up. This is great for ecommerce and big businesses who need the extra attention.

HostMonsster - #1 Professional Web Hosting - Business hosting, ecommerce, affordable servers, reliable support, and even personal assistance for your ebusiness needs. Easy to work with too!

FatCow - #1 Ecommerce Web Hosting - Ecommerce web hosting has never been easier with FatCow. You can create your ecommerce shop in 3 steps with online tutorials and design assistance. Perfect for beginners and work-at-home moms.

GoDaddy - #1 Domain Web Hosting - You need 50 domains and you need them cheap, hosted, and with plenty of email access. In that case, GoDaddy is for you! These guys are known worldwide for domain registration and secure hosting.

HostingZoom - #1 Reliable Web Hosting - 24/7 support backed by incredibly web hosting professionals means they are perfect for small businesses, enterprise solutions, and work at home corporations.

Many people have asked us what it takes to actually build a website from start to finish: i.e. How long does it take and how much does it cost?

Building a website can be extremely easy and can take you less than a few hours if you plan the building of it ahead of time! Here are some tips and tricks for getting your website online in under 5 hours!

1) Write your content and get your images ready first.

Yep, before you sit down to purchase web hosting, domain name, and start building, come up with your text, save your images, and even get your videos, music, and other production tools ready in advance. Having these at hand will speed up the process of creating your website.

2) Choose your website builder or templates.

This may require doing a little research and you might need to compare web hosts in the process, but find out which content management system, website builder, or web design template you’re going to use to actually put your site online and make it look good. Our biggest recommendations go to:

* WordPress Web Hosting – For this, we would recommend IX Web Hosting, ThinkHost, or HostMonster. They can all help you get WordPress up and running with no programming or design experience required. Plus there a gazillion Free WordPress Theme sites you can choose your design from. Easy, easy, easy.

* Joomla Web Hosting – For this, we recommend IX Web Hosting, DreamHost, or BlueHost, all of which have Joomla tools that help you install and get started without having to know a thing about technology! Plus, sites like iJoomla.com offer Joomla Extensions and design tools that help you make Joomla work for you and look good to boot.

* Web Design Templates from DreamTemplate. These guys know website design, and their templates are super cheap. You only have to pay one-time and they can help you install them. These templares are compatible with all of our Top 10 Web Hosting providers.

3) Pick the Best Web Host and Build!

Once you log in, you can start building your website immediately. That means less time spent worrying.

Now for the best part – you can design, build, and host your website for under $100 per year. This is around $6.95 or LESS per month! That’s less than 25 cents/day. You really cannot lose with these easy website hosting deals.

You’ve bought the best web hosting plan you could find. You’ve registered your domain name and picked out a website template, added your site content, optimized your links and text and images, and even learned how to FTP in the process! Maybe you have even added an ecommerce storefront to help your customers purchase products with your company or you have begun blogging about your industry, customers, discounts, or philosophies.

Whatever you have done, none of it matters unless people know where to find your website. Period. This is why people spend a fortune on advertising (both online and offline) through SEO or search engine optimization practices.

But there’s one thing many professional SEO companies don’t want you to know – the simple fact is, you can advertise your website successfully yourself, without spending a dime. I’ll repeat that, as it’s extremely important – you can advertise and get your website noticed, for free! There are two ways:

1) Purchase Hosting From our Recommended Web Hosts

If you haven’t yet purchased hosting, we recommend the following web hosts to businesses, ecommerce ventures, or bloggers:

* IX Web Hosting
* ThinkHost
* Hostmonster
* StartLogic

These web hosts are considered the best web hosts in the world and are ranked highly in our Top 10 Web Hosting List as a guide to help you choose the best provider. We are telling you about them here because every single host mentioned offers a package of FREE online advertising credits! That’s right, 100% free advertising for your business. So sign up with any of these best web hosts and save big on SEO.

By advertising yourself, you will not only learn the best practices for your specific niche or industry but gain relevant experience in that industry. You are in charge and you don’t have to hire staff to assist you. You are the boss.

2) Use Google & Yahoo to Monetize Your Website

If you already have web hosting, you can simply signup with Google and/or Yahoo to advertising your website using what’s called Pay-Per-Click services: i.e. you only pay when a potential customer clicks on your advertisement. Plus, your ad shows up first in Google or Yahoo sponsored results, so you get better business and more of it!

A recommended budget is around $100-200/month for a small business or $200-1000 if you really want to drive those sales.

The good thing is, Google and Yahoo let you experiment, and there are multiple ways to advertise using their PPC (pay per click) technology.

There has been a lot of talk recently about ‘being green’, and as Kermit the Frog says, “It’s not easy being green.” At least, that’s what a lot of webhosts out there will tell you, because 1) being green doesn’t come cheap and 2) becoming a green web host isn’t easy. It’s also looked down upon by certain types of people, while revered by others, so green web hosting companies can be at the top of the industry in certain circles but laughed at in others.

There are a couple things you should know firsthand about green hosting:

  • Green Hosting is also known as Eco-Friendly Web Hosting or Sustainable Web Hosting. Any way you slice it, green hosts are trying to better the environment and provide quality hosting, all in the same breath.
  • Green hosters mainly use carbon offsetting to prove their level of commitment. Carbon offsetting represents greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and companies can purchase or trade these requirements.
  • Some Green Hosts like ThinkHost will plant trees for every customer who purchases web hosting, which offsets some of the destruction we cause in the modern world.
  • Energy conservation is possibly the biggest technique web hosting providers can use to be green, though don’t be fooled by companies that say they are Green Hosting but this is the only thing they’ve done for the environment. Energy conservation can come in many forms, such as reducing the air conditioning in data centers to the maximum temperature so servers will function properly or using energy saving lightbulbs and/or appliances. Closing down call centers half days to reduce energy consumption, offering recycling bins instead of trash cans, using only recycled goods instead of mass produced ones, and using solar energy are also big energy savers.

Green Hosting is not cheap, so often green web hosting companies cost a bit more. Luckily, one of the leading Green Web Hosting companies, ThinkHost, is also an affordable green web host, so you can rest assured you are protecting the environment as well as purchasing cheap web hosting that will last you a lifetime!

SPECIAL PROMOTION FROM THINKHOST GREEN HOSTING

ThinkHost Green HostingThe Best Web Hosting List has teamed up with ThinkHost to provide you with this very special offer. Who says earth friendly full featured hosting has to cost an arm and a leg - ThinkHost offers huge packages for $9.95 a month! And now you can get a $20 discount, just by clicking through any of our links and using the coupon code THD20

ThinkHost, based in Portland, has been providing quality web hosting services to the world since 1999.  Aside from providing everything most site owners would need, ThinkHost has a very serious commitment to progressive business principles and ensuring their services are as earth-friendly as possible. In fact, they are powered by 100% renewable energy - a solar and wind power mix!  ThinkHost also sponsors many non-profit organizations - 10% of their revenue value is plowed directly back into community projects!