First of all, the question arises, "What Are Web Hosts?" They are the service provider companies that give a place to the net users on their servers that provide space on their servers for internet users. Web hosts provide online systems for internet connectivity and for storing information, image mediums and other internet content to their users. Most reasonably sized web hosts generally have numerous different hosting packages available with size requirement and a choice of shared or dedicated hosting facilities as different options. If a company wants web as a medium of conducting business, then selection of web host is a crucial first step in any internet marketing strategy.

So, what is the difference between a shared host or a dedicated host then? Shared hosting occurs when you pay a monthly fee to a third-party service provider in order to use their equipment for your web server. The service provider handles everything ranging from backup and security to setting up the server and managing the bandwidth. The sole task of your company, in such a scenario, will simply be website content development.

Dedicated hosting, as opposed to shared server hosting, is mostly used by big corporations and businesses that see a large amount of traffic. Dedicated hosting service simply means that your web server sits on its own box which is partly managed by the service provider. It is the complete opposite of shared server hosting, and means that the server is entirely dedicated to your needs and web traffic alone.

Both types of hosting scenarios come with their own unique features. The most important benefit of shared hosting is the cost factor. Since you are sharing the server with other websites, it is a very economical option. One of the most important considerations is the level and efficiency of the technical support provided. No systems are flawless so when things go wrong, you need to be able to fix the problems as quickly as possible. A good hosting provider will have technical experts available on their support desk who can assist you with any problems. The stability of the server is another important consideration. A well-maintained and managed server should seldom go down and this is what you want from a web host - a website that is accessible 24/7. Security is handled by the service provider and you need not worry about it. The web host also provides the required hardware, so you do not have invest any money there. The only potential problem with shared hosting is that bandwidth is limited, so if your web page becomes very popular you might find yourself running out of bandwidth quickly.

Dedicated hosting can offer increased speed since the server is solely dedicated to your website alone. The response time will be much faster since there are smaller queues that the visitors have to wait in, helping to maintain the level of traffic on your website. With a dedicated host, the entire bandwidth available on the server lies at your disposal. Since you are monitoring and regulating the server yourself, the costs incurred by you will be greater. You will have to invest more on hardware and security and regularly carry out maintenance checks. Dedicated server technology offers you great flexibility, such as the ability to install and run whatever operating system you deem desirable and necessary. Another benefit of dedicated hosting is you may resell the space/bandwidth to people who want to setup their own website.

With websites becoming major marketing tools, hosting companies are offering added features and tools to make websites more efficient. Some of these sets may only be offered on dedicated hosting packages while others are packages specifically for shared servers. There is a vast difference between the two and the one that is right for your business will depend on examining a variety of factors to make the best choice.