Q I have recently begun to create my own Web pages. The problem is, several people and local businesses, schools etc have approached me to produce their pages. I can do this ù but where should I host them? My own ISP only has 4MB of space available and hardly seems appropriate. Some potential clients are not connected to the Internet at all, so I cannot use their ISPs' disk space! Geocities and the like seem to me to be a tad unprofessional, given that such sites do not have their own domain names. What is the answer?

A The answer is going to be different according to the needs of each organisation that wants a Web site, and how much they are willing to invest in it. The Web offers many exciting possibilities. For schools, itÆs a valuable educational and communication resource; for businesses itÆs a powerful marketing and communications tool that is capable of reaching potential customers all over the world. Some organisations may only require a low maintenance, inexpensive Web site, while others may want something more elaborate, such as secure transactions, interactive databases or their own domain name.

When it comes to deciding where to host a Web site, the two most important factors are likely to be cost, and whether or not the business or organisation wants a domain name. Owning a domain name is desirable if the business wants to establish a unique Web identity, if it has one or more registered trademarks or brand names, or if it wants to be associated with a generic concept. For example, if a business makes or sells umbrellas, it may want to call its site umbrellas.com.au. The benefits of a domain name include simple, personalised Web page and e-mail addresses, and some form of protection against misuse of a business name or trademark on the Web. A domain name also makes it easier for people to find an organisation's Web pages. The biggest disadvantage of registering a domain name is cost ù around $150 per year for each name.

If the organisation is just testing the Internet waters and doesn't want its own domain name, then you could put their Web pages on a free site such as Geocities. You wonÆt get a personalised domain name, and it may seem a little unprofessional, but itÆs a start, and you can always move the site somewhere else later on. Another alternative is to find an ISP that offers Web space at a reasonable price, put the site on their server, and ask the organisation concerned to cover the expenses. You won't get a personalised domain name, but compared to the cost of other business overheads, using an ISP to host a Web site is a minimal business investment which may pay for itself.

If the organisation does want its own domain name and is interested in e-commerce technologies, you may want to consider using a Web hosting company such as NetRegistry (www.netregistry.au.com), Hightide (www.hightide.net.au) or DOT AUS (www.dotaus.com). Web hosting companies rent or lease space on their Web servers, and usually have high-speed, high-volume connections to the Internet which are able to handle vast amounts of traffic. They also monitor your site 24 hours a day seven days a week, and fix any problems that occur so that your site should be reliable and stable. A Web host can help you create a site if necessary, and will either register a domain name for you, or guide you through the process if you want to do it yourself. Costs usually include the domain name registration fee, a setup fee, and a monthly fee for Web space. A typical package offers up to 50MB of Web space, a domain name and e-mail addresses, and technical support.

A Web hosting company is quite different from an ISP, although there may be some overlap. The core business of an ISP is to provide a way for people to connect to the Internet, and any space for storing Web pages is a secondary service. Some ISPs provide domain name registering services, but many don't. In contrast, Web hosting companies specialise in supplying storage space for Web sites and providing associated services such as domain name registration, and secure servers for electronic commerce.

In general, most small businesses and organisations could probably start their Web site using a free site or an inexpensive package from an ISP. If a Web site is beneficial for them and they want to develop it further, they could move on to a Web hosting site, register a domain name and maybe eventually consider their own server.