If you have a Shared Web Hosting account, you may not realize it, but you also share the cost of server maintenance with other clients. This is a big reason why a shared account is reasonably priced. Also, your provider is expected to be responsible for security updates, installation of server software and any other server responsibilities.
As a result of choosing the right web hosting, you don't have to worry about having your website up and running anymore. You already have that part settled so you can relax and focus on building your website.
The selection of platform and database engine is connected. If your web host offers hosting on the Linux platform, the script language is PHP and the database is MySQL. For Windows based hosting, ASP/.NET and MSSQL is often used. Unless you are a programmer with special demands in regard to platform, this selection doesn't matter much to you. More web hosts offer Linux hosting because it is cheaper, hence Affordable Web Hosting.
SMTP is Simple Mail Transfer Protocol which is used for outgoing Email Server. Most hosting companies do not offer access to SMTP servers as they can be difficult to maintain and defend and the want to cut corners with their customers.
Write down a plan for your Shared Web Hosting UK. What will you website need to operate your business. Will you use graphics, banners, videos and what will you need your web host to provide.
Windows or Linux: Do you know if your site needs to run on a MS Windows server with FrontPage extensions or does it need PERL, PHP or MySQL? These things you will need to find out if you intent to run a successful small business web site.
You can start with the companies listed on the web sites linked to at the end of this article. They all have good reputations and provide excellent and affordable web hosting. Nowadays you can have an unlimited number of domains with virtually unlimited bandwidth for as low as 6 dollars a month! If you have or want just one domain, then you can get away with only paying a couple of bucks a month.