There are so many different websites out there and various hosting companies. How do you make a decision on who or what to you use?

You should always make sure your website is portable!  What does this mean?  Make sure you have a working backup of your site so it can be moved if your current host starts to go down the drain!  A host company that is great one day, can change the next. 

I’ve tried many hosting companies.  There are 2 companies that I recommend for hosting.  I value customer support so when I have an issue or question, I want to be able to get my questions answered in a timely fashion. I have made sure that these companies work well with Joomla and you can host more than one site on account.

The other hosting company that I like is 1and1 Hosting.
This is a good choice for business that has some IT and Web Marketing staff experience that can dive in and try out the many features that come with their plans. They have a newsletter campaign and marketing tools. 

My latest find is Dreamhost.  They are also green like Thinkhost. So far so good with them.  I was introduced to them through a new client who was already using them.  

FREE HOSTING?  Yes, it's out there but beware... there are usually limitations.

Blogger is free, if you have the know-how and time!  It's also limited but can be a good place to start for some. Time is money - it's your choice!

A website should be personal to your business or yourself depending on what the reason is for your website.  A website can be simple or complex. There are many cookie cutter websites out there to get you started for little or no money.  However, you will outgrow these sites unless you have the time and energy to devote to continually learning new tools and tips everyday. Yes – everyday!  I am always learning and trying out new things. This is my profession.  If someone wants to do it themselves or says they have no money – then I say go to Blogger. It works for many and it’s free!  If you want a more customized, professional site – you need to hire a professional or put the 100s of hours into learning the ropes of web design, web development, web marketing, search engine optimization, double opt-in / opt-out e-mail list, the internet rules and laws, etc…