It's been four years since I developed my first webpage with many lessons learned and many things changed. Basically I use Microsoft Frontpage 2003 as my main website development program with a couple of add ins purchased on the internet. There are several more sophisticated programs on the market but for its price I think Frontpage is a good buy. Also I use Global's CuteFTP 6.0 as my FTP or file transfer program to my host site. It is a fantastic program for its small price. It may be purchased on the internet and is a must have for the serious file transfer operator.
Web hosting has become seriously competitive the last couple of years with hundreds of sites offering good packages to entice you to use their service. Most if not all look good from their advertisements. Just about all of the well known larger hosts offer competitive packages with plenty of everything needed for any web site plus more. For the best rates, most companies require a yearly payment or more in one sum. This usually includes a domain name, a minimum of 1000 Mb of space ( far more than needed), 30 Gb. minimum transfer rate, many e-mail addresses, free setup, a control panel from their site to manage your account and many other extras too numerous to name. Usually cost will be from $7 to $10 a month or $84 to $100 a year. Some even offer the first year free if you sign up with them. Usually there is a setup fee but once a company has your business, if their rates are competitive, you probably will stay with them. At present I use two Web Host for my sites. The first is Addr.Com. I started with this company in 2000 and at that time it was an excellent buy. It's reputation is good, its value is average, and overall its service is good. Some complaints have been made about the company's help and assistance. Reviews have said the accent of the help staff is difficult to understand speculating that the company has been sold to a firm in India. If you need much assistance for your web site probably a more expensive web host would be a better deal. I pay by the month at $9.95 a web site. This is approximately $2 a month higher than some of the newer sites so my services with Addr.Com will be re-evaluated at the beginning of the year. The other web host I use for my newer web sites is Powweb. I think their value is excellent although I don't feel their control panel is as well organized as Addr.com. I chose them over the other hundreds of sites based on their advertisements and value. Currently the price is $7.77 a month paid in one yearly sum plus they throw in 2 extra months free. Also they have a good buy for a 2 year sum at $186 plus including 4 months free. This is one of the best buys I have seen on the market plus they are reliable. I am very pleased with their product and may move my sites from Addr to them soon. There are many web hosts to choose from, most with good reputations. Probably any of them will serve your need but I have had good luck with the two I've chosen so far.
Below are several web sites that advertise Web Hosting and sometimes review individual hosting plans. I found all of them, especially the first three very helpful.
http://www.tophosts.com/ Top Hosts - webhosting resource
http://www.hostindex.com/ claiming to be the world's largest hosting directory
http://www.hostsearch.com/ this gives great reviews from users of web sites -
http://home.about.com this site has reviews plus hints on making your web site better.
http://www.ispcheck.com/ this gives search capabilities plus many advertisements
http://www.newsservers.net/ gives great list of free servers plus more
http://www.webhostlist.com/ C/Net's web search list - excellent
http://www.webhostdir.com/ Web Host Directory - listed as the Ultimate Web Hosting Resource
http://www.webhosters.com/ Web Hosters Directory - defined as the definitive guide to WWW hosting
http://www.hostreview.com/ Host Review claims to help you find Web Hosting Providers quickly and easily.
http://www.findahost.com/ lists over 4000 web plans
http://www.free-web-site-hosting.com/index.shtml information on free web hosting services
http://www.hostfinder.net/ Hostfinder over 700 plans in their database
Also check out www.networksolutions.com
for domain name information