Frequently Asked Questions
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 Our friend Stella. She's a sweet girl, but she has lots of questions. |
| What is Web Hosting? |  |
Every web site on the Internet needs a warm and cozy place to live.All you need to do is register your own domain name which will become your unique address on the World Wide Web. Having your own domain name legitimizes your business, telling the world that you are a force to be reckoned with!
That's the job of your Hostess. Your web site will live in comfort and style on one of our web servers. Regardless of which plan you choose, your site will have plenty of space to do what you need it to do.
There's no place like home.
| Do you offer dial-up Internet access? | |
Please contact your local Internet access provider to acquire dial-up service. We do what we do, they do what they do.
My goodness no. We're dedicated to your web site's comfort and care. By not offering dial-up Internet access, we are able to focus our energies on giving your web site a solid, reliable connection to the Internet without cluttering the lines with dial-up accounts.
| Do you offer web page design services? | |
Well, we do not offer design services, but our partner in crime MegaloMedia (who designed our site by the way, isn't it nice?) enhances existing sites by adding interactive features using Cold Fusion and Active Server Pages.
| How do I upgrade from one plan to another? | |
You can upgrade from plans by contacting Hostess. There is no fee to upgrade to a different plan.
| Can I check domain name availability? | |
Would we be the good Hostesses we are if we didn't? Go and look for yourself.
| How does the Hostess stay so fit? | |
Actually, she doesn't! Although she looks great as a cartoon character, it's physically impossible for anyone to have the shape she does!
| Does Hostess Web Hosting handle domain registration? | |
We have a partnership with a domain registrar called Network Solutions. All you have to do is click here to register your domain name. Once you do that, just fill out our order form and we'll get your hosting underway!
| Can I transfer an existing domain name to Hostess Web Hosting? | |
Yes. You can place an order via our online order form and be sure to specify that you are requesting a transfer and NOT a new domain. Someone from Hostess will contact you to arrange for the transfer.
| How long does it take before my domain name is active? | |
Once the domain registrar announces that your domain name has been registered (or transferred, if applicable), it usually takes about 24 hours before it is accessible from anywhere on the Internet. All Internet providers must update their records to reflect new site locations.
| Is 2000/MB of data transfer in the Standard Package going to be enough to support my web site? | |
We want your web site to have plenty of room to grow like a little weed. Our experience tells us that 2000MB/month will be more than enough bandwidth for the average web site. Depending on the quantity and sizes of your files, this could support many thousands of hits per month. If you've got a site that's just too big for its britches, our Advanced Plan accommodates 3000 MB of data transfer.
| Do you offer detailed site statistics? | |
Most definitely! We use the leading statistics software to deliver useful information to you about what works, and doesn't, on your website. Our software generates a weekly report with really spiffy graphics and tables chock full of data you can use to build a better website. Click here if you'd like to see an example of what your site statistics could look like.
| Any household tips? | |
Keep your candles in the refrigerator until you're ready to use them. They'll remain refreshingly drip-free for hours!
| How do I transfer files to my web site? | |
There's a fun little tool that transfers files to the web server. It's called FTP software or File Transport Protocol. To help you out, here's our downloads page.
| What is Microsoft FrontPage? | |
Microsoft FrontPage is a popular WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) web publishing software package. It frees you from having to learn HTML by allowing you to create a page in much the same way you would create a document in a desktop publishing environment.Hostess is a Registered Web Presence Provider for Microsoft® FrontPage®. This means that Microsoft has personally tested and approved us for hosting FrontPage-based Webs! Click here to find out more about FrontPage.
If you are a current Hostess Web Hosting customer and need more information and help with using Microsoft FrontPage, check out our support area!
| What is Cold Fusion? | |
Cold Fusion adds the power of databases to your website. With this product, you can create interactivity between your web site and something complex like your company's product ordering database or something personal like your database of favorite movies you've reviewed. Or, in the words of Cold Fusion's maker:"Cold Fusion gives developers the fastest way to build and deploy a new generation of business software for everything from electronic commerce to interactive publishing to business process automation."
If you are currently a Hostess Web Hosting customer and need more information and help with using Cold Fusion, check out our support area!
| What are Active Server Pages? | |
Active Server Pages are another way to add interactivity to your web site. It allows for some of the same connectivity as Cold Fusion to tie your web pages into the data stored in databases. Here's the scoop straight from Microsoft:"ASP runs as a service of the Web server and is optimized for multiple threads and multiple users. This means that it's fast, and it's easy to implement. If you use ASP, you can separate the design of your Web page from the nitty-gritty details of programming access to databases and applications. This frees up the programmer to do what she does best--code like crazy--and, conversely, frees the designer to worry about just the design rather than the database."
If you are currently a Hostess Web Hosting customer and need more information and help with using Active Server Pages, check out our support area!
| What is a Shopping Cart Application? | |
A Shopping Cart Application allows you to set up shop and start selling your stuff on the Internet. Our Shopping Cart Application even lets you set up the entire store without programming a thing. Just fill in the blanks in your administration section and off you go! For more detailed information about Shopping Carts, check this out.
| Will I have unlimited access to update my pages? | |
Of course! Our servers are always available. You have unlimited access via FTP or FrontPage 24-hours a day. You can create and maintain your web pages on your own computer and upload files to your web site at your leisure.
| Can I use my account for commercial purposes? | |
Yes, you can use your account for commercial purposes. The World Wide Web has become a most efficient and cost-effective means of making information available to the users of the Internet community. If desired, secure processing is included in the Standard and Advanced Hosting packages. That way, your products can be selling themselves 24 hours per day.
| Can I resell server space? | |
Hostess Web Hosting has a reseller program for web developers and others interested in providing web hosting for their clients. Please check out our reseller program information for more details.
| Do you accept international orders? | |
Our friend Pierre.
He enjoys red wine and
Jerry Lewis movies.Oui. We want everyone to feel welcome. We are pleased to have customers around the world and we're as close as your computer.
| What wine goes well with chicken? | |
Chicken is a pretty delicate flavor, so many Americans choose a light wine such as White Zinfandel. However, some red wines, notably some of the reds from the Loire Valley in France, complement chicken dishes beautifully. Be adventurous!
| What contract and payment terms are available? | |
We don't want to pester you with monthly bills. We bill at quarterly increments and require a minimum three month contract. We accept MasterCard and Visa as well as personal, business checks and money orders.
| Do you offer technical support to customers? | |
It's a Hostess' job to be helpful and courteous. The party we're hosting is your web site and your questions are our concern. We encourage you to use our Help Form to send email with questions or concerns about your web site. You may also be able to get an answer from our Support section which includes our technical FAQs. We also offer phone support 8-5 pm ET weekdays, 828-253-7882. Some of us, however, are a bit difficult to get out the door at quitting time, so you might find us still lurking around evenings and weekends. If you've got a question, and you can't find the answer here, please contact us. We can't answer your questions if we don't know what they are!
| How long does it take to set up a new account? | |
Orders will be processed within 24 hours of payment. Once an account is set up an activation notice will be sent you via email including a username and password. Complete instructions for using your new account will be provided in this email.
| How can I accept secure credit card orders on my web site? | |
Adding a bit of security to your site to make credit card ordering safe is an easy process. First, you need to get yourself a Digital ID from a provider like Geotrust. To get a digital ID, you'll need our help. Send us a message using the Help Form and we'll be happy to get you squared away. Digital IDs (also known as digital certificates) play a key role in establishing confidence that electronic transactions are secure and trusted. Digital IDs enable trusted electronic commerce by authenticating the individuals, organizations, and content involved in electronic transactions.
| Can I have a listserver? | |
Yes you can! Our Advanced package receives one listserver for free. To add another listserver to the Advanced or Standard packages, there is a one-time fee of $14.95 per list. Sorry, but for those of you subscribing to the Standard plan, you'll have to say "Please," then pay a one-time fee of $14.95 per list before you'll be able to add a listserver.
| What is your artichoke dip recipe? | |
1 can (about 14 ounces) water packed artichoke hearts, drained
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature*
1 cup Parmesan cheese*
1/2 cup sour cream*
1/2 cup mayonnaise*
2/3 cup plain unsweetened yogurt*
7 ounces mozzarella cheese*
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 tsp. minced dried onions
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tsp. ground pepper
1 tablespoon seasoned saltPreheat oven to 325 degrees. Take three whole artichoke hearts and quarter. Set aside.
Chop remaining artichokes and mix with remaining ingredients using an electric mixer. Carefully spoon mixture into an oven-proof dish that is about 1 inch deep. You can split the mixture into two or more dishes if necessary. Using a deeper dish will change cooking times and "dipability." Smooth top of mixture in dish, being careful not to get any on the sides, as it will burn. Arrange artichoke sections artfully atop the dish.
Bake in preheated oven 35 to 40 minutes or until lightly browned on top. Serve with a small round loaf of whole-grain or herb bread or a variety of gourmet crackers. Makes 4 to 8 appetizer servings.
* For those looking for something a little more low fat, most of these ingredients can be found in a "lite" or "low fat" version. Don't use the "fat free" versions as the dip won't have the same consistency. You can also use 1 cup Low Fat sour cream and skip the mayonnaise altogther. You'll never eliminate all of the fat from this recipe, but it's not like you eat dip every day, live a little!
| Do you allow adult or Warez content? | |
Sorry, no can do. We respect and encourage free speech, but are not willing to take that legal chance at this time. Not to mention how fast bandwidth evaporates when a server is home to an adult web site!Along the same lines, we also do not allow any Warez content, or any other content that may infringe on someone else's copyright. It's just not nice. If you need any other info about what's naughty and nice on Hostess, check out our policies.
| How do I place an order? | |
You can place an order for an account directly from our web site 24 hours a day. Isn't that convenient? Our mailman can take you right to our order page so you can sign up today.
Follow me to place your order.
