One of the main advantages of managed hosting is reliability. Many providers will offer an up-time of 100%, assuring that their clients’ servers will never be offline. Managed hosting can better assure that a server will always be accessible which prevents the loss of productivity and more importantly, sales. It is ideal for large companies who want to ensure that their products and services are available to clients at all time.

If a hard drive does happen to fail, managed hosts provide what is often referred to as a “hot spare” which is used to guarantee continuous performance while service is underway. When selecting managed hosting, you have the opportunity to go with initial storage options and then make upgrades when necessary. These upgrades are performed online, sparing you the time of system restarts and probable data loss.

Managed hosting is very flexible and gives you the ability to build the ultimate server. On this platform, you don not have to be subdued to the capacity limitations associated with shared hosting. If more bandwidth and storage are required, these upgrades can also be made directly online, something that is nearly impossible with basic dedicated hosting.

Managed hosting provides enhanced security as well. By limiting physical access to servers and SAN (storage area network) devices, data can be protected regardless of how and where it travels along network paths. This ensures that sensitive information will only be accessible to those authorized to access it.

Data is always protected with the implementation of redundant backup systems and firewalls.

Servers typically receive 24-hour monitoring and management including any operations and ongoing configurations that may be requested by a client. This effective level of around-the-clock security prevents intruders and computer hackers from gaining unauthorized access to confidential data.

Lastly, managed hosting includes licensing and the installation of operating systems along with any applications and hardware that need to be installed. The providers offer continuous support once the operating system is installed, and they also handle critical security patches that need to be installed. Furthermore, managed hosting providers are known for their reliable technical support systems, allowing clients to receive immediate assistance in the event of troubles with the server or remote access.

Conclusion

There are many reasons to outsource the tasks of your dedicated server to a managed hosting provider. Though more expensive than a shared hosting environment, this type of plan offers savings in regard to reliability and efficiency. It gives you complete control of your dedicated server without having to handle the grueling physical aspects. Managed hosting eliminates the need for onsite staff and technicians, guaranteeing that resources are widely available and sites are always open for business.

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1. VECTORTUTS

VECTORTUTS is still a very new blog, but it’s already a leader in Illustrator tutorials. You’re probably familiar with other sites from the Eden family, including PSDTUTS and NETTUTS, and VECTORTUTS provides the same high quality in its tutorials.

Tutorials of interest:

• Create a Vibrant Digital Collage Mixing Buildings and Vector Shapes on Paper
• Create a Happy Octopus Character
• Learn How to Create Realistic Vector Fire

2. Vectips

Vectips is the home of Ryan Putnam, who also writes tutorials for VECTORTUTS. Unlike some of the other sites on this list, Vectips focuses exclusively on Illustrator.

Tutorials of interest:

• Create Abstract Backgrounds in Illustrator
• Creating a Four-Leaf Clover
• Creating Halftone Effects

3. Veerle’s Blog

Veerle covers a variety of topics related to graphic design on her blog, including some Illustrator tutorials. The quality of her tutorials is excellent and she teaches practical techniques that you’ll be able to use in your own work.

Tutorials of interest:

• Simple Organic Shapes the Illustrator Way
• Creating Seamless Patterns in Illustrator
• Using the Pathfinder and Align Tool in Illustrator

4. Blog.SpoonGraphics

Graphic Designer Chris Spooner publishes tutorials and articles at Blog.SpoonGraphics, including some awesome Illustrator tutorials.

Tutorials of interest:

• How to Create a Vector Safari Compass in Illustrator
• Trendy Geometric Line Design Tutorial (includes use of Photoshop as well)
• Create a Colorful Wavy Abstract Ribbon

5. GoMediaZine

GoMediaZine is a site that somehow I’m not very familiar with, but I quickly subscribed after browsing through the archives. The site is much more than just a tutorial blog, so the quantity of Illustrator tutorials isn’t as high as some of the other sites on this list, but the quality is excellent.

Tutorials of interest:

• A Pseudo-Sugar Skull: From Start to Finish
• Create a Stunning Undersea Painting Using Vector Packs
• Intricate Patterns in Illustrator

6. AiVault

AiVault contains a lot of informative posts for Illustrator users, including tutorials on a variety of different effects.

Tutorials of interest:

• Create an Envelope Icon with a Satin Feel
• Create a Cool Air Balloon Wallpaper
• How to Make Funky Illustrative Backgrounds and Flourishes

7. BittBox

BittBox is an excellent design blog that covers a number of different topics. The Illustrator tutorials are not that frequent or it would be higher on this list, but the quality is excellent.

Tutorials of interest:

• How to Make 3D Vector Vintage Stars
• Working with Illustrator Art Brushes: Options and Adjustments
• Illustrator 101: One Gradient Across Multiple Paths

8. N. Design Studio

N.Design Studio has some of the best tutorials you’ll find. They’re not posted very frequently or this would be near the top of the list.

Tutorials of interest:

• Adobe Bridge Icon
• Tracing Photo
• Stylish Vector Flower

9. iStockdiary

iStockdiary has a nice combination of quality and quantity of Illustrator tutorials. The site also includes some premium tutorials for purchase.

Tutorials of interest:

• Stamp Tutorial
• The Perfect Diamond
• 3D Gear

10. BioRUST

BioRUST has a good number of Illustrator tutorials in their archives. Their tutorials are not on as advanced a level as some others on this list.

Tutorials of interest:

• Fancy Stars
• Glassy Orbs
• Sunbursts

Copyright Vandelay Website Design.

The next vacation I want to go to is to visit the Metropolitan museum of art because it will be more of an exploration of culture rather than entertainment constantly. It’s interesting to go through a change for once, it might be boring to do the same things over and over again in just another city and I don’t think there is one that could beat the greatness of Las Vegas!

If you want to sign up for an affordable tour go to trustedtours.com. They also have very useful online travel guides that you can go through. There is a promotion that is going around right now that can allow you to win $150 worth of iTunes gift Cards simply by signing up for their newsletter, it takes only a few seconds and you could win! The offer ends on the July 31st, 2008 so don’t forget to act as soon as possible!

Assess Your Needs

Before deciding on a web host, it’s a good idea to carefully analyze your needs. What do you plan to do with your website? Will it contain a lot of images? Will it be designed for visitor interaction? If so, your website will require a decent amount of storage and bandwidth. Do you need an email that associates the website with your business? If so, you may need a host that provides anti-spam utilities. How do you plan to build the site? If you do not possess a web design ability, you may need a plan that offers advanced databases and publishing tools. A good rule of thumb is to jot down a list of the features you think your site requires - this will go a long way in finding a host that’s suitable for the cause.

Looking For a Host

After covering the basics and figuring out what’s needed, it’s time to get on the hunt for a web host. This is actually the easiest part of the ordeal. Many sites will direct you to a number of quality providers. You can also perform a search through a popular engine like Google or Yahoo. Simple type in “Web Hosting” and you will literally receive thousands of results. You can also look for web hosting reviews to learn if clients and experts have anything bad to report on these services.

Reliability

When comparing web hosts, you want to look for signs that indicate their level of reliability. For instance, many web hosting companies will guarantee an up-time of 99.9%, which is now pretty much an industry standard. Keep in mind that this type of guarantee doesn’t necessarily cover network attacks and natural disasters. This is why you should investigate the company in question to learn what extra measures they are taking to protect your data. A reliable provider will store web sites on multiple servers in off site locations. They apply additional security with backup generators, 24/7 monitoring and alarm systems. This is all information that should be documented and easily accessible on the provider’s website. If you a can’t find these details or a company will not disclose them, simply move on to the next candidate.

Budgeting

Web hosting is generally inexpensive, however you must determine what you can afford to pay. A free service, or one for only $1.95 per month, may seem like a great value - but what about the features? Is customer support available when you get in a jam? On the other hand, there are many low-priced companies offering quality service, these are actually some of the most well-known providers in the business. With so many competitors, it’s easy to find a reliable, feature-rich web hosting package for under $5 per month. When finding a host that suits your budget, you should then find out about the payment schedule. Is it month to month? Yearly? This could play a huge factor on whether you purchase service now or later.

In the End

When it comes down to it, you want a web hosting service you feel comfortable with. You should be satisfied with the features, the security and support system. Although technology has made transferring service a bit easier, it would be good to find a host that meets all of your needs right now. This will allow you to remain focused on making your mark on the web.

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Here are the initial posts that are already published:

Welcome to DesignM.ag
A general first post.

50+ Fonts for Big, Bold Headlines
This is a big list of some excellent fonts that will make your headlines stand out.

11 Steps to a More Stable Freelance Income
Freelancers are always dealing with ups and downs in terms of work levels and income. This article looks at some things you can do to minimize the down times.

Favorite Design-Related Sites of 21 Designers
Since I was starting a new site for the design community I thought it would be fun to get some others involved in one of the initial posts. This provides an interesting look at what some top designers are reading on a regular basis.

The launch of DesignM.ag should not affect the posts here at Vandelay Design. I’ve been very encouraged by the growth of this blog over the past year, particularly the past few months, and I am in no way moving on and leaving this blog behind. The posting frequency and quality here should remain as it has been in recent months. I recently let go of a few weekly freelance blogging gigs to free up more time to focus on my own blogs.

You may be wondering why I would be working on a new blog as opposed to focusing all of my blogging efforts here at Vandelay Design. The main reason I decided to branch out and start a new site is that I want to be able to have some more freedom to explore things that wouldn’t be a good fit at this blog. Because this blog is attached to the services of Vandelay Design I feel that I’m more limited to what I can do here as compared to a site that is not connected to a design service provider. For example, the job board would not be a good fit here. There are also some other features that I would like to add to DesignM.ag in the future that just wouldn’t be possible at Vandelay Design.

I thank all of you who subscribe to Vandelay Design or visit from time-to-time. If you have an interest in getting more design-related content please consider also subscribing to DesignM.ag. Because of the nature of the site there are three different feeds so that subscribers can get as much or as little as they want.

1. All-Inclusive Feed (articles, news, gallery)
2. Articles and News Feed (no gallery)
3. Articles Only (no news or gallery)

Thanks for your support!

Copyright Vandelay Website Design.

Dedicated Linux hosting has become a popular choice for many webmasters. A Linux server can be used to host both managed and dedicated websites. This system is preferred by experienced web designers and administrators. It is also widely used by end-users with little to no experience in web designing or server administration.

Most web hosting companies provide managed service for their clients. With dedicated Linux hosting, these tasks are typically turned over to the client when requested. This is often preferred by companies who want to keep the core of their business close and personal. Linux makes for the perfect platform as it offers client control and cost-efficiency in one package.

The price for managed dedicated hosting varies but usually runs anywhere from $300 to $1000 per month for a number of different packages. This mainly depends on the size of the business that requires service. Dedicated Linux hosting typically includes a server, CPU, RAM, a hard drive, one or more IP addresses, a specific amount of monthly bandwidth and storage along with the monitoring of up to three ports. It offers everything the modern day business requires to establish a positive web presence.

Whet Weather you are looking to build on a dedicated Linux server or a shared environment, there a few questions that should be posed to the web hosting company starting with the following:

• What steps do you take towards security?
• Do you provide 24/7 telephone or email support?
• What is your documented uptime?
• Do your provide services and resources the accommodate the needs of a growing business?
• Do you have client testimonials and reviews that I can read?
• How long have been in the web hosting industry?

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Guy Kawasaki is one of the people who teach marketing, advertising ideas, how to use search engines the right way and how to make the most out of your web presence. Garage.com and Alltop.com are sites of his which he is known well for.
Here is the interview:

Mike Dammann: Guy, first of all thank you for being the first interviewee on the hot new
Blogger Talk. Tell us a little bit about how you got started blogging and
share the core prinipals which you stand by to increase readership to your
blog.

Guy Kawasaki: I started blogging about three years ago after people kept pounding on me to
do it. I was very late to blogging because I thought it was inherently
arrogant–that is, that you had to believe cared what you thought about
everything.

Mike Dammann:  How many blogs do you yourself read on a daily bases and what criteria do you
use to make a blog one of those you visit from time to time.

Guy Kawasaki: I read only one blog per day and that only started a week ago:
Neuromarketing. http://www.neurosciencemarketing.com/blog/ I scan hundreds
of blogs using Alltop, however.

 Mike Dammann: Looking at some of the main blogs out there, not just the less read ones, tell
 me some mistakes high profile bloggers are making that keep their blogs from
 making it to the biggest league?

Guy Kawasaki: I don’t have an answer for this for two reasons: first, as I said, I don’t
read that many blogs. Second, I’m not an expert in this stuff–I just “let
it rip” in my own blog. You need to ask Neil Patel or Darren Prowse about
this stuff.

Mike Dammann: When you look at Social Media sites, do you believe that what we have is the
end all be all? What else do you see coming up to really get the social media
phenomenon cranking up hard?

Guy Kawasaki: Hate to admit this too, but I spend very little time on social media sites.
The other day I went to my Facebook account for the first time in months,
and there were 2,211 pending friend requests. I can barely handle email plus
the marketing of Alltop. I’m not trying to find more soul mates at this
point in my life.

Mike Dammann:  Where do you find inspiration other than marketing? What helps you come up
with ideas to blog and also ideas to market your site further?

Guy Kawasaki: Every day I get up in the morning and ask God to give me ideas for my blog.
On some days She answers when a handful of friends suggest great topics. If
God fails me, then I use StumbleUpon and http://science.alltop.com/ to find
blog ideas.

Mike Dammann:  Is there any certain formula that you can share which could apply to all
bloggers?

Guy Kawasaki: Sure: your blogs actual traffic is 10% of what your server logs tell you.

Mike Dammann:  Guy, lastly, tell us something you have never shared online. Like, what is it
you are inspired to do next that you have not started yet and which you may or
may not be doing in your lifetime.

Guy Kawasaki: Between my blog, speeches, interviews like this one, and tweets, I have no
more secrets. I am truly Open Source.

Vote for the story on Firetown.com Search Engine Marketing News and feel free to submit your own!

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