HostChart.com helps customers limit bandwidth costs

Raleigh, North Carolina - HostChart.com - January 25th, 2005 – Bandwidth, for those unfamiliar with the terminology, is the amount of data that can be transferred through a means of communication in any given time period.  Bandwidth in the hosting industry can be compared to that of cell phone minutes in the wireless phone industry.  If a hosting customer transfers more data (bandwidth) than is allotted in a month, hosts have the option to suspend the customers account or charge hefty fines.

While the best option for a customer to insure that he or she does not exceed their bandwidth limit is to simply purchase an abundance of bandwidth, this is not always an option.  For web sites with a large amount of visitors, bandwidth costs can easily accumulate over time and become a constant burden.  Therefore, HostChart.com has compiled the following suggestions on limiting bandwidth consumption:

1. Minimize the usage of images.  Images are usually the leading reason for high bandwidth usage.  And, when images are used, the smaller they are the better.

2.  When using images, make sure they are optimized for the web.  The ideal web   image formats are GIF and JPEG.  BMP should be avoided.

3.  Tables contribute to large file (page) sizes, which equals into more bandwidth  being used.  While tables are nearly avoidable, they should be used sparingly

4. Maintain an overall minimalist approach.  A broadband-conscious website should consist of text, a few small images, and some simple HTML.  Objects such as JavaScript, Flash and animated images should be avoided, as they drastically increase the amount of bandwidth being used.

In addition to decreasing the amount of bandwidth a site consumes, the above suggestions also enable visitors on slower connections to access a particular site quicker.

About HostChart.com
HostChart.com is a web hosting resource that allows individuals to search offers and plans of dozens of hosting companies.  In addition, individuals can view user-submitted reviews of featured hosting companies.  Their website is located at www.hostchart.com.