Your new website is ready to upload, and now you need a web host. Or perhaps you already have a web host, but uptime and support are lacking. Of the thousands of web hosts to choose from, how do you find one that you can depend on? Know what can go wrong and what to watch out for, and research prospective web hosts carefully.
What can go wrong with web hosting
Too much downtime
Problems happen, and even when they don't, server maintenance results in a minimal amount of downtime. A dependable web host not only maintains servers well, but also monitors the servers and fixes problems immediately. With the type of web host you want to avoid, however, your site may be down for days.
Features that don't work
When your email doesn't work, your business shuts down. Problems with databases and other features can also slow down or stop your business. Most web hosts understand this, but some don't place a high priority on keeping not only your site online but everything working as well.
Poor support
Dependable web hosts answer tech support questions within hours. Other web hosts, however, have been known to take days. And when those responses come, sometimes they're canned responses that don't address the issue.
Poor communication
Support people with good communication skills help keep problems from becoming bigger problems. Being told, "Everything looks fine here, so the problem is solved," leads to frustration. So is having your site shut down because it used too many resources rather than the web host contacting you about the problem first.
Billing problems
Even after you cancel your account, problems may continue. Some less-than-dependable web hosts don't honor their refund policy. Others don't stop automatic billing after the account is cancelled.
What to watch out for
When you see the following at web host websites, consider them red flags to warn you of possible problems.
Unsustainable pricing
If the pricing looks too good to be true, it probably is. Is it enough to pay for server maintenance and tech support? You get what you pay for.
Unlimited bandwidth
Nothing is really unlimited. If you sign up for an account offering unlimited bandwidth and then use a lot of bandwidth, expect to have the plug pulled on your site. The web host may find another explanation for discontinuing your account, but "unlimited" typically means "as long as you don't use a lot."
An unprofessional-looking website
Consider how much effort the web host put into providing a usable website with informative content. Does it give you confidence in the web host, or is it full of unsubstantiated statements and grammar and spelling mistakes? A web host doesn't need to be a spelling expert, of course. But if the company hasn't put much effort into telling you about their services, will they be conscientious about meeting clients' needs?
How to research web hosts
Finding web hosts is easy enough. Search engines can take you to the websites of thousands of web hosts. But after you've narrowed down your list by features and price, how do you find out which web hosts are dependable?
Read web host package details and TOS
If the hosting packages offer huge amounts of disk space and bandwidth for very low prices, consider yourself warned. Don't expect the company to have enough money for maintenance and support.
If you want to be sure that you can get a refund if you want one, check what the Terms of Service (TOS) says about refunds.
Read the web host forum
What is the ambience in the forum? Are clients' questions answered satisfactorily? Don't be concerned if you see problems; instead, be concerned if you don't see any problems. Some web hosts remove posts that don't show their company in a positive light. If posts about problems remain in the forum, you can observe how the host handles problems.
Read web host reviews
Client feedback at the web host's site may or may not be valid. It's possible for hosts to make up feedback, and some have even copied feedback from other sites. Look for feedback with links to the clients' sites, and check via http://www.Whois.sc to see if the particular web host actually hosts that site.
Numerous forums allow people to post web host reviews. When you read reviews, consider the poster's credibility. Some people bash their hosts just because they're unhappy about something. If the host posts in response to a problem, observe how the host tries to resolve it.
Check the company background
The "About Us" or "Company Background" page at the web host's site should answer these questions.
How long has the company been in business? A new company may be excellent, but it's good to keep in mind that a lot of businesses fail within the first year.
Does the company publish a privacy policy? Does this policy clearly protect clients' privacy?
Where are the servers located? Ideally, they should be in a datacenter, and not in someone's basement.
What are the server uptime statistics? If the web host doesn't publish a link to a server uptime monitor, ask for a link to one. Uptime of about 99.7 percent or higher is generally considered good.
Does the company publish an address? You may never need it, but when you're placing your company website in another company's hands, you want to know that the company is legitimate and accessible.
Email pre-sales questions
Answers to your pre-sales questions tell you a lot about the web host. You'll see how fast the company responds and how well they communicate. Ask questions about any of the above points as well as questions specific to your needs.
~~~~~
Finding a dependable web host takes time, but dealing with problems and moving your site takes more time. The time spent looking for a dependable web host is a worthwhile investment.
About the author: Lois S. is a Technical Executive Writer for Website Source, Inc. http://www.websitesource.com. Her established writing skills coupled with experience in the http://www.websitesource.com industry have provided internet professionals with marketing, product and service ideas for many years.
non-toxic cleaning company Winnetka ..In search of a webhosting company for personal or small... Read More
Once you have considered the design for your website and... Read More
Are you looking for web hosting? If you want to... Read More
Choosing a budget web hosting company can be overwhelming. In... Read More
If you've ever browsed the World Wide Web and wondered... Read More
There are a number of things to consider when choosing... Read More
Web hosting can be an exciting business start up for... Read More
"2GB web space with 50GB traffic for $5.95 per month!"A... Read More
The first questions you have to ask yourself are: how... Read More
Indeed, choosing a right web hosting service for your website... Read More
Many start-up web hosts in their desperate attempt to get... Read More
Chances are if you host multiple domains or websites you... Read More
Professional web designers don't come cheap. A good web designer... Read More
If you've got or are considering a web hosting account... Read More
Linux web hosting is so named, based on the operating... Read More
What is web hosting? Whenever you visit a website, what... Read More
Most web site hosting services like the one you're probably... Read More
After the dot.com bubble burst a few years back I... Read More
So you've decided to create a website? The most obvious... Read More
Perhaps your web hosting company has a technical support group... Read More
Reseller webhosting can be a great way to earn some... Read More
Knowing when it is time to move onto a dedicated... Read More
Sooner or later, as everyone finds out, nothing in this... Read More
It's tempting. There are so many companies offering cut-rate hosting... Read More
For those of you who don't really understand where or... Read More
experienced cleaning professionals Glencoe ..Choosing a budget web hosting company can be overwhelming. In... Read More
There is really no stopping VOIP (voice over internet protocol)... Read More
With literally hundreds of web hosting providers competing for your... Read More
Once you have your company's web site up and running,... Read More
Every website needs a great web host, however when you... Read More
First of all we must determine the meaning of the... Read More
Have you ever gone car shopping with a former car... Read More
"2GB web space with 50GB traffic for $5.95 per month!"A... Read More
The next concern for you after designing and developing web... Read More
The best way to explain this is by comparing it... Read More
When it comes to web hosting, the quality of the... Read More
Choosing the right web server will be one of the... Read More
Whether you are disgruntled with the level of service your... Read More
With literally thousands of web hosting companies in the industry... Read More
"Unmanaged dedicated servers" - this is a pretty uninviting term... Read More
The fact that an estimated 40,000 new blogs are being... Read More
This article describes the technology behind multiple server hosting and... Read More
You took the leap. You set up a website to... Read More
Blogging is an abbreviation of "web-logging". The simplest definition of... Read More
Many businesses, from one-man-bands to multi-national corporations, have a web-presence... Read More
When looking for a Web Host there are lots of... Read More
Yesterday I received a nice email in my inbox, I... Read More
With so many web hosting companies competing for your web... Read More
When choosing a web hosting company there are a whole... Read More
If you've got or are considering a web hosting account... Read More
Web Hosting |