I make my living running websites. Web hosting is therefore very important to me. I need to know that my websites are up and running no matter what, that my backups are safe, and that I will get technical support when I need it. And since I have a good number of websites, I don't want to pay a fortune for hosting plans and domain registration.
How does one go about finding a good web host, and what should they provide? To me, reliability is key. I simply cannot afford to have my websites down, even if it is for just an hour or two. So look for a web host with an uptime guarantee. You don't want to have to worry about power outages or equipment failures. That's the host's problem, not yours. So make sure you go with a reliable outfit with world-class data centers and 24/7 maintenance and protection. Again, you don't want to wake up on a Saturday morning to find your web sites down or your DNS scrambled, and tech support won't be back until Monday.
Cost is another important issue with hosting plans. Some hosts try to lure you in with prices that seem too good to be true, and usually they are. Maybe that low offer is for a single domain name. Once you're all set up you may find that your web site is running slow and you're told you need to buy more bandwidth. A good host will tell you upfront what you get and what it will cost. So be realistic. Don't pay too much, but also don't fall for lowball offers.
Picking the right hosting package, however, is not enough. You also need to figure out whether all you need is basic web hosting, virtual dedicated servers (which you share with others), or a fully dedicated server. With almost 20 commercial websites, I like to have my own dedicated machine. That's the most expensive option, but it may be worth it. A good web host will give you all these options, and also the choice of hardware and operating system software.
A good hosting company will also offer you all the necessary software you need to run your sites. Automatic installation of popular software is mandatory. And the web host should be familiar with all the leading e-commerce and traffic analysis packages and make them available to their customers. Likewise, online security has become mandatory and your web host should offer SSL Certificates. On the email side, you want powerful spam filters so you won't be inundated with tons of junk.
Finally, and I think few hosting companies understand that, you need someone who speaks your language. Not everyone is a techie and understands all the jargon. You want a host that not only offers powerful hosting plans with all the features at a reasonable price; you also want to understand what you're getting. So look at the host's website. Is everything clearly explained? Is there a detailed help facility? Are there FAQs? Can you actually call and ask someone for help?
Your business depends on good, reliable, economical web hosting. Be sure to make the right choice.
Free Web Hosting Reviews
It is first of all important that you understand how to go about choosing the best web hosting provider; though, at the same time it will also prove to be quite difficult to pinpoint the proper provider. Before proceeding further with your selection you need to have already made a list detailing what your requirements with respect to web hosting are.
Previous Performance
There are a few things worth bearing in mind when it comes to choosing your web hosting provider. To start with, you will need to study their past performance and knows details such as the length of time that they have been in business, the amount of up-time that they commit to, awards that they have won and whether they are hosting well known sites.
Another very important point with regard to choosing the right web hosting provider is that the provider must be able to commit to providing maximum uptime. Many times, the web hosting provider's server may experience technical faults or their servers may crash which will mean that your website too will become non-functional. You need to be assured that your web hosting provider provides you with at least ninety-eight percent uptime, though today, many providers are guaranteeing as much as 99.8 percent uptime.
You also need to check how flexible is the web hosting provider's web hosting plan and the more flexible the plan is the better will be the options to choose from. You should be able to start with a basic plan and then upgrade as and when it becomes necessary. It is also better to avoid web hosting providers that only offer a single plan since such plans may not always suit your needs.
Cost as well as number of features is another important aspect to choosing your web hosting provider. If the provider offers you features that are in accordance with your needs and the costs too are affordable you will then not have much problem in getting your website hosted from such a provider.
You will also need to keep in mind a few other things before being able to decide on a particular web hosting provider. You need to evaluate type of payment plans, customer support, as well as backup before choosing a particular web hosting provider. In case your budget is limited, you will then need to expand your search further to look instead for any inexpensive web hosting plans on offer.
The bottom line when it concerns being able to pick the right web hosting provider is that you need to find a match between your needs and the plans being offered by the provider.
Both Chris Robertson & Bill Protresi are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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