| |
|
Web Hosting Information |
|
|
|
How to Find a Dependable Web Host
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 website hosting industry have provided internet professionals with marketing, product and service ideas for many years.
MORE RESOURCES:
Dedicated Server Provider, 3FN, Finalizes Backbone Enhancements - TheHostingNews.com (press release)
Web-Hosting - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Provide A Good Home For Your Website Selecting a web hosting company is like sending one of your children off to college. You may have complete confidence in your son or daughter's abilities but unless they are placed in the proper environment they will not have the opportunity to thrive. Good Web Hosting - What Is It? With hundreds of web hosting companies to choose from today it can be hard to know which ones are actually worth using. Below is a guide of things to look for in a web host: Services - A lot of times we are sold on the idea that bigger is better. Hosting Options for an Ecommerce Web Site Deciding how to host your ecommerce Web site and what approach to take can be daunting. There are several approaches available, each with different advantages and disadvantages. Nine Things To Know Before Selecting The Web Host For Your Business It may seem simple yet it is often times overlooked. When it comes to choosing the right Internet hosting provider for their websites, the majority of business owners or companies know very little about making the best Internet/web hosting decisions. Windows Hosting versus Linux Hosting - Which is right for you? There are literally hundreds of thousands of web hosting companies out there. Many of these companies offer both Windows hosting and Linux hosting plans. Buyer Beware: Web Hosting, Registration, and Site Building All in One Package Nightmares Starting out in any type of online marketing or Internet business can be confusing and overwhelming. There are so many different aspects of a start-up: domain name registration and purchase, Web site host purchasing, and of course, the "building" of the Web site itself. The Top 15 Essential Ingredients of Every WINDOWS HOSTING Plan (Package) First things First. Why would you like to have Windows Based Hosting when there are Linux packages for cheaper rates ? The answer is - it depends on what application you are looking to use for your hosting. How to Choose a Web Hosting Company Web Hosting AdviceChoosing a web hosting company to host your website isn't easy these days. There are literally thousands of web hosting companies to choose from, each offering different combinations of web space, bandwidth, extras (such as databases, asp, php, cgi, free scripts), and customer support. Finding the Right Web Host Choosing the right Web Hosting service for your website can be a little bit confusing. There's so many choices out there and many people aren't exactly sure what they should be looking for. Free Web Hosting Tips 1. The reliability of the service and their offers. In Search of Webhosting: First Understand the Industry In search of a webhosting company for personal or small business purposes? We advise you to take a look at this article to understand the hosting industry and study its dynamics to know what to look for before you make your choice.First, a brief introduction to the webhosting chain: the end consumer is served by about 3 upstream providers: the webhosting provider that they have direct contact with, the webhost's upstream company who maintains the servers and sells space to webhosts, and above that, the datacenter that provides the connection and houses the servers. Free Web Hosting - Why Might It Be A Bad Idea When talking about free anything the legitimate question that first pops into your mind is why pay when you can get it free? And as for free web hosting there are plenty of places to get it from. As spread as they are, if you are not a stranger to the whole Internet experience, you might even have a web site hosted for free. Choosing the Right Web Host Whatever type of website you want to host, choosing the correct host can be tricky. Most hosting companies offer you more than you will ever use, their sales staff recommend high-end packages for small websites. What to Look for in a Free Hosting Provider The first thing that you must realize when looking for a free hosting provider is that nothing is truly "free". There will be some sacrifices?First of all, if you see free hosting that promises to be without ads or banners, then it's not truly free. Choosing Your Web Hosting Package General rule of thumb is not to sign up for yearly web hosting plans. Instead, get monthly plan where you can unsubscribe from on the second month when you are not happy with the service. How VOIP Has Helped Change Web Hosting There is really no stopping VOIP (voice over internet protocol) and internet telephony in general. This technology has rapidly and relentlessly spread its' tentacles right across the net within a very short period of time and now stands as a clear threat to the old established phone companies around the world and the world of communications and telecommunications as we knew it. Internet Domain Registration - Establishing and Transferring Your Domain Name If you're in business, one of the most important things to you may be your ability to establish an internet presence. Operating some type of functional web site for your business helps your customers find you, can present additional marketing opportunities through e-commerce, and offers advertising opportunities that you can not get elsewhere. Web Design and Hosting - Free Web Hosting Perks That Will Perk Up Your Web Site If you've got or are considering a web hosting account with PHP and mySQL support, you'll find a wealth of free programs and scripts to take advantage of their powerful combined capabilities.Web hosting providers, from free to pricey, have always included some free pre-installed scripts to their customers in the way of guest books, counters and calendars. EBay Pictures Make Money If you have ever used EBay then you know how important pictures are to a listing. By nature, people tend to pay more attention to the items that have pictures in the items for sale. Low Cost Web Hosting Services - Dont Forget About Uptime Once you have your company's web site up and running, it is vital that you do everything possible to keep it that way. Nothing sets off alarms in a customer's head faster than a non accessible web site or one that has features which do not work.
|
| Article Index | home | site map |
| Powered by Custom Software - © 2006 Nexus Software Systems |
