Good Web Hosting – What is it? by Ryan
Fyfe
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. I like to look at web hosting companies with a quality over
quantity perspective. If lets say you need a site to just simply host your
little guy’s minor league soccer team, do you really need a terabyte of
bandwidth? Are you ever going to make use of all of those gigabytes of
storage space. A lot of webhosting companies will oversell their servers
in this way, and rely on the little sites that won’t reach their limits to
keep things running. These companies are spreading themselves thin, and I
wouldn’t recommend getting on board with one of them. Find a host that is
going to meet your sites current needs, and that also allows room for
growth.
Prices - I’ve seen small packages go for expensive sums, and
large packages go for very cheap. This goes back to the point above, and
also the point below. Make sure that you are actually getting what you pay
for! Getting more than you pay for isn’t normally a good thing, as chances
are you aren’t with a top quality host as they recognize that to keep
things running they need to charge more. Another way in which Web Hosting
companies will often cut costs is in their Customer Service. Most hosting
companies online are simply reseller services, and can have terrible
response times and customer support, as they are over extended or simply
don’t care.
Customer Service - This I feel is the most important aspect to
keep in mind when looking for a good web host. Don’t over look this!
Chances are at one point in the life of your website you are going to have
a problem with your host, or a question, inquiry,etc. What good is it if
they don’t answer? Look for hosts that provide 24/7 email support. Email
is the most common although a lot of hosts will also offer live chat, and
some even phone support. Support I feel is what makes or breaks a host.
Datacenters are all pretty similar, and often times a lot of resellers are
at the same datacenter. Test out a company’s response time. And over a
couple days. One my first hosting experiences I found a site with live
chat, got online, asked my questions, and then joined. A few days later I
had some support problems, and there was no one there, same thing a month
later,etc. Even just to cancel my account took a month. Quality hosts will
be consistent and timely with their support.
Web hosting
can be a pleasant experience or it can be a nightmare. Take your time and
test out a company before you join. A little time now, will save you a lot
of time/energy/money down the road!
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About the Author
Ryan Fyfe is the owner and operator of Web Hosting Which is a great
web directory and information center on Web hosting and related topics
like Unlimited Domains web hosting.
