You can have the most well-designed website in the world, and the greatest business model, but still fail by picking the wrong web hosting company. If you are not very familiar with the jargon, it is easy to become confused by web hosting. When things become too mixed up, you may decide to just buy whatever you see first. Although this might sound confusing, this article can help clear some of the confusion.
Keep in mind that some web hosts use a Linux platform, while others work on top of Windows. You’ll have access to features with one that you may not have with the other. Usually Linux is much less expensive than Windows which will decrease your monthly site cost.
Do as much research as you can about your web host; don’t just rely on the information presented on their company site. Search for customer reviews of the host offered by independent websites to get a better idea of how good the host actually is. Outside reviews by customers of the host will offer the best indication of the host’s quality.
If you are going to upload a lot of information, pay attention to the uploading method of the web hosting service that you want to use. An FTP server might be required for your situation. Now if happen to not be a technology guru, at least ensure there is a decent online manager.
Think about moving toward a dedicated server to host your website. Dedicated servers are more secure. You can also get more disk space and bandwidth on a dedicated server. This will give your customers the best experience when they go to your site. Remember, if your customers are pleased, they’ll return.
If your website will be used to store and receive multiple email addresses, you should pay close attention to your provider’s email service format. Generally, you should choose a host that uses POP 3. This means that your emails are tied back to your domain name, and they are accessible from anywhere Internet wide.
You should utilize a web host that supports any programming languages your development team intends on employing for your website. If you don’t have the support you need for the languages that you are currently using, you cannot properly launch the website. Also, if you intend to add languages in the future, your web host may not be capable of supporting them. Switching web hosts can be difficult.
If your computer needs a dial up connection to get on the web, you should not host your own site. The only way to keep your site up and running at all times is to have it hosted by a company that can provide an always on and fast Internet connection. Dial-up will result in a lot of lagging and downtime for your domain, which means losing money and customers.
Look into reviews of web hosts you are considering before you settle on one. Customers tend to talk about extraordinarily good or bad service online, especially if it is an online business. Read a lot of reviews, and go with a company that an excellent track record.
It goes without saying that you should avoid web hosts that have continual outages. If a company faces frequent outages and is constantly making excuses, it is a red flag that they are unreliable, or they would have made plans to remedy the situation. In addition, it’s not professional to leave outage problems unaddressed. Don’t make any agreements with such a company.
Research the frequency of outages of a hosting company before committing to them. There are companies that will defer electrical outages, or give you a million reasons for their poor pop up time, though if you have a really good company, they will do whatever it takes to keep your website up and running. Don’t accept excuses, despite the price of the service, or how recommended they are.
Before you go out looking for a new web host, make a list of the attributes that you are seeking. Determine what you want and need well in advance, and determine how well every possible web host can meet those needs and wants. Creating this kind of list will assist you from making a decision just on a single factor, such as the price, instead of discovering the very best deal possible.
Does the company offer a portion of your money back if you want to end your contract early? If at some point during the first 30 days after signing up you become unhappy with the service, there should be some stipulation in the contract that states you can cancel the contract and get your money back. Many web hosts seem good but don’t live up to the hype.
If you experience technical difficulties, ensure that you know more that one way to contact the web host. A company with good customer service will be able to be contacted 24 hours a day, either through phone, email or chat support. This will reduce the amount of trouble if something bad happens.
Web hosting services charge you based on the kind of traffic your site is getting. Learn how your host bills customers. Some companies charge flat rates for service along a scale, wherein your site moves up a category as you pull in more traffic. Other hosts simply adjust your monthly rate depending upon how much traffic you experienced.
Review available web hosts by taking a look at online directories. This can afford you the ability to see what services and features are offered for each provider, so that you can eliminate the ones that do not meet your needs. This makes it much easier to comparison shop and commit with confidence.
The web hosting service that you select must be one that will allow you the needed space to grow your site. Will you have the storage space to expand your website if needed? For most websites, 100MB of space is adequate for the future growth of the site.
With the information you’ve read here, you are equipped to tackle the search for a web host. Even if you’ve already signed a contract, you can still use this information when you upgrade or switch companies.