How To Pick A Great Web Hosting Provider 5 Steps To Ensure Satisfaction In Your New Web Host

Choosing a web host isn’t the easiest thing to do. If you aren’t careful, you might find yourself in a nightmare situation with a host that doesn’t provide quality service, respond to technical support requests, or provide solid up-time for your website(s). There is a huge selection of companies providing web hosting services, and to someone unfamiliar with the industry, it’s very easy to end up with the wrong provider for your needs. Here are five tips to hopefully get you pointed in the right direction.

1: Beware of Unlimited Resources Many web hosts offer what they refer to as “unlimited” file storage and “unlimited” bandwidth. Put simply, this means you can upload as many files to your account as you’d like, and there is no limit to the amount of visitor traffic your site can receive. This certainly sounds like a good deal, but the truth of the matter is that many hosts oversell on this promise and their service quality suffers as a result. This isn’t to say ALL hosts using this model are bad; some of the bigger names in the game do it just fine, but be aware of any smaller companies trying to compete.

2. Bandwidth. Your website will generate traffic. The amount of traffic that is driven to your website will determine how much bandwidth you will need. If you are a small business owner or have a personal website, a small amount of bandwidth, such as 5 MB, should be enough. To stay competitive, many web hosts now offer unlimited bandwidth. If you foresee heavy traffic to your site, ensure you read the fine print to avoid overage charges because unlimited usually has restrictions.

3: Is the web host company reliable? How long have they been in business? Your web site needs to be accessible. If your web site is always down, visitors may leave and never come back. Most web host companies advertise their average 24 hour uptime. It should be no lower than 99%.

4. Secure Server. If you will be selling products or services on your website it is essential that your website offers a secure server (SSL.) A secure server ensures that personal information collected through your website is safe from hackers.

5: What is included with the package? Is FTP allowed? File Transfer Protocol allows for uploading files directly from your computer to the hosting server. Most web sites are uploaded using FTP and it should be an included feature. Are email accounts included with the hosting package? How many? Does that include POP accounts or just web mail? Look for a web host that offers both. How often does the host backup the web site? Many hosts do backups every 24 hours to prevent data loss in case of a server crash.

So there you have it. Those tips should have you well on your way to becoming a safer shopper when it comes to purchasing your new web hosting service. Just remember, if there’s anything you’re unsure about with a particular host, just keep moving, because the choices are nearly endless! Good luck!

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