If you’re like most people, you know very little about web hosting. If you have a website, you know a bit more than most people, but the truth is that choosing a web host can seem a bit strange. Luckily, this article has a number of smart tips about web hosting to make your hosting decisions easier.
Be wary of web hosting companies that claim 100 percent uptime. While more uptime is better, there is a limit. It is possible to achieve 99.9 percent uptime. However, even the fastest, most reliable servers must be rebooted occasionally in order to apply important security patches. Any company claiming 100 percent uptime is either lying, or has servers that are not up to the latest security standards.
Avoid long-term contracts unless you are already familiar with the host. Many web hosts will offer a discounted rate if you sign a long-term contract, but this can be a risky way to save money. If you end up unhappy with your service or amount of down-time, you will face hefty termination fees or be forced to remain with the service. Always start out with a short-term contract. If you are happy with your hosting, you can always change to a long-term contract when it is time to renew.
Look for the best hosting site for your domain name. Most free sites require you to put their name either before or after your site name in the URL. If you do not want this, you will have to search carefully for a host that suits your needs, even if it means paying for a quality host.
When choosing a web hosting service, refrain from going with the recommendation of friends or family who are not professionals. Though they may have had a good experience themselves with a certain provider, realize that their needs may be very simple compared to yours. Read reviews and advice from those who have needs similar to your own.
Choose a web host with a CPanel. This feature allows you to install many different plug ins in a few clicks. For instance, most blogging platforms are hard to install without the CPanel feature. This kind of feature will help you improve your site without acquiring any kind of technical skills.
If you wish to switch to another host, you should not cancel your current account right away. Take the time to look for another service and upload your website to their servers. Perhaps you will have to make a few adjustments before finally redirecting your domain name to your new address.
Take the time to research web hosts on the internet or on specific blogs. Then narrow down your first few choices. There are far too many web hosts, to do research on every one. But, by researching a short list of hosts you can avoid all the pitches and gimmicks that many of the hosts will try to sell you on.
Remember that web hosting is a commitment. In some cases, you will enter into a contract and not be able to cancel your plan for at least a year. If you consider your options carefully and make educated decisions, you will be able to operate a successful website on a host you can trust.
If you want to add different features to your site such as a chat room, a bulletin board or a contact form, you should look for a web hosting service that supports CGI scripts. If you don’t know how to create these scripts, some web hosts can provide you with templates.
You need to use a web host that offers a money back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with the host or find one that offers better services for less money, you need to be able to leave your current host and move to the other one. Typically, you have thirty days to change your mind.
Make sure you, and not your web host, controls your domain name. If you let your host control your domain name, you may be stuck with that host if you don’t want to change domains. Some unscrupulous hosts won’t release the domain info if you leave on bad terms. If you control the domain, you can point it at another host’s nameservers and start fresh.
When you quit smoking, your blood sugar levels are going to drop dramatically because the loss of the nicotine. To minimize the painful affects of this drop, you should try to get plenty of healthy sugars to try to maintain your healthy blood sugar level. This will minimize the side effects of your quitting.
Using a free web host? Prepare yourself for the idea that your entire site may go away completely. After all, small host companies pop up and then disappear with incredible rapidity. If one of them is in charge of your website, and then the company just goes underground, all of your content can go with it — so back everything up!.
Have a secondary plan for web hosting. In the worst case scenario that you must leave a web host, you want to make sure your site is down for the least amount of time possible. Make sure you predetermine where you would go and the steps you need to take to make the transition as seamless and quick as possible.
Before purchasing web hosting services, consider how your website will be designed. You will need an entirely different type of hosting plan, if you plan to use templates to create the website yourself. You will want to seriously consider hiring a professional web designer upfront, as you will end up with a better looking site and will save money on monthly hosting fees.
Choosing a web host can be a bit of a hassle if you don’t know what you are doing. Let the tips in this article guide you and spur your own research so you can make a good decision about your web host. Learn as much as you can about web hosting so you can always be sure your site is being hosted by the best.
