If the weakest link in a company’s chain is their web host company, then that link needs to be improved for the company to be more successful. So if you’re not familiar with a lot of the jargon, when it comes to web hosting, you can get confused and make a mistake by picking the wrong type of service. When making a decision becomes too complicated, people tend to commit to a random choice in order to move on with their purchase. Make sure your ultimate selection is a company that truly will meet your needs.
Some web hosts use the services of a larger host to provide their offerings to you. These companies purchase a large portion of server space and pay a lower price. They in turn make their profits by charging rent for it to many smaller websites. Find out if your host has their own servers and where they are located. If your host relies on another company, perhaps you can find the exact same kind of hosting at a lower price from another company.
A dedicated server might be what you need to keep your website online with faster response times. Dedicated servers are more secure. You can also get more disk space and bandwidth on a dedicated server. A dedicated server will give the maximum level of service to your customers. Customers that leave feeling good about their experience are likely to return.
If your computer uses only dial-up connections for Internet access, you probably should not host your own website. Hosting a site puts a lot of stress on the connection and it must be powered with speed and reliability that cannot be achieved with dial-up. Otherwise, downtime and lags will hinder your site and may even bring it offline.
Visit the website of the hosting company you are thinking of going with. A poorly designed website is a definite red flag for a web hosting company. This could indicate several different problems, such as not having any experience or being a short-term business. A well-thought out and nice looking site gives an appearance that the hosting company has at least some experience in HTML and designing web pages.
Avoid the mistakes of your peers who fall prey to hidden fees and other scams. Plenty of hosts use disingenuous advertising to lure in interested customers with supposedly low prices, only to jack up the monthly rate with inflated fees. Save yourself from unpleasant surprises by thoroughly researching companies you are considering with respect to all features you require and any additional cost associated with having them. Select a provider who can meet your service needs at a price you can afford.
Before any final decision is made about a hosting site, be sure to learn about their safety and security features. Make sure it’s a very strict service that can protect against hackers getting access to your information and site. An excellent hosting site constantly backs up their own servers.
The cheap hosts will have problems, or tend to cut corners. Though it’s tempting to pick a cheap web host, recognize that they’re cheap for a good reason. It is not uncommon for lower prices to accompany unstable models, lack of flexibility or incompetence.
Some hosting services offer refunds if your site is down. Usually, you won’t receive but a few cents, but potential sales lost could harm your business. For that reason, prioritize finding a company with high uptime stats rather than a money-back guarantee.
If you plan to test new software, or you desire additional control over the server, seek out a host that can give you a VPS (virtual private server) option. VPS is different from a plan that is called shared hosting because it is almost like running the server yourself. It gives you extensive control of your server for things such as installation and deletion of your software and accounts. However, this kind of server requires you to learn how to administer it.
Check what kind of server access your web host has. Some companies give you FTP-based access that can be confusing and complex if you are not used to using it, while others use a simplified control panel that you can access through a web interface. If your website is small, the simpler server access will do. But if you need a higher level of access, the complex servers will work best for you.
A good thing to do is find that right host for your particular web business by reading and doing homework through looking at reviews online. Try to learn what current customers have to say about the company you are interested in, so you can find out if the service is good.
Don’t let the sheer number of choices in web hosting companies overwhelm you. In fact, over the last decade, so many web hosting companies have been created, and some of them offer free or extremely low prices. Falling for their marketing techniques won’t get you the service you need. Go with your gut and narrow your list to a few good middle-of-the road options, then compare their services.
Most of the applications and add-ons your host will offer will be useless to you, so don’t include them in your comparisons unless you have a concrete use for them already. Having unlimited storage may sound like a big deal, but you may just be paying for something you don’t need. For most people, add ons suggested by the host company are only beneficial for their profits, not your business needs.
Check for hidden fees for events such as cancellation in your contract. After a few weeks, you may realize your web host service is unacceptable. If you terminate your service agreement, you can get hit with considerable cancellation charges. This is very common, especially if you used a lower priced hosting company. Make sure you know what the consequences will be of ending a contract early.
Identify the positives and negatives of the hosting plans you’ve gathered information on. Even if you are already locked into a web hosting agreement, you can inform your IT person and prepare to move your site to a better hosting service once your current contract expires.
