If you have a website, you need to have a web host. You may not know too much about web hosting, but you would do well to learn as much as you can about it, since it can be a big part of whether people can use your site.
This article has some great tips for choosing a good web host.
Avoid choosing the cheapest web-hosting service out there, and certainly think long and hard before you go with a free one. If you are running a business online, your reputation can be severely damaged if you choose an unreliable hosting service. In addition, the free ones will often have advertisements that make it obvious you are not willing to pay for a basic service that is important to your livelihood.
Research the refund policies prior to signing on with a web host. You do not want to wait until something goes wrong before finding out that you are not going to get any of the money that you have invested into your site back when the host falls short of your expectations.
For smaller sites, use text based ads over image based ads. Flashy ads with images and videos are effective but can end up requiring more bandwidth than you can afford. If you have a modest site with limited income potential, bandwidth heavy ads can cost more than the income they generate. Consider effective text ads that look professional while not hogging bandwidth.
Before picking a web host, check to see if they have some type of money-back guarantee, or even a trial special where you can test their service. There should be a way to get your investment and money back if you decide their hosting service is not for you. Most hosting companies will give you around 30 days.
Resist the temptation to accept free domain registration from the same company you will be using for web hosting. There are many start-ups out there who may – or may not – be around for very long, and they probably will not give clients advance notice if they are going out of business. You will need to have immediate access to your domain registration if this happens, but may not be able to get it if they are out of business.
Make sure any offers of “unlimited” data transfer are actually unlimited. Many web hosts advertise unlimited data transfer in their offers, but tuck exceptions in the terms and conditions for the package. Common exceptions include video or non-HTML file downloads being limited, limits on CPU utilization, and general prohibitions on using “too many resources.”
When you are choosing a web hosting company, it is important that you rely on more than just one or two pieces of advice on a recommendation. Many recommendations are from people who haven’t even experienced the web hosting company that they are recommending. Choose wisely, do your research, and know many things about the company that you choose.
Read the terms of your contract before subscribing to a web hosting service. You should look for a guarantee that your content will be updated right away when you upload it to your server. Remember that your visitors want up to date content and you will not be able to meet their expectations with a slow web hosting service.
Web hosts have to update their servers regularly and your site will be unavailable when this occurs. Look for a service that lets you know in advance when your site will be down and which updates their servers at a time of the day where you are not getting a lot of visits.
Avoid free web hosting. While a free site may be an acceptable choice for a small hobby website, if you want to make money, there are simply too many restrictions. Not only will you be limited to using their domain name, you will also have restrictions on space, advertising, and little to no support. These features are well worth the minimal costs of an affordable web host.
Choose a web hosting service that offers a simple and easy to navigate eCommerce system. Even if you do not initially plan to offer products for sale on your website, realize that this can be a valuable asset as your company grows and expands. You will save yourself a lot of time and energy if you can easily add this service if the need arises.
If you are changing to a new host, you should use a redirecting page for 48 hours. Create a personalized page explaining why your site is moving to a new host with a link to your site. Make sure you choose a host that can guarantee you your site will be up in 48 hours.
One important factor to consider when looking for a free web hosting provider is to find one that offers database availability. Most free providers do not include this in your package, but if you look hard enough, there are some out there that do, though they might have limitations on what you can do with the database.
For a modest site, pick an affordable web hosting services but do not necessarily go with the cheapest. There are even hosting services offered for free, but there is always a tradeoff. The site may be slow, the service inadequate or offers no backup services. Rather than settle for a free service, you can usually find a decent web hosting company for under 10 dollars a month.
Make sure that you think of smoking as an all or nothing situation. Do not argue with yourself in your head about how much you think you need to have a cigarette. Anytime you feel the urge to debate try to remind yourself of the reasons that you are quitting.
Choosing the right web host can be a challenge, but if you follow the tips in this article and do your research, the process can be much easier.
Make sure you understand the tips and keep them in mind as you search for web hosting; it can make a difference to the success of your site, so pay attention and choose well.