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

August 16, 2009 | Filed Under Blogging

by Mike Willingham

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: Define your needs. If your web site is a small or medium-sized informational site with a few graphics, it will require less disk space and bandwith than a multi-product e-commerce site will. If your site uses a specific programming language such as PHP or ASP.NET, you will be required to use a web host that offers hosting in that particular language. If you plan to sell online, your host must include e-commerce security and shopping cart functions. Knowing what to look for will help you find a suitable web host.

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: Windows vs. Linux Servers This issue is a little more advanced, but it can still apply to many people. Lots of web hosting companies only focus on providing Linux or UNIX operating system-based servers, which may or may not include the ability to run scripting languages like ASP. If you know that your website will require applications often associated with Windows platforms, don’t assume it’ll be compatible with any random host. Check to see if they offer Windows hosting first.

4: Read The Review Forums! There are many websites with forums dedicated to discussing and reviewing the various hosting providers, and they are often an invaluable source of information that can help you make your decision. Look out for the forums that just want to make money off of ads, though. Find a community with many thousands of members so you know it’s the real deal.

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!

About the Author:

Michael has been involved with web hosting companies for over 10 years. At Rate Your Web Hosting help helps you chose the cheapest web hosting and presents you will all the information you need to make informed decisions.

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