Articles on Hosting | Topics: hosting, web, host
by Willie Joyce
Making the decision to expand your world into that of the Internet is an important one. You already know what you want to put on your website and now all you need is a web host to house it. A web host is an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that will house your website and the many megabytes it will take up. ISPs vary wildly in the amenities that they offer so it is important to find the Web Host that offers everything that your website does and will need. This article enumerates five tips to choosing the right web host for you.
Free or Paid
The first step is to decide whether or not you should look for a free or a paid website. While free sounds nice, it is really only an option for those starting personal sites. If you plan on running your business through or from this website then free ISPs are more trouble than they are worth. When ISPs offer their space at no cost to you it means that they are gaining their revenue from that site elsewhere - by plastering your site with banner ads and pop ups. If you are running a business website, not only does this look unprofessional, it can run off potential customers who are sick of closing a pop up window after they click on any icon on your page.
Business sites need the reliability and services of commercial web hosts. So how much will you have to invest in your new website? Well, there are really three categories of web hosts: free, cheap, and good and with web hosts, you get what you pay for. The cost can range anywhere from $3-$50 per month. Why should you shell out $50 a month when you could get a site for free? Paid sites offer you more control over your website and more security to your customers.
Know What You Need
If you have already started searching for a web host, you have seen that there are thousands of choices even after you have narrowed it down to paid or free. How do you choose wisely? Be clear on what your needs will be and choose a web host accordingly. Create an outline for your future site. What are you going to sell? How do you want your customers to pay? What sort of media or pictures would you like to include? Don't forget to plan for the future. How much growth do you expect over the next year? The next three years? Storage space varies from provider to provider and determines the number of images, music and video files you will be able to fit on your website. If you plan on having a lot of media on your site you need to look for a provider who allows you ample amounts of space.
Narrow it Down
| Historical Quote |
The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill
together.
| —William Shakespeare (1564–1616) |
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You now know what your website will require so its time to start looking at the different packages that web hosts offer. But don't let your eyes get bigger than your stomach. You might want a package that has all the trimmings because it looks cool, but go with a package that fits your needs. Opt for an ISP that allows you the option for expansion. Pick 10 to 20 good fits and send out proposal requests to all of them. Set a deadline and sit back and wait for responses. Most of the web hosts will not respond by this deadline. Ignore them. It is a reflection of how valuable they think that you are as a customer.
Ask for References
Once you have obtained your short list of possible ISPs, ask them for references. Ask them for the contact information of some of their clients. Make sure you cover the spectrum. Ask about large clients as well as small ones. You want to see how customers are treated on both ends of the spectrum. Don't forget to ask them how good the host is at keeping the site available online.
Check Out Their Customer Support
One of the most frequent complaints that customers have about their web host is the lack of prompt, effective customer support. Test their customer service. Call them at three in the morning and see if a live person answers the call. Send them a customer support email and see how quickly they respond. Make sure that your web host won't leave you hanging when you are losing business because your web page has been temporarily out of service for days.
These five tips to choosing the right Web host for you will make this decision an easy one. Remember to be as knowledgeable as possible about your options before you sign up with a web host. Having the right ISP can make the difference between success and failure for your online venture.
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