Why Ignoring the Unlimited Hosting Plan is the Smart Way to Go
Anyone in the market for a Web site host has certainly come
across a hosting company offering unlimited bandwidth and
unlimited disk space as part of their hosting packages. How do
they do this? How physically, can they offer unlimited disk
space when each server has a finite amount of disk space
available for use? Perhaps more importantly, how can they offer
unlimited bandwidth when the Internet does indeed have
limitations?
Some consumers see the term unlimited and assume that that they
can't go wrong. This is merely a marketing ploy just like
unlimited minutes on your cell phone or unlimited trips to the
salad bar. At some point, there will be a limit. And in most
cases, it'll cost you.
So why are unlimited plans even around? Because there are still
consumers that just don't know enough about Web hosting and
assume that bigger is better. They generally see a low cost plan
(sometimes under $10/month, watch out!) and don't think twice.
If you have a business Web site, the least you should be paying
for quality Web hosting is $20 per month.
However, if you decide to go that route, be sure to read the
fine print. Unlimited hosting packages generally have terms
dictating that when you reach a certain point, they can either
raise the cost of hosting drastically or even shut down your Web
site! Remember, they're in business to make money and aren't
going to run their business at a loss to simply retain your
business.
So what can you do to avoid a hosting nightmare? First, find a
hosting company where you can actually talk to a live person.
This may sound obvious, but many large hosting providers only
offer technical support via email with up to 24-hour response
times. If your site goes down, are you willing to wait 24 hours
for a response? Check to see if they even list a phone number on
their Web site. Many large hosting providers don't and consumers
don't even think to look for it until something is wrong with
their site.
Second, discuss your needs with the Web hosting company. While
most companies have set packages, some will be willing to
customize hosting plans so that you only pay for the services
you need. If a host isn't willing to discuss the needs of your
site with you, how helpful are they going to be as your site
expands and your requirements increase?
Finally, plan for your growth. Don't simply choose the cheapest
plan because it meets your current needs. Assume that your Web
site is going to increase its traffic over time and be sure that
when it does, there are no hassles or downtime. Pay a little bit
more if you have to because in Web site hosting especially, you
get what you pay for.
If you have a Web site for your business, Web hosting is the
most critical aspect because without it, your site is useless.
Knowing that your hosting provider is dependable and responsive
can make all the difference because ideally, the only time you
ever really need to talk to them is when something is wrong. It
all comes down to the idea that if they're willing to be
deceitful to get your business by offering an unlimited plan,
how can you be confident that they'll be honest when you need
them the most? Taking time to select the right host can make all
the difference and let's face it, while there is no such thing
as unlimited bandwidth and unlimited disk space, there also is
no such thing as 100% uptime. You'll need your host, so choose
wisely.