How to Choose a Web Hosting Service!
1. Support. Is there really anybody there? Send them a question
by email and see how long they take to respond. You want to know
if they'll be there when you need them. Some offer 24-hour
support and a few will respond quickly. Speedy customer service
is rare and indicates a superior service. I think that this is
the single most important consideration. Also, check out the
quality of their online documentation.
2. Server performance. You want a server that is reliable and
fast. There is a free tool available that allows you to evaluate
this before making a decision! NetMechanic.com will measure the
speed of access for all facets of access (network speed, DNS
lookup, connect time, download time, and absence of timeouts).
The "download time" statistic is the most important single item
to compare. Collect your list of candidate hosting services and
run side-by-side tests of all the candidates. Sample during peak
and non-peak times for optimal comparison.
3. Are they familiar with the application you plan to use? If
you're planning to use a particular application that requires
special setup parameters (such as Online Merchant, a popular
online store), make sure your potential host is familiar with
the application. Otherwise you may find yourself spending a
great deal of time trying to figure out how to configure it -
perhaps never succeeding!
4. Traffic allowance. Compare your traffic allowances. Some
services give you a small limit on the amount of material that
can be downloaded from your site each month and charge you large
amounts when that limit is exceeded. Some offer huge traffic
allowances (several thousand MB/month, where 1,000 MB = 1 GB)
for the same price as others that limit you to a few hundred
MB/month. Sure you probably need less than a hundred MB/month
now, but why put yourself in a position where you have to move
when your traffic takes off? Plan ahead and allow for growth.
5. Space. How much space do you expect to eventually want for
your web site? Planning ahead can save you lots of money later.
If you expect to grow, look for a place that offers sites of 100
MB or more. Some services offer 500 MB sites for less money than
others that offer only 30 MB.
6. Features. Consider what features you want to simplify
development of your web site.
-Do you want access to a cgi-bin so that you can install your
own scripts? -Do you want many scripts pre-installed and pre-
configured? -Do you want to be able to use Microsoft's
FrontPage? -Do you want autoresponders for email processing? -Do
you want email aliases (automatic forwarding) so you don't need
to check email in more than one place?
7. Guarantee. With so many hosting services to choose from, why
not choose one that offers a guarantee? Services that offer a
moneyback guarantee are confident that you'll be delighted with
their service.
8. Cost. Look for hidden costs when comparing price.
-Do they expect you to pay for a long term in advance to get a
good price? Choose one that doesn't bait you with a low price
that's only available if you make a long-term commitment. -Will
they handle the registration of your domain for free? -If you're
transferring an existing domain, will they submit the domain
change to InterNIC for free?
Choosing an excellent service to host your web site doesn't have
to require luck. Knowing what to look for makes selection
simple.
Good luck with your marketing and God Bless.