Choosing a Web Host
These days, there are so many web hosting companies out there.
All of them offer roughly the same options, but what makes a
great web host? The indirect answer is that it depends on your
needs. The purpose of this article is not to discuss the aspects
of most hosting plans, but to discuss what you should be looking
for.
The Name of the Game: Customer Service Since most hosting
companies provide the same hosting options, the more important
topic is customer service. It's easy to throw together a few
servers, get a dedicated connection, add some more hardware,
design a web site, and call yourself a web host. Buy what's
behind that web site?
It doesn't matter if you're a new to web hosting or if you're a
seasoned professional, everyone needs to contact technical
support sometime. A good web host will offer a "knowledge base"
or "frequently asked questions" on their web site to give
answers to the most common questions. This is helpful for you
because you don't have to pick up the phone or email tech
support if your question is there.
If you're question is not covered on the web site, a good web
host will have multiple ways for you to contact them. The most
common form of communication is email or telephone. The downside
of email support is that it can take time to get your questions
answered. If you're new to web hosting, putting your question
into words could be a problem in itself. Tech support by phone
is usually quickest, but it also has it quirks. After calling
the toll free number, you have to press 1, then 3, then 2, and
then have to hold for the next available representative. If
you're lucky, the person that answers the phone speaks coherent
English and actually has a clue about their services. A new form
of tech support is "live support" where the company will have an
icon on their site for you to click that will open an instant
messenger window. This is great because you get to talk with the
representative in real time without making the phone call. You
still have to put your question into words, but at least they
can help you clarify you problem.
To test their customer service, spend some time navigating their
support web site. If it seems to be lacking, move on to the next
host. Do some research on the web to see if there are any
complaints against the company. There are many forums on the
internet dedicated to that subject. Check out there links:
http://www.webmaster-talk.com/.You can also try to giving their
toll free number a call to ask questions. Get a feel for what
their company is like over the phone.
Another Solution If you are using a web designer for your
project, check to see if they offer hosting. They probably offer
the same packages that the bigger companies offer at close to
the same price. The biggest difference should be the customer
service. Because most web design firms are small companies, you
should get personal service that is catered to your needs. At my
firm we offer hosting exclusively to our clients. The difference
we provide is that when you email us, we guarantee a response
within one hour. If you call our office, a real person will
answer the phone. In a saturated market such as web hosting,
giving the best service to the client is the only way to do
business.