When designing a site, you’ll have to select a hosting company at some point in time. If you are not knowledgeable on this topic, that means it is time to start doing some research and taking a look at what is available. Read this article on what you should be aware of when you are making your selection.
Your web host should play a key role in your site management, by offering you tools that allow you to track and analyze site statistics like traffic. Add your own visitor counter on your site, and compare your visitor count to the one provided by your host. This helps you as an online businessperson to customize your information as you market to your niche.
Do due diligence on the web hosters you have decided to consider. Informing yourself before you spend money is just as necessary here as in any purchase. As you research, you might learn about problems with some of these web hosting services that you aren’t willing to put up with.
See what kind of server access your web host provides. If you’re not adept at using FTP to access a server, you’ll want to opt for a company that has an intuitive, online control panel. The easier HTML control panel is preferred for simpler sites, while more complicated sites may do better with FTP.
Good communication is vital to picking a good host. Your host should inform users of updates, downtime and other significant issues as well as interacting with customers on a regular basis. Of course, you will want to know that they are accessible when you have issues or problems.
Research the company history of providers that you’re considering to be your web host. You want to make sure that they have been in business for a while, and that their reputation is sound. They should have at least one year’s operating history before you consider them. What would you do, after all, if your hosting company went out of business?
It’s key that your potential web host includes features you want or need to use. You definitely want the basics in place like Microsoft FrontPage support, E-mail spam filtering protection, SSL certificates, and anything else that you know that you will take advantage of.
Be aware that web hosts can either use Linux or Windows as their server operating system. Each of these operating system differs in features and interface. Linux is usually the much cheaper option compared to Windows, and there could be a significant savings in your site’s monthly rate.
For whichever web host you consider, learn which uploading method they use, especially if you expect to transfer a lot of data. It is possible that you may need access to an FTP server. If you have no experience with FTP servers, make sure you can use a software to manage your uploads.
Some web hosting services offer you refunds for the amount of time your site has been down. You will only be given a small percentage of your monthly bill, likely to be a couple of pennies, and it won’t compare to the losses in revenue you face. For that reason, prioritize finding a company with high uptime stats rather than a money-back guarantee.
Do not purchase a web hosting package unless you can pay with a popular payment method. Using PayPal or major credit cards can protect you beyond the scope of payment by direct debit or a check. Additionally, Paypal stops any host company from charging you automatically until you first give your consent.
Does the web host offer your money back guaranteed? Canceling your service should be your right if you aren’t satisfied with what you signed up for within 30 days. Know what the money-back guarantee covers before you sign up so you don’t get stuck with a bad web host.
Free web hosting should not be a consideration, unless you’re posting nothing more than a small, insignificant personal website. While this price can seem very attractive to a limited budget, you may end up outgrowing the boundaries of your web host. If you have a growing website, you may end up tied down to a free web host that won’t grow with you. There may be high switching costs associated with new providers, which takes away from the value of a free hosting site.
Do not base your choice on price alone. Make sure to consider every option you currently need and consider future growth potential as well. You shouldn’t choose a package from a provider who doesn’t meet your needs, even if the price is great. Be sure that the host who you are considering is able to provide everything that you need now, and in the near future.
Be wary of web hosts with a price that seems too good to be true. If you are tempted to choose a cheap host, find out why the price is so low. Either they do not understand business pricing well, or they will not end up providing the quality of service that you want for your website.
If you are confident you will use the same reliable web host service for a couple years, you should look into discounted rates. You could save a great deal of money doing this.
Before you decide to subscribe to a particular hosting package, browse the website carefully. The best hosting companies offer plenty of resources for the novice website owner. The site should be professional and easy to use. Ask the hosting company if additional information and tutorials are available to those who have signed up for an account.
Make sure you can take your domain name if you decide to go with another web hosting company. You may need to go with another company later if the web host cannot meet your needs. Some hosts do not allow that, which would result in losing your site name along with the visitors who have grown used to it.
Finding a web host is like finding and shopping for any other product you buy. You must know your needs and budget, and be able to match that up with a good company. This article will help you accomplish that.
