When starting a new online business, saving money, by using a low-cost web host, is often very tempting. Cheap web hosts may lead to lost sales though. The following tips will help any small business find the right web host.
Find a web hosting services with an extremely low downtime so your site is available to your visitors. Anytime your website is compromised, you are losing business.
Make sure you know exactly what is included in your contract with the hosting company, and what isn’t. All web hosts offer different packages for different prices. Before you pay for any hosting package, make sure you know exactly what is included in it. That way you’ll be confident that you’ve got everything you need at your disposal.
Not every web host supports all programming languages, so make sure the one you choose is compatible with the programming language you use, or plan to use. You will not have success when it comes time to launch your site, if you inadvertently chose a host that does not support your programming language. Additionally, you may decide to apply a new language later, and if it is not supported, this could cause problems. Switching web hosts can be extremely tedious.
One effective way to find a reputable web hosting service, is to look for one that has won many hosting awards. This provides an easy way for you to judge a web host’s service and support. Be wary of fake awards, looking instead for awards you can identify as being backed by a valid voting process. If you question an award’s validity, check with the site that issues the awards to be sure. Consider web hosts that have won several awards from fans.
There are some hosts which will give you pro-rated refunds for down time. This monetary refund policy is often just a few cents even if you lose a lot of money while the site was down. Your focus should be on the hosts uptime rates, and not on their refund policy.
Unlimited web hosting services rarely are. A web hosting provider offering unlimited disk space, for example, could put limitations on the types of files you are allowed to upload and store. Also, unlimited bandwidth sometimes means a payment plan that is tiered. Ensure that your information regarding each plan is complete, and never assume that “unlimited” services come without strings attached.
Before you decide to subscribe to a particular hosting package, browse the website carefully. You should find forums, contact information, and resources like support documentation. Also, see what additional resources are available after you sign up.
Pick a web host that can give you room to expand. A single HTML page requires very little space, but images and videos up the ante considerably. You’ll want to have at least 100 megabytes of space allotted to your account with the ability to add more at a reasonable price.
You might want to upgrade on the services that you get from your website’s host as you get increased traffic. Choose a host that already has a system in place to easily upgrade your service as needed. If you ask for more bandwidth for your site, you should be able to receive it quickly. Switching from shared servers to your own dedicated one should also be simple.
Actively participate in online forums dedicated to web hosting service outages and problems. This will allow you to know if multiple hosts are experiencing outages at the same time, or if it’s just your provider. If your host is inaccessible for more than a day, do not hesitate to ask questions in the forum about when service will be restored.
Avoid scams! Many hosting companies tend to advertise their prices without mentioning the extra fees that come with it. It’s extremely important to fully understand everything that a hosting plan entails. It’s also important to know what features you need. In either case, read the fine print to make sure you do not pay more than the promised rate. This way you can discover the best plan for you that solves all of your needs at a fair price.
Know that many web hosts use Linux, but Windows is used extensively as well. This means that these providers have different feature sets that you will have to become familiar with. If you are able to navigate a Linux-based program, then you can save significant money over using a Windows based site.
You should be aware of the amount of disk space and bandwidth you will require. The two things that will help you decide are traffic volume and the demands of your actual web page. Some companies will allow you to have unlimited file storage, as well as unlimited bandwidth. Failing to account for adequate capacity in these important functions will cause your website to load slowly and cost you customers.
Take the time to call and email the customer support team for a web host before making any decisions. It is important that a provider offers courteous, accessible assistance. If you know how they act before you buy their services you will have a better idea if you would stick with them later on.
When choosing a web host, be sure that you choose one that has features that you need for your website. Microsoft FrontPage support, SSL certificates and spam protection are some industry standards to keep an eye out for. You may also find other features necessary for your website.
Check the site of your possible web host. A poorly done site could mean a “red flag” for the hosting company. Will yours likely be any better? However, a website that is nicely designed shows a company that is professional, and has taken the time to protect their reputation.
Choosing low prices over service and features is not a good solution. For people with small businesses, it is crucial your site stays online and live, so you can pay your bills and increase your profits. If not, your business will soon be gone. When it comes to finding a good web host, use all the tips from this article in order to help your site grow and your small business reach its goals.
