How many times have you tried to hire a company to build your website, only to see that they want you to pay exorbitant fees to them in exchange for hosting your site after they build it? Don’t fall for this tactic. There are many web hosting companies out there, fighting for your business. Use the tips below to find the right one for your needs that fits into your budget.
Avoid any web hosting company that has a reputation for messing up the billing and payment system, no matter how reliable their hosting may seem. Even when a company offers reliable web hosting, failure to manage other key aspects of the business can mean problems for you as well, including sudden outages if the billing automation system cannot accurately keep track of customer transactions.
Ensure that the web host you sign up with has a strong anti-spam policy. If any of the web host’s customers are involved in spam activities, it could result in the web host becoming blocked which will affect your website as well. Make certain that the web host you are considering is not already blocked, and has stringent policies in place that will help it avoid getting blocked in the future.
If you plan on having a small website and not having to upload pictures or other large files, then you need not worry about bandwidth or storage space when choosing your web hosting service. You can even choose an unlimited bandwidth plan since you will always qualify for this offer.
If your site is a small, personal blog, consider using a free web hosting service like WordPress or a similar company. Sites like these are not adequate for large sites with a lots of traffic but can be ideal for smaller sites. WordPress, for example, offers a range of templates to give your site a unique, professional look and the company is constantly offering new services.
One effective way to determine the reliability of a web host that you are considering is to access the websites of their customers at various times throughout the day for several days. You should check for any errors that could be the fault of the web host, and find out whether the load times are fast enough. If you are running an online business, this is very important since slow load times can cost you customers!
Do not neglect the value of user reviews when it comes to choosing a web hosting service. There are often others who have had experience with the company you are considering, whether it is good or bad. It will never hurt to do a quick check on what others have to say, then you can make your decision accordingly.
When deciding between a Linux and Windows hosting package, you should consider the technologies that your website will be utilizing. If you plan on using PHP, Perl, MySQL databases, or other technologies that are generally associated with the Linux operating system, then you should obtain a Linux hosting solution. On the other hand, if you plan to use ASP, Cold Fusion or Microsoft Access databases, then Windows will be the ideal solution for you.
Purchase a web hosting plan that offers you more disk space than you currently need. Anticipating this as your business grows is essential. At a minimum, you should get 20 percent more space than you need so that you can improve or add to your site in the future without running out of space.
Don’t choose your web hosting provider based solely on price. Although using a cheap or free web host may save you money in the short run, these hosts might not offer the disk space or bandwidth you need. Price should be only one factor in your final decision so that you ensure that you get what you most need.
When searching for a reputable web host, you should aim to find one that has all the important documents. These include terms of Service, Acceptable Usage Policy, and Privacy Policy. These documents are meant not just to protect the host, but also the users. Ensure that when you find these documents that you look over them really carefully. If you can’t find these documents on a host’s website, then you should look elsewhere.
Find a host that has a record for low down times. This can be done with just a little bit of research on your part. If you use a web host that has a significant amount of down time, it means that you could lose traffic to your site, which means you will be losing money.
If you wish to add videos to your site, look for a host that supports Flash FLV format. This format is currently the most efficient way to host videos online and guarantee a fast streaming time for your visitors. Make sure you are allowed enough storing space and bandwidth for videos.
Always read reviews from past and present customers of your chosen web host before signing up with a long contract. Most 12 and 24-month hosting contracts have huge cancellation fees, so you need to realize that you are not going to be able to change your web host for a year or two. Therefore, it is important that you always check out customer reviews before signing up.
One thing that anyone looking for a web hosting provider should understand is that there is no such thing as unlimited resources. Some providers claim that they have unlimited space and bandwidth that you can use for your site but this is simply not true. They only claim this because the average user does not use up their allocated bandwidth.
When in doubt, simply go online and do some price comparisons against the hosting price your web developer wants to charge. Chances are, you will find a better price for hosting elsewhere. Take advantage of the information here to help decide which web hosting company best fits your needs and saves you the most money.
