Most people do not believe you can make a mistake when picking a web hosting company, but that is definitely not the right way to think. Just as companies who perform other types of services can be good or bad, there are some negative attributes to different web hosts. What are the mistakes to avoid when selecting a company?
Most web hosts offer various add-ons in their packages, but the number of features may differ from one host to another. When comparing the services offered by each host, ensure that the package you compare from each one contains the feature(s) you need. For example, some features may only be available on higher-priced plans, so be on the lookout for relevant terms and conditions.
Most web hosts have various add-ons for their packages, however, the features offered varies host by host. When you are analyzing the different providers, compare the different levels of service so you know you are getting the right features you require. For instance, one company’s low hosting price might rise once you add a certain feature, while another company has that feature in one of its packages for a low price.
One decision you need to make is whether you want shared or dedicated hosting. If your site is very complicated, with a high volume of traffic, shared hosting may not be a good option. Find a dedicated host for more space and bandwidth.
You have two options for hosting: shared or dedicated. If your site is large or complex, or you receive a lot of traffic, shared hosting might limit your ability to expand and meet the needs of your customers adequately. You should probably seek a dedicated host, instead.
Start researching alternative hosting companies at the first sign of trouble with your own; don’t wait until a change is absolutely necessary. In doing so, you have the ability to easily and quickly transfer to another provider with minimal downtime, should your current web host turn out to be completely untenable.
Avoid web hosts that have a great deal of down time. Choose a provider who has specific plans for dealing with an outage and one who does not shirk the blame onto someone else. A lot of downtime shows that they are not reliable and professional; therefore, you should steer clear of them.
Always register your business’ domain name on your own, outside of your hosting site. This way, if a shutdown or argument ensues, your valuable domain name will remain protected. This leaves you with no domain control, only your host will have it.
Are you considering a free web-hosting company for a website? Remember that free hosts rarely offer backup features. If you go with this option, you should be diligent in backing up your own data. Therefore, if your data is lost and you do not have your own backups, there will be nothing you can do.
When choosing a web host, ask what kind of security precautions are in place. These days, countless Internet-based threats exist, and websites are a constant target for them. Ask if the host you are using has protected themselves, and you from attacks that will cause harm, including DDoS threats. Be sure to ask what’s at risk should your website fall victim to such an attack.
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, infinite bandwidth might be considered to be tiered payment plans. Get all the information about plans upfront, and don’t take the word “unlimited” literally.
For most people, it is best to pay-as-you-go rather than commit to a long-term hosting contract. You have no way of knowing what your needs will be a year from now. The services provided by your web host could degrade, your website may require services that are beyond the capabilities of your web host or your account could even be closed for some unforeseeable reason. In each of these cases, it is possible that you will not be able to obtain a refund on the months that you have pre-paid.
In your quest for a hosting company, make sure that you do research outside of the host’s website in order to better determine if it’s a good web host. You want to find customer reviews so that you have an indicator of how reliable this host is before you invest into them. When determining the quality of a host, reviews from sources that aren’t affiliated with the provider in any way will be the most helpful.
Are you considering utilizing a web host that is free for the website you are starting? Remember that free hosts rarely offer backup features. If you go with this option, you should be diligent in backing up your own data. If your site goes down, loses a page, etc., you’re not going to get any help from your host.
A control panel (cPanel) is of utmost importance if you are choosing a web host. A cPanel will allow you to easily add applications to your site. These applications are user friendly and intuitive. A cPanel also streamlines the way you manage your site.
Figure out how large your website will be within the next year and choose a hosting plan that gives you enough hard drive space. An HTML page takes very little space, but adding pictures or videos will need a lot more space. 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.
Current Customers
Reputation is a vital asset for a good web host. Look at review and comparison websites to find the web host with the best reputation for solid service in the industry. You will be able to easily pick out the companies that’s efforts are lax, and don’t live up to claims that they make.
Find a way, such as message boards or forums, to discuss a potential web host with its current customers. When you are able to get information and have your questions answered you are better prepared to make a good decision. Participating in such discussions can help you feel more confident about your ultimate decision. Current customers are the best source of information available to you.
The host you decide to choose should provide support for all programming languages you are currently utilizing, and plan on using in the future. If you don’t have the correct language support, your website will not succeed. Also, you want to know any languages you intend to use in the future because you want to ensure that your hosting company will be able to support you down the road as your site grows. Switching web hosts can be difficult.
Be aware that web hosts can either use Linux or Windows as their server operating system. You need to be prepared to deal with the different features and operations of either. Linux is often cheaper to use compared to Windows, and can result in having lower monthly payments for your website.
Do not host your own site if you do not have a good connection. If you want your site to be up and running at all times, it needs a secure, fast connection to the Internet. You don’t want any lag time or downtime, as this is detrimental to your business.
Do not select a host based solely on the price. Take options like features into consideration, and don’t overlook support. There are many different factors to think about. Don’t choose a host just because they are a good deal price-wise. Be certain that whatever host you ultimately choose provides all the options and information you need.
Make sure to watch out for scams or miscellaneous fees. Many providers won’t disclose extra fees up front. This is why you should find out what your hosting plan includes and what features you are going to need. Your best bet is to select a plan which has all the features you will require, but at a price you can afford to pay.
Research the history of any possible web host before choosing them to be your provider. You want to find a company that has been operating successfully for quite a while and has a good track record. If the company has less than 12 months experience in web page hosting, you probably want to look further. You want to ensure that they aren’t going to go out of business any time soon.
Make sure you stay weary of inexpensive web hosts. You get what you pay for with web hosting, so consider that when you’re making your choice. They might be a risk to customers, or they do not offer the best customer service.
In conclusion, it is common for people to make errors when looking for a web host. If you are aware of the most common errors that can be made when selecting a hosting company, then you can avoid the bad ones. If you are looking for a great hosting provider, then use the advice in this article to your advantage.
Be sure to have a variety of ways to contact your web host when a problem occurs. Web host that offer a variety of contact options are your best bet for getting good customer support. This will save you a lot of headaches, if something should happen.