“Unlimited” bandwidth might not mean what you think it means. Many hosts will tout this as a feature, but what it really means is that they will let you use as much bandwidth as they think is reasonable. If you have a true high-bandwidth site, be sure you understand the rules and costs that your host may impose.
Be wary of web hosting companies that claim 100 percent uptime. While more uptime is better, there is a limit. It is possible to achieve 99.9 percent uptime. However, even the fastest, most reliable servers must be rebooted occasionally in order to apply important security patches. Any company claiming 100 percent uptime is either lying, or has servers that are not up to the latest security standards.
Good customer support is essential to any web host. If something goes wrong or your website is not working, it’s important that you have someone to contact who can help you with the problems immediately and get them taken care of. Inquire about the host’s company support options before shelling out any money.
Choose a web host with a good support system. It is inevitable when working with websites that something will eventually go wrong. The difference is made when you have access to a reliable support team. An ideal support team can resolve most problems in 30 minutes, while some of the subpar companies will take up to 24 hours to even respond to a call for help.
Become proficient in talking about the process of web hosting before you begin your search. Web hosting has its own language that can be very off-putting to those people who never took the time to study it prior to choosing a web host. With just a little studying, you can find yourself ahead in the game when it comes to choosing the best hosting company for you.
Find out whether the hardware utilized by the web host you are considering is reliable. Their hardware will have a direct effect on the performance of your website. This is particularly important if you are using complex scripts to generate your webpages, or if you are conducting a large number of concurrent transactions on your website. Make certain that their hardware is acquired from reputable vendors and is up-to-date.
You might want to consider a web host if he or she provides a web hosting trial. When a host provides this type of trial, this demonstrates that this person is confident enough in his or her hosting capabilities to provide services for free for a limited time. However, you should ensure that you carefully read the trial’s terms. For example, some hosts may try to trick you into purchasing a whole year of hosting simply for a free month of hosting. Do not fall for these scams.
Consider signing up for a 12 month web hosting contract. Many web hosting providers now offer large discounts to customers who sign up for long term contracts. If you pay for your web hosting on a month by month basis, as oppose to on a yearly contract, you could end up paying more than double for your website’s annual hosting.
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 you will be using more than one domain name or run more than one website, it’s important to select a web host that allows add-on domains. You can find hosts that allow you to have up to 20 different websites on one account for free which should allow you plenty of options.
Look for a money back guarantee. Look for a minimum of a 14 to 30 day money back guarantee with any company you are considering as your web host. If a company is reliable as they claim, they should be willing to back that claim up. This will also allow you to really get a good look at the company and experience their service before you lose your money for good.
One thing that anyone looking for a web hosting provider should be wary of is overselling. Some hosting providers out there offer more space than they can actually offer in order to attract more business. Make sure that your hosting provider can actually back up any claims that they make.
Always sign up with a web hosting service that provides a money back guarantee to protect your interests. Many companies will give you thirty days to change your mind, or in the event that something unforeseen comes up, allow you a full refund. Obviously you hope to stick with your web site goals, but should something go wrong, you will not be losing money.
Factor in your future site plans when choosing the amount of space or bandwidth you need from your hosting company. You may not be adding videos, voice recordings or large images and graphics to your site right now, but if you will be adding these components in the future, you will likely need quite a bit more space.
There’s no question that cheap web hosting can be a help in terms of controlling business costs. But how cheap is it really, when it’s unreliable and costs you money in lost sales? Look for a web hosting company that provides reliable, quality service using these tips, and you will truly save money and have a better experience all around.