What To Look For In A Web Host
Selecting a web hosting service is a complex process. You need to find the most reliable service possible while not spending more than you can afford. Keep reading to learn more about web hosting.
Do as much research as possible about the web hosting services you are interested in. Read everything on their official site, check their message boards and look for reviews written by webmasters. There are even blogs and sites that rank web hosting services. If a web host is not reliable, you will find some bad reviews, very little information on their site and some complaints on their official message board. You need to keep in mind that every web host occasionally runs into technical difficulties, but there is a real problem if all the reviews you find are negative.
Make a list of all the features you need. Some web hosting services will allow you to create some email addresses that contain your domain name, use some analytical tools to monitor your traffic and some site-building plugins if you need help with designing a quality site. These additional features might cause the cost of your web hosting plan to go up, but it is in your best interest to invest in a plan that allows you to create a quality site.
Stay away from free web hosting solutions if possible. Using a free web host will help you save a lot when you first launch your site, but you will run into technical issues and not be able to rely on a quality customer service. Most free web hosts place ads or banners on your site, which is not good for your image. Instead, try finding an affordable web hosting solution so you can turn to qualified technicians if you run into a problem.
Some web hosting services will give you a deal if you register your domain name when creating an account. You should never put all your eggs in one basket and get your server space and domain name from the same service. If you decide you want to switch to a different web host, you will be stuck because you cannot keep your domain name without still paying a monthly fee to your first web host. Use a separate service for your domain name so you can keep it if you decide to switch to a different web host.
Call the customer service of the web hosting service you are interested in. Ask some questions about maintenance and equipment to get an idea of how qualified the technicians are. If you are redirected to a call center that is not located where the servers are or if the people you talk to cannot answer your technical questions, find another host. Some companies actually rent server space from other hosts and cannot perform any maintenance on the servers or answer your technical questions.
Use these tips and compare different web hosting service before you make your decision. Take your time, and do not hesitate to switch to a different service if your first choice was not the best.