Whether you’re looking to change web hosts or you’re starting a site for the first time, you need to find the right host for your requirements. To find out what you need to look for — and what to look out for — take a look at these tips that will help you find a great web hosting provider.
You want to ensure that you get web hosting that has a good server. You don’t want to have a lot of people coming to your site and start lagging because of all the traffic that you’ve been attracting to your site recently. So be sure to invest in a server that is reliable to avoid clutter problems in the future.
Go for Linux hosting unless you need to use certain applications or server-side languages. Linux hosting has a better reputation for uptime, stability, and resource use. Shared hosting that runs on Linux tends to be somewhat cheaper, as well. There are, however, certain applications that need Windows hosting, including Plesk, Microsoft Access, Silverlight, MSSQL, and ASP.net.
Instead of finding a great web hosting company, start your own web hosting company to service your own needs. This can provide many benefits including secondary income and free web hosting if your business takes off. This is a great way to think like an entrepreneur, and make some money instead of paying for web hosting.
A good web hosting provider should have good, responsive customer service, so be sure to consider this when choosing a host. Find out how quickly they respond to problems or complaints that their customers have. You want to choose a host that will work to quickly and professionally resolve any problems you encounter.
Figure out how much bandwidth you need before shopping for web hosts. Keep in mind that you need more bandwidth if you plan to include photos or videos on your website. Compare different bandwidth plans and purchase a plan that gives you a little more bandwidth than you need so that you have room to expand your site.
“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.
A free web host will limit you in the space you can use to store your site, in the number of visitors you get or by adding ads to your site. If you wish to have a professional-looking website and being able to develop it, you should really turn toward a paying service.
Find a way, such as message boards or forums, to discuss a potential web host with its current customers. Ask your questions and mention your concerns to find out if these clients are satisfied. Positive discussions will also bolster your confidence in the host you ultimately choose. Getting feedback from current clients may be the smartest way to distinguish among firms.
Pick a host that has received a number of accolades and awards. This can help you judge their service and support. Most of these awards are achieved through the legitimate process of site visitors voting, and they are a good indication that the hosting company is a good one with which to work. It’s always a good sign if a host has won a number of voter’s choice awards.
Finding a solid web hosting provider is of paramount importance for anyone with a website. Don’t disappoint your visitors with the downtime that comes from having an unreliable host. These great ideas will help you sort through the wide variety of web hosts and make a decision that you will be happy with.
