Many small companies look for a cheap web host because they want to keep expenses low. The truth is that in time, you may end up paying more for fees or downtime than you would have with a better company. The following tips will help any small business find the right web host.
If you are considering using a particular web hosting site, read reviews about it. Specifically, check for reviews written by users of the site’s hosting services. Just as you wouldn’t make a major electronics purchase without first checking out product reviews, nor should you bypass looking at reviews for web hosting sites you’re considering using. Doing this now can save you frustration further down the road.
Call the customer service number and ask about SSL certification and shopping carts. If the technicians are helpful, you have found a web host that understands e-commerce and will be able to meet your needs. On the other hand, if no one is able to answer your technical questions, look for a different host.
Do not be deterred from using a web hosting service that employs customer service agents in a foreign country. Though it may be difficult to understand various accents at times, realize that many countries spend extraordinary amounts of time and energy in making their citizens technologically superior. This is particularly true of India, which is why many companies employ educated technology services overseas.
Use caution when considering web hosting packages that offer unlimited services. 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. The unlimited bandwidth claims may actually be part of a tiered pricing system. Read the fine print and see what “unlimited” actually means. It may be less than what the company wants you to believe.
Some web hosting sites are free and can help you save money and cut costs, but these usually come with a catch. This usually means that they will put advertisements on your site, and you will have a limited amount of space to store your website. If you don’t want any ads to appear on your site, you should consider paying another site to host 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.
Establish how much you can afford to spend on web hosting. You can get discounts if you subscribe to web hosting for a while year instead of paying a monthly fee. Perhaps you should start with a monthly subscription to see if the host you have chosen is reliable and switch to a yearly plan later.
Find out if the web host you are considering offers a trial period. A trial period is a great way to identify potential issues, particularly whether there will be any downtime. It also gives you an opportunity to test the level of expertise and responsiveness of their customer service. You should take advantage of the trial period prior to making any kind of commitment.
Do not be cheap if you are finding a web host. Staying online is very important for a small business owner since you need to be able to receive sales to pay the bills. Utilize the tips from the above article in order to help prevent you from making typical mistakes other owners have made when selecting a hosting service.
