Choosing a web host isn’t the easiest thing to do. If you aren’t careful, you might find yourself in a nightmare situation with a host that doesn’t provide quality service, respond to technical support requests, or provide solid up-time for your website(s). There is a huge selection of companies providing web hosting services, and to someone unfamiliar with the industry, it’s very easy to end up with the wrong provider for your needs. Here are five tips to hopefully get you pointed in the right direction.
1. Free and commercial web hosts. Free web hosts can be a good choice based on your expected internet traffic and the content on your website. Free web hosts usually offset the cost of providing free web space by placing banner ads or pop-ups on the site. If you are building a professional website, however, this is not a good option for you. Free web hosts have a reputation of disappearing due to lack of money. The old adage, You get what you pay for may be true when it comes to web hosting. For reliable, continuous web hosting without annoying pop-ups or advertising that has nothing to do with your web content, use a commercial web host. Research various web hosts for a competitive price that suits your budget.
2. Bandwidth. Your website will generate traffic. The amount of traffic that is driven to your website will determine how much bandwidth you will need. If you are a small business owner or have a personal website, a small amount of bandwidth, such as 5 MB, should be enough. To stay competitive, many web hosts now offer unlimited bandwidth. If you foresee heavy traffic to your site, ensure you read the fine print to avoid overage charges because unlimited usually has restrictions.
3: Windows vs. Linux Servers This issue is a little more advanced, but it can still apply to many people. Lots of web hosting companies only focus on providing Linux or UNIX operating system-based servers, which may or may not include the ability to run scripting languages like ASP. If you know that your website will require applications often associated with Windows platforms, don’t assume it’ll be compatible with any random host. Check to see if they offer Windows hosting first.
4. Secure Server. If you will be selling products or services on your website it is essential that your website offers a secure server (SSL.) A secure server ensures that personal information collected through your website is safe from hackers.
5: Read The Terms of Service! This one is actually more important than many people realize. There are quite a few things you can do to get kicked off of your hosting account with many hosting companies, and they usually do not give you a chance to retrieve your files or configurations from their servers before deleting your account. If you plan to host a site containing adult content, inflammatory language, or other questionable content, make absolutely certain to read over the TOS carefully for any clauses forbidding such content. If you’re uncertain, ask customer support.
It is important to choose an established and well-respected web host that offers the hosting services you need at a reasonable price. With a reliable, professional web hosting company, your web site will be readily available to you and your site visitors, your data will be safe, you will be able to easily upgrade your hosting plan if needed and your hosting package will include FTP, email and other features so you can get the most out of your web site.
