Tips For Choosing The Right Web Host

September 28th, 2007, 8:24 am

I figured this might help Ozzu members with future purchases of web hosting plans. It's a article I wrote a long time ago. You need an algorithm for choosing the right web host, right? Well, here it is. Let’s go through the considerations that you need to ponder in order to ensure that you get what you need. This is an important decision and you don’t want to charge in blindly. You want to choose the web host that is going to provide your needs as they stand now as well as where they lead to in the future. Here we go:

1. Understand the differing types of hosts: shared, collocated, unmanaged dedicated, and managed dedicated.

2. Go for stability, not just size. Research how long the hosting business has been in operation. See if they have recently changed ownership, and if they show positive cash flow.

3. The possession of fully redundant data centers. If you are considering doing business with a smaller hosting vendor, ensure that they have adequate power and connectivity capabilities. Inquire as to the number of lines the facility has. Do they possess an on-site generator? Does the generator receive regular checks and maintenance? What is the average utilization of the connections available?

4. How skilled is their staff? When you need customer service of a technical nature, you need it immediately, right? Find out the availability of their systems administrators. Send them an email and check for their response rate.

5. Other customer’s reviews of the hosting services. Same as any business, the hosting vendor should be able to provide good references.
6. Is the potential host flexible? In the future, your needs may change. Can you upgrade services should the need arise?

7. Make sure that the host does not have blackholed IPs. The host that you want to do business with would not be one that promotes illegal sites, spammers, or other security issues. You are considering associating your business with this host. Think about it.

8. Begin with and maintain a clear and written understanding of all services and all charges for them.

If you do your research before beginning business, you will find a better avenue to the successful hosting, and thereby promotion, of your online business. Take your time in making this important decision.

[joebert]

September 28th, 2007, 2:52 pm

Quote:

Make sure that the host does not have blackholed IPs.

Explain ?

October 2nd, 2007, 2:28 am

Also check for the reputation of the host in the market, Get their review from reviews sites, Hosting forums as ( WHT, DP etc... ) also check for the recent major downtime if they had in past and the reason for it.

October 6th, 2007, 10:00 am

Sorry for the confusion joebert. I mean't blacklisted IPs. IE: SMTP/email

[Bogey]

October 8th, 2007, 11:40 pm

basically know as much as possible about your host before you host with them.

THeir support history. Do they provide satisfactory support? Is it prompt? Quality?

Is it like GoDaddy? Or like some actually GOOD service that you can rely on?

October 9th, 2007, 9:13 am

Choosing the right Web Host for you may take appreciable length of time and investment of this time has always paid off later. Never commit to conclusion-jumping. Avoid incredible offers. Best way is to read reviews and track records of different hosting companies, and finally interact with the host yourself to get an overview of their supports or customer care services.

October 10th, 2007, 5:21 am

You can ask for reviews about your chosen host at few hosting forums as WHT, DP etc....surely ppl will share their experience with you.

October 10th, 2007, 8:38 am

Exactly, especially, please stay away from ridiculous offers like unlimited web space and bandwidth, even if it true, the server is bound to be oversold with a lack of reliability. Submitting tickets to support is a good way to test their response as well. But yeah, as harrysmith stated, google search the hosting company, look at the results, if they are reputable provider, they should have quite a few and also should see some reviews from sites like dp, wht and other various hosting directories.

October 11th, 2007, 3:52 am

Most sites also offer a testing period (ad supported space) for you to test quality of services, and DP and all forums have alert and educated users, who give opinion and (sometimes) biased feedback... but one should always ask and then review available options.


Cheers
GS

October 11th, 2007, 7:38 am

Most of the customers are smart enough to find the best host for themselves.
I have known quite a few that have developed their won ways of finding better host.

October 11th, 2007, 10:23 am

Quite true Dave, some may have been educated along the way when they have gone from host to host because of inadequate research, but more or less its a list for those that aren't as familiar with this process. Great Replies!

[ATNO/TW]

October 12th, 2007, 5:30 am

I'm sorry folks but all this is is a paraphrase of this copyrighted article. Read the real article here.

http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/52915.html


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