Here are some key points to remember when looking for a web host:
•Reliability is key. What's the point of having a website if you can't reach it when you need to? Sites with uptime guarantees are good. But beware: few web hosts can give true 100% reachability.
•Reasonable service. This says reasonable for a reason. If a web host offers 50MB of disk space and 500MB of transfer for $30/mo, don't go for it. This, however, goes both ways. If a web host offers 10GB of disk space and 40GB of transfer for $5/mo, avoid it. Buying web hosting can be just like buying a car - if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
•Support. What happens if you run into a problem with your website? Do you have anyone to contact? Some sites will have an "online help" forum or some kind of trouble ticket system. Those are good ways of getting help, but a phone number is always more reassuring than having to go through a maze.
•Ease of use. Look for a web host that offers a good control panel. Some hosts offer their own control panel. However, some of the ones listed in the FAQ entry in the previous sentence will work just fine.
•Track record. Some web hosts have only been in business for weeks and are already promising perfect uptime, amazing speeds, and so on. Usually, your best bet is to WHOIS the host's domain name. You can do so by clicking the "WHOIS" link in the previous sentence and pasting the web host's domain name. (ex. dslreports.com (domain name)) If the "Creation Date" is less than six months old, your best bet is to wait a bit and see if the host stays in business.
•Location. This one isn't as important, but can make a big difference on some sites. Many "web hosts" are run by teenage kids using low-price (~$99/mo is the current rate) servers. You can find out where a server is located by using this method. If you get "Everyones Internet" as a result, your best bet is to stay away. You'll also want to consider the location of people who will be accessing your web site. If you're running a forum for Dodge owners in Texas, choosing a web server in Canada or Europe would be a poor idea.
 feedback form
 feedback form
by removed  edited by big greg
last modified: 2004-06-26 17:21:45 |
