How to find the right hostby |
How to find a web hosting provider Choosing the right host is important if you want to run a successful web site. We know that if you are just starting out it can seem a difficult task, there are so many web hosts out there and not all of these are reliable. There are a few vital things that you must look for when choosing your hosting provider. We have outlined these in this forum topic. 1 - Reliability Finding a reliable hosting provider is important, what is the point spending your own time and money, designing, running and promoting your new web site, if the server it is located on is always down. If your web site is down, it means that people will not be able to access your site and may not try and visit again. Many web hosts offer an uptime guarantee of around 99%, it is possible to keep a well managed and balanced server online. There are instances where the server will go down due to a fault, however a good hosting provider will fix the problem as quickly as possible. When choosing your host, ask them if it would be possible for them to provide you with uptime statistics, that way you can see what their past uptime history is. 2 - Customer Support In the event that a problem arises it is important that it is resolves as quickly as possible, to prevent downtime. Today hosts provide a variety of support options ranging from email to telephone and live chat. We will give a brief explanation of each form: --- email : a direct email address is supplied, responses may be slow depending of the host --- phone : This type of support may vary, from free phone numbers to 24 hour manned telephones. This type of support may not be necessary for all clients. --- Support Desk : This is a useful service, a support desk usually integrates help files, tutorials, and online ticket support. You are able to submit a support ticket and an operator will respond. Again the hours of opening vary. --- Live Chat : If you have ever used MSN, ICQ or Yahoo Messenger you will know what live chat is. You are connected in an operator in real-time. Many hosts now offer this type of support Before you choose your host make sure that you check out their support options, if you are running a personal website then email should be suitable, however if you are running a website selling a product or service, you should at least choose a host for 24x7 support. 3 - Price The hosting industry is a very competitive, and you can find some amazing deals, however remember to look at the host's reliability and support options as well as the price. All we can say is to shop around, there are a number of web sites that provide a platform for searching through hundreds of hosts. Where to find your host The two best places to find a web host online are using web hosting directories and web hosting forum sites. The hosting directories contain listings of hundreds of hosts and their packages and you can compare many packages at the same time. You can also find information about web hosts from forum sites like Web Hosting Complete (http://www.whcomplete.com), you can find a lot about a host just by asking people who have had experience with a particular host.
About the Author I have had experience with a number of hosting companies over the last year and have learnt a lot about running a successful business. I am currently involved with Web Hosting Complete (http://www.whcomplete.com) a free hosting forum site. |
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