How to Find The Perfect Web Host |
|
How to Find The Perfect Web Host - an article on Affordable Web Hosting Reviews 4U by Dan Scott. Read all web hosting articles in Web Hosting R4u.
A perfect web host can be as hard to track down as the proverbial matchless mate. The only difference is your Aunt Sally isn't constantly trying to hook you up with the perfect web host.
By now I'm sure you realize that, just as their is no perfect mate, there is also no perfect web host. Just like people, web hosts are subject to mishap and seem all too often to let us down just when we need them most. Given these shortcomings, finding a web host we can feel comfortable with should follow some of the same rules for finding a mate.
So, where to start? Start with yourself and your needs; self evaluation is critical before starting any long-term relationship. What needs are you trying to fill? Do you want to start a personal blog? An e-commerce web site? A family web site? A forum to discuss urban landscaping?
The type of web site you intend to build can help to determine the type of host you need. An e-commerce site that will (hopefully) generate lots of traffic will likely need the power of dedicated servers, whereas a family web site will likely do quite well on a shared server.
Are you new to the whole web hosting scene? Avoid the desire to be a wall flower and look for somebody that will treat you with tenderness and respect. Focus on customer service, look for reviews indicating great communication and support along with lots of ease-of-use features. After you've made a choice, test their support services early on before you have a lot of time and effort committed to your site. Send emails, make phone calls, use the online support to see how quickly they respond and how helpful they are. If you're not satisfied don't stick around hoping they'll change... they never change.
What kind of software do you intend to run? PHP or ASP? Will you need a database like MySQL, or a shopping cart, or mail forwarding, or SSH, or SSL, etc? I know, it's confusing and the list goes on and on, but if you don't have at least some idea of how you are going to build your web site, what software you will be running, and what supporting applications you will need, you may not be ready for a web host relationship yet.
Been there before? Use your prior experience to look for those things that have worked for you in the past. And, although I shouldn't have to say it, stay away from the things that have burned you before. If you've learned the hard way that a terabyte of storage doesn't always mean a terabyte of storage, use that experience and read the fine print this time.
A clear understanding of your needs along with careful research can net you a partnership that you can both be happy with. Remember to always read through the details and always be prepared to leave.
In the end, though it may be true that there is no such thing as a perfect web host, with careful planning and lots of research you can find one that meets your needs and makes for a happy long-term relationship.
Dan Scott is a Computer Scientist with over 25 years of experience developing,
constructing, and supporting computers and information systems. Make sure you
check out his web
hosting reviews on the top affordable web hosting sites.
|
