Choosing a Web Hosting Service
To avoid your site becoming just a blip in the abyss that is the Internet, you need to ensure that your web hosting service will meet all of your needs and expectations. That's difficult to do when there are 5 million hosting companies out there claim to be "the best EVER!" Finding that perfect fit doesn't have to be by costly trial-and-error, however; here's what you need to know to make a smart decision.
What is the purpose of your Website?
Ask yourself a few questions and gather up some info before shopping for a Web host - like how much traffic do you expect on your site? Do you have a lot of graphics and video? What is your site's function? An e-commerce site, for example, will require a different kind of hosting service than a basic informational site.
You'll want a hosting service that is able to cover the extent of your site's functions easily and without disruption, even if you decide to add features to your site at a later date.
What type of Web hosting is best for you?
To answer that question, you need to know some basic information about your website: Will your site need to run on a Windows or Linux server? What kind of language was your site programmed using? Does it have a database? Once you've found a host who can support your site, you can determine what kind of web stats (basic or advanced) and how many email addresses you'll need.
Will your web hosting service be there for you?
A Website never stops serving and neither should your hosting service. Make sure the company you choose offers 'round the clock care (we're talking 3 AM on a Tuesday here) and the ability to make contact should the unexpected emergency occur. Get this in writing.
What about web server performance?
Slow load times, and timeouts especially, will turn visitors away quickly, so you want a server that's fast and reliable. Visit NetMechanic.com for free evaluations and stats of your top hosting companies, and be sure to crunch the numbers for peak and non-peak times for the most accurate performance portrait.
How much Internet traffic (Bandwidth) is available?
Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transferred during a given period of time. In other words, higher bandwidths equal higher traffic allowances. There are a lot of different hosting packages available out there, some that will charge you big time for bandwidth overages, some that offer a flat rate no matter how much traffic your site has. Know your site's daily visitor rate and consider any downloads your site offers; this will help in avoiding expensive surprises down the road.
What about disk space?
Signing up for a hosting service is kind of like renting an apartment; you'll be paying a monthly fee for a designated amount of space. The amount of disk space you'll need depends on how big your site is, what kind of content it includes (audio, video, and images take up a lot more space than straight content), and what your site plans for the future include.
Be sure your allotted disk space can grow accordingly. A disk space of 100 MB or more is usually enough.
Will your web hosting company offer an Uptime Guarantee?
If you stand to lose business or revenue should your site suddenly go into downtime, look for providers with uptimes guarantees that offer money-back reliability. Providers that boast an uptime of 99.5% or more is optimum.
Cost of web hosting services
By now we all know to look for that infamous fine print at the bottom of the page. These little words can have a big impact on your bottom line. Beware of companies that...
...offer terrifically low prices if you sign long-term contracts.
...will register your domain name for you after three easy payments of $24.99.
...can transfer your existing domain name but charge extra to notify InterNIC.
...provide free emergency service between the hours of 4 PM and 5 PM EST. All other rates apply.
Going Web Hosting shopping? Check out our condensed Web Hosting Checklist, or better yet, contact us to set up your Web Hosting with TKG! Call us at 1.888.485.4932 or fill out the form near the top of this page.
