Guide to Finding a Web Host

Finding a web hosting can appear to be an overwhelming task. There are so many web hosts out there and so many options to choose from. This guide is intended to help you make your search for a web host a little easier.

If you do not already have a domain name registered, you may wish to do so. This will allow you to have a shorter, more personalized URL. There are 1000’s of places on the internet where you can register a domain name including: register.com, interland.com, hostway.com, mydomain.com, etc... You can buy your domain name for as low as $7.95 per year.

Before you start your search for a web host, make a list of what you need from your host and maybe what you anticipate needing in the future. If you only need a little bandwidth now but may need more later, you may want to make sure you select a web host with whom you can upgrade your account at a later time. Some things to consider are: How much space do you need? How much bandwidth? How many email accounts do you need? Do you need or want any special email features such as spam features and email forwarding? What other special features or e-commerce features do you need?

When selecting a web host, you need to do some research. You can use top search engines like Google to search for “top 25 web hosts. There are also web hosting directories that list top 10 or 25 web hosts. You must be careful, however, because they are often affiliated with the directory that has listed them as a top host. In any event, by searching for top ranked hosts you should be able to write a list of at least 10 web hosting companies that you wish to further explore.

Once you come up with a list of companies to investigate, it is a good idea to visit some web hosting forums to gather some more information on the web hosts. One of the most popular and active web hosting forums is webhostingtalk.com. You can search the posts to see if any have ever been made about any of the web hosts you are interested in. This will allow you to locate any good or bad feedback that has been posted on webhostingtalk.com. You can also create a post and ask others for any knowledge or experience they may have with any of the companies you are interested in.

Another place to research web hosts, as mentioned earlier, is web hosting directories. Not only do many directories have “top host lists” but they also offer other valuable resources for your search for a web host. Some directories have an option where customers can post feedback about their web host. This allows you to read customer ratings which may be a little more objective than if the host is affiliated with the web hosting directory.

Most web hosting directories are set up so you can do advanced/specialized services to find hosts meeting your needs. You can select the price range fitting your budget, bandwidth range, space, number of email accounts, and a wide range of other options. The directory will then bring you a list of web hosts meeting those needs. You can then compare prices and add any hosts to your list that you may want to take back to a web hosting forum for some feedback. Some web host directories to check out are: webhostdir.com, thewhir.com hostchart.com and webhostsearch.info.

Once you come up with a more definitive list of hosts that you really are considering, you can again utilize search engines. Search for information on the web hosting companies, looking for any customer complaints or problems with any of the web hosts on your list. As you continue your investigation, cross off any web hosts that really do appear to have a bad reputation and many customer complaints.

Once you have your list narrowed to just a select few, it is time to visit the web hosts. Check to make sure that their own website works properly. The appearance of their website is not the most important thing. But they should have a website that is easy to navigate, looks professional and is easy to understand. Make sure that their website offers easy access to contact information should you need to ask any presales questions, or as a customer; any billing or technical questions.

After viewing their website, it is time to give the web host a small test. Contact customer service with a question. If you are contacting them by email, they should respond to your inquiry within 24 hours. Often times, a web host will respond to a potential customer’s questions within a few hours. This shows that your questions and possible future business are important to them. First impressions are important. If they do not take the time to respond to presales questions in a timely manner, they are not likely to respond to current customers inquiries or technical problems in an acceptable amount of time.

Once you think you have found a host that will meet your needs, there are few key points to check. A web host must offer quick and efficient customer service. You need a web host who cares about your questions and concerns. And also one who will take care of any technical problems as quickly and effectively as possible. You need a host to be affordable and ideally they will offer a good deal for the money. However, it does you know good to have a “cheap” host if their service is poor and unreliable. The web host’s uptime is very important. You do not want your website to be down so that people cannot access your site. Uptime is so important that many companies offer a 99.9% uptime guarantee. A host does not need to offer this and it does not need to be a deciding factor, however, you should find out what your host does offer if they are down more than 0.1% of the time. You are paying for your website to be hosted and depending on your site to be accessible at all times.

You can select a good web host to meet your needs. There are many hosts out there. So take your time, do some research, and ask others for their feedback. Make sure the host you select offers everything you need now and potentially need in the future.