
A mistake often made by new businesses is to chose a low-cost web host because they are trying to keep their own start-up costs as low as possible. However, an inexpensive web host can result in issues which can lose you money. The following tips will help any small business find the right web host.
Find out which kinds of sites your web host offers. Many free hosting services offer only static pages, leaving you with limited options for adding your own scripts. If you cannot find the kind of dynamic scripts you want to use, look for a paying plan instead.
While it’s common for web hosts to offer add-ons with their packages, the actual features and packages vary widely between hosts. Stick with the companies that offer the services you need. For instance, one host can have a lower price advantage, but the feature you need may only be in a package that is higher priced.
When selecting a hosting service, aim to find many recommendations that are appealing to you. If you only have two on the list, then their levels of experience and competence may be so far apart that there is no way to make a middle ground decision.
If you end up finding certain parts of your web hosting services to be unfavorable, keep researching for other host sites. This makes it so you can quickly switch hosting providers without a lot of downtime if the problems persist or become too much of a burden.
Web Host
Before you go out looking for a new web host, make a list of the attributes that you are seeking. Carefully consider what you need and want in a web host, and compare each potential provider to your list. Using a priority list will prevent you from choosing a provider based on a single factor, like price, instead of shopping around for a host that meets more of your needs.
Choose monthly payments instead of subscribing for a whole year. It is impossible to know for certain what will happen to either your website or your web host in the future. If the host declines, your business expands past them or your account gets closed, you could lose any money already paid.
Are you considering hosting your website with a free hosting provider? Always remember to back up your work regularly when using free web hosts, as it is rare one does this for you. If your site goes down, loses a page, etc., you’re not going to get any help from your host.
Think about paying extra to get secure server certificates for site safety purposes. You can add an icon to your website which informs users that your site is secure, and this can make them more trusting of the transaction security on your site.
Web Host
When deciding on a web host, choose a provider that tracks your traffic statistics for you. Include a visitor counter on your site, and use it as a comparison to the amount of traffic that your web host says you get. Being able to use this information to improve and grow your online business is crucial.
Be wary of website hosting packages claiming unlimited services. For instance, unlimited disk space means you are limited in the kind of files you can upload. Furthermore, unlimited bandwidth availability may translate to a payment plan that is tiered in nature. Read the fine print and see what “unlimited” actually means. It may be less than what the company wants you to believe.
Be aware of your web host’s guarantee policy and whether they offer money back if you’re not satisfied. If you find the service isn’t working as well as you hoped, you should be able to get a refund. The time frame for this is generally 30 days. Not every web host is as good as advertised.
Your decision for a web host should not be based on the host being free. Such providers often display numerous ads on sites they host. This means you don’t have any control over the ads that are displayed. If you use random ads, your websites reputation will suffer.
Many web hosts rely on another host themselves. Those companies buy large quantities of server space, and then rent it out at a premium to small sites. Know where your site will be hosted, and be confident you are obtaining the best price between two companies using the same servers.
Look for a web host that provides a cPanel. A cPanel is quite user friendly and makes it simple for you to include popular applications on your site. The applications in a cPanel are simple to use as opposed to their SSH counterparts. Also, this will allow you to efficiently manage your website.
Current Customers
Find a way, such as message boards or forums, to discuss a potential web host with its current customers. The answers to your questions will help you scratch off the companies unlikely to meet your needs. You’ll find you have greater confidence in the company after discussions like this. One of the greatest ways to ascertain whether a company is a good one, is to speak to other current customers.
Do not be cheap if you are finding a web host. Keep in mind that, as a small business owner, it is imperative that your website is accessible to prospective customers. If not, you could face cash flow problems that would affect your ability to pay bills and stay financial sound. Apply the advice from this article, so you can avoid the common mistakes that small business owners make when choosing a web page hosting service.