Great Web Hosting - What to Look For!
by Keith Thompson
Web hosting can best be described as a modern-day
marriage: none of this till death do us part stuff, it's
more like I'll stick around as long as your uptime is 100%,
you answer my frantic queries instantly, and you charge me
less than a decent latte at Starbucks. What follows is a
few tips to help make the relationship less rocky and
possibly prosperous!
First of all, we all need to take a little responsibility
and at least figure out what we think we need from a web
host up front. This isn't always as easy as you might
imagine. You don't always know your exact needs ahead of
time, and sometimes these things are difficult to forsee.
Your site may become hugely popular, requiring more
bandwidth or storage than previously thought. You may
decide to have data feeds hosted on your site, which will
gobble up resources. On online store can do the same. One
way I've found myself in the position of having to change
web hosts is when a technology you want to use or implement
on your site isn't supported by your host. This will (and
did!)prompt a move.
Ask friends and associates who they use. While their needs
may be somewhat different than yours, basic issues such as
support and uptime will be evident, as will cutomner
satisfaction. Check out several of the web hosting
directories, as they maintain a wealth of current
information regarding the specifics you're interested in.
Come armed with a list of things you're looking for and
narrow your choices down using this.
Make sure you can grow with this new host. Not only in the
size of your current sites, but also number of domains and
subdomains you can host there. If you're anything like me, I
want to be able to get the most bang for my hosting buck!
In short, due your homework, check them out, do your part in
knowing as specifically as possible what you're after, and
make your choice. This could be the beginning of a beautiful
friendship!
About the Author
Keith Thompson is the Webmaster of
Web Hosting
Providers a site reviewing and offering great choices
for outstanding web hosting.
