Nearly 60 percent of Fortune 1000 companies surveyed said technical know-how is most important when choosing a web hosting service. Forty percent look for reliability, and 34 percent look for the best price first.
:.Choosing a Web Hosting Company
So you are considering or have decided to do some business on the web? The most important decision a new Webmaster faces is which web hosting company to choose. The choice you make now can make or break your fledgling internet business. No web business can survive constant down time and a lack of support
Problem is that the new Webmaster usually does not know what to look for when choosing a hosting company. What do you need to know to make the right choice? Nearly 60 percent of Fortune 1000 companies surveyed said technical know-how is most important when choosing a web hosting service. Forty percent look for reliability, and 34 percent look for the best price first.
Things to think about . . . . .
Technical Support? This should be the number one consideration if you're not a technical guru. Is their tech support available seven days a week, 24 hours a day? How many members do they have on their support staff? How many customers do they have to support? There are many companies that have over extended themselves and can't offer adequate support.
Services/Scripts/Software? A sharp hosting company should not only have a hefty library of scripts that you can use to add guestbooks, forms, statistics, counters and so on to your site. The host should also be prepared for for e-commerce with shopping cart software, merchant account setup support, real-time processing availability, and more. They should have support for Java, Shockwave, Cybercash, Real Audio, Real Video, secure transactions, and other utilities available to their customers as well
Bandwidth? A number of businesses have had to move their Web site because their host couldn't handle the number of hits, or charged exorbitant fees for hits above a certain level. What is the policy if your site becomes popular? How many other Web sites share your server? This may be a concern if the other Web sites on your server are flooded with visitors, your customers may not get through.
Speedy Connections, Peering? T3 lines, also known as DS-3, are a must. Anything less means the host, as a whole, runs slower; thus your customers will have to wait. Ask your host what the collision or saturation rate is. If it's over 50% it may cause problems. A new technology hot on the market is called peering. Peering is when your host has multiple Internet connections and can automatically route traffic to the fastest line out. Less than 2% of hosts have this technology. Does yours?
Site Administration? You'll need to update your pages, manage files, collect orders, retrieve data from forms, get statistics, make counters, and perform other housekeeping chores to your site. How secure and user-friendly is the software you'll be using to do these things?
Security? What security features does your host offer or support? Many hosting companies claim to be secure, but when closely examined fall far short of their claim. Can they truly protect your data from the growing menace of hackers? The company should have a maintenance crew quick enough to dispose of such attempts.
Customer Services? The Internet market is suitable for the old saying "you get what you pay for." A quality host should offer an online area with FAQs (frequently asked questions), guides, tips, and other resources.
Price? Cheaper is not necessarily better, but a large price tag doesn't mean your getting the best out there either. There are many start-up companies offering unbelievable prices. Be wary of "deals" that sound too good to be true. Often these "great deal" companies go under or can't really live up to their promises. Make sure your hosting company has a lengthy track record. Good service, support, and connections are worth a lot to your company image.
