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Choosing A Web
Hosting Company
Customer Services? The Internet market
is suitable for the old saying "you get what you pay for." Quality web site
space host should offer an online area with FAQ's (frequently asked questions), guides,
tips, and other resources. Can they help you find a designer or programmer for your site?
Make sure you're getting your money's worth.
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?
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 website space. The host should
also be prepared 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, VRML, 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.
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.
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.
So now you have a lot to think about. Just make
sure that when you are researching web hosting companies that they are able to address
each of the above concerns to your satisfaction.
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