It's tempting. There are so many companies offering cut-rate hosting ? loaded with astounding post-futuristic techno-gizmo features ! ? that it just makes sense to save a few dollars, right?
Think again. First, consider how much you would be saving. If you run a business site, saving $5, $10 or even $15 a month is not a big saving. No going concern will become a stopping concern on account of even $15 a month. But the wrong web host can stop a business cold.
Here are three reasons to look beyond price when choosing your web host.
1. Usability. Confession time: I chose my first website host based on price. The control panel was not easy to use, and I often found myself traveling in circles trying to enter it. I switched to my second web host based not just on price, but on usability, and I instantly became a pro. Well, not quite. But I was able to manage my email accounts and learn about CGI, and check my traffic stats and edit my html files right on the server. Not bad for a newbie who couldn't even find his files on his previous host's server.
2. Service. I thought my second host had great service. They even answered my emails. Until the dreaded day that some guy with a chip on his shoulder filed a phony spam complaint. I was out in the cold. In fact, they would not answer my emails or even speak to me at all. Meanwhile, my ISP responded to the same phony complaint immediately, sharing with me a copy and giving me a chance to deal with it. That ISP is now my third web host. I pay a little more, but the personal service is worth it. I have no hesitation recommending http://www.phastnet.com to anybody who wants the assurance that they won't be hung out to dry at the first whiff of somebody in a bad mood.
3. Reliability. When that phony spam complaint struck, my website was down for four days. Ouch! But there are many other things that can bring down a site. What is your web host's uptime? And how reliable is its reporting? Other things can happen, like a form not functioning ? meaning lost sales. Worse still, what if Google comes crawling just when your site is down? Search engines don't like sending people to unreliable sites. Companies like http://www.dotcom-monitor.com monitor websites for a variety of measures, and the cost is nothing compared to the cost of lost sales.
Sure, save a few bucks on hosting, and pay a whole lot more in lost sales and increased stress. Your web host is your Internet landlord. Take as much time choosing your web host as you would the place you live in. Price alone just is not enough.
About The Author
David Leonhardt is an online and offline publicity specialist. To get your website optimized for the search engines, email him at info@thehappyguy.com. For a copy of Don't Get Banned By The Search Engines: http://thehappyguy.com/SEO.html. For a copy of Get In The News: http://thehappyguy.com/publicity-self-promotion-report.html.
With a little advanced planning, moving your domain to a... Read More
Sooner or later, as everyone finds out, nothing in this... Read More
You've decided to get a reseller web hosting account to... Read More
If you're reading this article, you might be interested in... Read More
When you first start out trying to get a site... Read More
There are a number of things to consider when choosing... Read More
For those of you who don't really understand where or... Read More
A web host reseller account is a web hosting account... Read More
Computers, Internet, Web sites?what do they all mean? Hey, you're... Read More
Virtually anyone with an email address knows what Spam is,... Read More
It's tempting. There are so many companies offering cut-rate hosting... Read More
The next concern for you after designing and developing web... Read More
What is a Dedicated / Virtual Dedicated server and why... Read More
Here are some things you should know before finding a... Read More
For the "big things" to be build it was certainly... Read More
You took the leap. You set up a website to... Read More
After the dot.com bubble burst a few years back I... Read More
1. The reliability of the service and their offers.A brand... Read More
Some folks classify low cost web hosting on the same... Read More
Overselling is a big trend in the web-hosting world at... Read More
One of the most difficult choices you have to make... Read More
Web hosting can best be described as a modern-day marriage:... Read More
Well? you've purchased a domain name? created a pretty design?... Read More
First, to see if you can use cheap web hosting... Read More
Reseller Defined:The term Reseller according to the dictionary means to... Read More
Consider the following web hosting blunders and do not allow... Read More
In my opinion, free web hosting is one of the... Read More
"Unmanaged dedicated servers" - this is a pretty uninviting term... Read More
When looking for a Web Host there are lots of... Read More
Yesterday I received a nice email in my inbox, I... Read More
Web hosts are service companies that provide space on their... Read More
Choosing the right Web Hosting service for your website can... Read More
You've made your decision to move from your website from... Read More
Many online entrepreneurs these days are faced with the problem... Read More
Before you begin your search for a web host you... Read More
Some web hosts are offering more than others for the... Read More
Reseller Defined:The term Reseller according to the dictionary means to... Read More
Finding reliable hosting for your business opportunity is no small... Read More
If you're about to set up your first web site... Read More
Managed Hosting Services are used primarily by companies that either... Read More
General rule of thumb is not to sign up for... Read More
There are a number of things to consider when choosing... Read More
Hosting Support ? An IntroductionImagine yourself as a person running... Read More
You've already got a website, but your current hosting provider... Read More
When building your first site the main things that you... Read More
AutoResponders are nifty scripts that run in your web server... Read More
First things First. Why would you like to have Windows... Read More
So you've decided to create a website? The most obvious... Read More
There are various reasons why an online business owner like... Read More
With a little advanced planning, moving your domain to a... Read More
Web Hosting |