How to choose a Web Host

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Published on: 19-07-2004
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The Final Choice

Decision Time...

Once you have you final list of a handful of hosts, now is time to pick the final one. This may sound like overkill for choosing a host, but as many people find time and time again, it is easy to go wrong! Many hosts are willing to be flexible to suit your need, even if the plans look pretty rigid. Remember, these are month on month costs, and can sometimes be quite expensive, hosts are willing to be flexible to gain extra customers.

The last items to check that your host is up to the task would be the customer service and uptime. Both of these are surprisingly easy to check. A quick search in the Webhostingtalk forums will give you hosting feedback from many people, almost any host will be mentioned there. Uptime can be monitored by Netcraft, and should be run on the main URL of the hosting company. Uptime should be almost 100%, anything like 98% just isn't worth it (that is almost 1/2 a day per month!).

It is worth checking out the support forums of the host (if they are offered), as it will be plainly visible if there are service problems from disgruntled customers. It will also let you judge if there are a reasonable number of customers signed up. Checking the about page should also let you know the support arrangement, 24/7 support should be available for any non-personal site, some hosts even offer free text messaging support updates.

There are several hosting companies about that are no more than a fast internet connection connected up to a personal system, or perhaps a simple server in someone's spare bedroom. These type of services should be totally avoided, as there is no service level agreement with the customer, and a no-doubt sub-standard service (slower connection, no instant hardware replacement, limited support hours, etc...).

If you plan to run your own online store there will be a few other factors involved in your decision. You will need a SSL certificate for your site, so you will be able to process credit card transactions. There are other 3rd parties who will take care of the transactions for a 2-3.5% fee, saving the need for extra server security. You will also need to make sure the server and software are capable of running your shopping cart script.

Some factors to remember when making your choice:

You get what you pay for :

Generally, the more you pay, the better the service. But of course, there are always exceptions to this rule! Avoid services with super low costs, as you will get a service run from a teenagers bedroom (literally!) on a Cable/ADSL connection. There is often a happy medium with packages for average sites available for under £10/month, there is no need to pay £50+ for a medium site, nor any excuse to pay under £3!

Service is everything :

If you have a site which you rely on for income or store important data on it, then you should make sure you go with a host that can offer a high level of customer support (i.e they will minimise downtime and inform you directly of service problems). Many hosting companies will offer support forums as well as a contact number - these forums can be invaluable when dealing with small service problems.