Finding a good web hosting company

Finding a web hosting provider is an easy task these days and the number of web hosting companies is constantly growing. The main question is - once you’ve narrowed down your list by features and price, how do you find out which web hosts are dependable?

1. Read web host package details and TOS
If the hosting packages offer huge amounts of disk space and bandwidth for very low prices, consider yourself warned. Don’t expect the company to have enough money for maintenance and support.
If you want to be sure that you can get a refund if you want one, check what the Terms of Service (TOS) says about refunds.

2. Read the web host forum
What is the ambience in the forum? Are clients’ questions answered satisfactorily? Don’t be concerned if you see problems; instead, be concerned if you don’t see any problems. Some web hosts remove posts that don’t show their company in a positive light. If posts about problems remain in the forum, you can observe how the host handles problems.

3. Read web host reviews
Client feedback at the web host’s site may or may not be valid. It’s possible for hosts to make up feedback, and some have even copied feedback from other sites. Look for feedback with links to the clients’ sites, and check via Whois Source to see if the particular web host actually hosts that site.
Numerous forums allow people to post web host reviews. When you read reviews, consider the poster’s credibility. Some people bash their hosts just because they’re unhappy about something. If the host posts in response to a problem, observe how the host tries to resolve it.

4. Check the company background
The “About Us” or “Company Background” page at the web host’s site should answer these questions.
- How long has the company been in business? A new company may be excellent, but it’s good to keep in mind that a lot of businesses fail within the first year.
- Does the company publish a privacy policy? Does this policy clearly protect clients’ privacy?
- Where are the servers located? Ideally, they should be in a datacenter, and not in someone’s basement.
- What are the server uptime statistics? If the web host doesn’t publish a link to a server uptime monitor, ask for a link to one. Uptime of about 99.7 percent or higher is generally considered good.
- Does the company publish an address? You may never need it, but when you’re placing your company website in another company’s hands, you want to know that the company is legitimate and accessible.

5. Email pre-sales questions
Answers to your pre-sales questions tell you a lot about the web host. You’ll see how fast the company responds and how well they communicate. Ask questions about any of the above points as well as questions specific to your needs.
Finding a dependable web host takes time, but dealing with problems and moving your site takes more time. The time spent looking for a dependable web host is a worthwhile investment.