420 Design Blog
What to Look for in a Good Web Host
01 Feb 2005 | Angie H
One aspect of having a website that is vital to your business' success is the web host that you choose to host your site. It's sometimes overlooked, and the misconception that all web hosts are alike causes many people to choose solely based on price. But like with anything, you get what you pay for. While there aren't any "rules" to find a good web host, there are some guidelines and things to think about.
Avoid free web space. If there are "rules" to finding a good web host, this is probably rule number one. Generally, if you have your own domain and can use it on free web space, your site is going to be splattered with ads. Ads that detract from your site and your message. More importantly, the way these kinds of hosts are set up can limit the way your site will look and how it will function, making it difficult to reach your target audience.
Avoid super-low cost hosting. Hosts who claim that they can host your site for .00 per month probably can do so because their servers are overcrowded. What this means for you and your site, is a lot of downtime which of course results in lost business. And like getting free web space, many of these low-cost hosts put their ads and banners on your site. In other words, you're paying them a monthly fee for them to advertise on your site! From the most basic business perspective, that is the worst move anyone can make. There are very, very few web hosts who do offer low-cost hosting, but they're often enormous companies who are hard to get a hold of when you need technical support.
Avoid hosts who claim 100% uptime. There is just no such thing as 100% uptime. It's not so much that servers go down due to technical problems. Instead, it's usually routine maintenance and important upgrades (such as security). A good host will perform routine tasks during off-peak hours and will alert you when a major task is going to happen.
Where are the servers? This question is crucial if you're concerned with security and backups. Servers really should be in a climate-controlled datacenter, not someone's extra room or basement. Datacenters have the resources to keep multiple backups in order to keep downtime to an absolute minimum. Security is also better assured from a datacenter.
Terms and conditions. Be sure you read any web host's terms and conditions (or terms of service). Some may have some hidden conditions that could be detrimental to your site.
Trial period. Does the host offer a trial period? If their site doesn't clearly state it one way or the other, it doesn't hurt to ask. An honest host, confident in their services, will offer a 30-day trial period and refund your money if you're not satisfied.
Customer service. While a little harder to gauge before buying, it's important for you to know what kind of customer service a web host offers. Are they easy to get a hold of? Do you reach a live person right away? Ask existing customers for a better answer to these questions.
Tools and features. Whichever host or hosting plan you settle on, make sure you have some very basic features: � Ability to add scripts � Create multiple email accounts (without having to contact them first) � Site statistics � Scalability � FTP access � SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a must if you're planning to sell online � Subdomains
As with most things, finding a good host takes a little time and research. Even if a friend or your web designer highly recommends one, it's always a good idea to use these things as a guideline.