They All Say Their the Best, So how do I Choose a Web Host?
Well, you cut through all the hype and BS to determine what's really important to you. You ask yourself what do I really need when I want to buy web hosting and what are some of the hype false promises that I can definitely live without?
It’s really only when you get 100% specific and make your list of what you do and don’t want that you will narrow your broad search to a laser beam focus!
Having had 5 different web hosts over the years I have developed a criteria that I now stick with like glue. When I find a host that has all of these characteristics I stay with them and basically keep all of my sites with one host. Let me tell you it sure makes life a lot easier.
So, what are these characteristics that I have determined are simply must haves in company that you’re going to buy web hosting from? Well, it's a pretty short list but it's what I have discovered really counts.
My criteria is very simple. What do you really need from your web host?
You need:
1.A Really Great Price. But buyer beware if it's too cheap. This is a sign that this company won't be around long enough to give you any support. And, if they fold overnight which most of them do when they go, what happens to your site(s)???
2.Uptime and Reliability. It's got to be so good that you should never have to waste your invaluable time calling customer service.
3. Great Customer Service, because if you do have to get on the phone with them you want to get someone who can actually do their job without transferring you 10 times.
4. Easy to Use, you desperately need a web hosting company with an easy to navigate and easy to use site. Nothing will drive you crazy faster than trying to navigate a site that looks like it was designed by a guy that takes an hour and a half to watch the TV show 60 minutes.
5. Value, of course we all want the best price we can get. But is it worth it to save 50 or 60 cents a month if your site crashes all the time and customer service is in some foreign country? You know exactly what I mean, you call because you need something urgently, your call get's routed overseas and English is definitely their second language. Not Good At All!
6. What’s the Down Side, every company has things they could do better, that’s for sure. But what are the challenges, are they deal breakers and how much if any do they affect you? Here you look for their weak spots, if they have any. You then ask yourself only one final question, is this where I want to buy web hosting?