Finding a good web host can seem impossible, but all you need is proper information. The more you learn, the easier it’ll be to find a host that works for your needs. The more you know, the easier it will be for you to know what you want!
Does the host which are you are considering offer a refund guarantee if you are not satisfied? If you are not happy with the service you receive during the first 30 days, you should be able to cancel the service and receive a refund. This is because although a web host may advertise certain things, the things they advertise may not be true.
Actively participate in online forums dedicated to web hosting service outages and problems. You’ll be able to see if an outage is an isolated incident, or part of a more widespread problem among several hosts. If you find that your site is down longer than 24 hours, consider going to the forums to find whether or not anyone has identified the problem.
Keep a list of back-ups when you choose the web host you’re going to sign on with. In doing so, you have the ability to easily and quickly transfer to another provider with minimal downtime, should your current web host turn out to be completely untenable.
Find out how any potential web hosts permits you to access your server space. While some hosts provide simple, web-based controls, others offer more FTP-based access, which is more complex. The easier HTML control panel is preferred for simpler sites, while more complicated sites may do better with FTP.
If you plan to test new software, or you desire additional control over the server, seek out a host that can give you a VPS (virtual private server) option. A VPS gives you control over just about all of your server functions, such as setting up accounts and installing and removing applications — just like you were managing the server yourself. Remember that you need to know how to run a server if considering this plan.
Backing up your site is still your responsibility. You should ensure that all your information is regularly backed up, so that you don’t lose anything in case technical problems arise. Do you really want to lose all the SEO work you’ve done?
As you’ve witnessed, selecting the best possible host for your website shouldn’t be difficult. Now that you know what to look for, you can find a suitable website hosting company without much trouble. Keep these suggestions in mind, and you’ll be uploading your site to a great new web host in no time.
