What to look for in a web host

[sequencehosting]

Price

Price is very important but remember cheaper is not always better. It’s best to compare the price with what is offered by the host. If it seems too good to be true it is. It is also highly recommended to find a host that will allow you to pay monthly. All too many times I see people upset because they are not happy with their currently host and cannot move because they paid 3 years in advance.

Control Panel

There is a reason why most web hosts use cPanel and that is because it is very populr, easy to use and feature rich. If you’re new to web hosting or experienced cPanel is the perfect control panel for you.

Legal Documents

Make sure the host has clear legal documents if they do not have a privacy policy and terms of service I recommend you stay away from them. The terms of service is vital as it shows you the hosts rules and policies. Without this document you will not know what is allowed, what isn’t allowed and what the real limits are.

Fantastico, Installatron

Fantastico and Installatron are applications that allow you to install software such as Wordpress and Joomla within a couple of clicks. If you are new to hosting finding a host offering one of these applications is a must.

Disk Space and Bandwidth

Disk Space and Bandwidth is certainly the most talked about features of any web hosting company. The best thing to do is work out how much Disk Space/Bandwidth you need and then choose a host based on your requirements. Many people look for the host offering the most for the least amount of money. This will certainly cause you problems later on. It’s also advisable that you stay away from “unlimited” plans, as there are many disadvantages to this hosting.

- First of all there is no such thing as unlimited
- Most websites will not need anything near the amount you get. While it seems like a good deal you will still be paying for resources you do not need
- Only some companies manage this type of hosting well (HostGator for example)

Support

If you are new to web-hosting support should be the most crucial decider. This can be the difference between a cheap host and a more expensive host. What support do you prefer and what support does the host offer? Generally you will want support tickets and live chat. Keep in mind it’s more likely that a smaller host will provide higher quality support than a large host simply because they have less customers and more time to dedicate to them. Not to mention a smaller host has more to loose than a large host such as GoDaddy.

Easy Upgrades

Make sure your host allows you to upgrade to a higher plan as your site grows. By following this rule closely you can save a lot of money. For example it’s cheaper to order a plan that suits your needs and pay $3/month than order a larger plan for $10 and not use the resources.

Features

What other features does the host offer? Generally hosts will offer very similar features.

Money Back Guarantee

If they offer a money back guarantee make sure you read the terms carefully as different hosts have different terms.

Testimonials

Testimonials are a great way to find out more about a host, however take them with a grain of salt as the majority of testimonials are fake. If you are very serious about finding a quality host you could always check the website provided with each testimonial to make sure they really are a customer.

If these tips help even 1 person find the right host for their site it will be well worth writing

Regards,
Jack

[ramirezhenry55]

I think most of us seldom checks in legal documents for the web hosting company, thanks for reminding me.