Dec 10
2
“First impression is the last impression.”
The old adage holds true in case of your website too. In case you are wondering how to ensure that your multi faceted, dazzling website is a knockout with users, choosing a good web hosting company is the right place to start. It’s important to host your site on a reliable server if you want speedy connectivity, ample disk space, good uptime and backup. Online users don’t have time or patience to tolerate slow websites, lousy services or bad link-ups.
Here are a few things to consider before you select one of the many web hosting options or you could even go for multiple hosting.
In house vs. outsourcing
If you want absolute control over your website, you can opt for in-house web hosting and configure the website yourself. You will have to perform all related activities yourself and this may become tedious once the website traffic increases. Outsourcing to an external web hosting company can free you from management of back-end activities like inventory supervision, backup records, speed, bandwidth load, designing, etc. also, outsourced websites are definitely more professional as compared to self-developed ones, which may seem amateurish to users.
Future Forecast
Estimate the amount of traffic your website is likely to generate in the near future as well as over a longer period of time. Usually, free web hosting will not provide flexibility for upgradation. Choose a web host which will accommodate the expansion needs and plans of your website to avoid future discrepancy.
Different types of web hosting
You can start from a simple web hosting service like shared hosting where your site is positioned along with others on a single server.
As the website develops, you might move from static to dynamic design and features. This will require more bandwidth, resources and add-ons. Now, it will be better to move to a dedicated server. This will provide you an entire machine for your website management and backup.
There is another option which is best for sites with high level of traffic, marketing needs and bandwidth requirements. It is known as “Colocated server”. You will be in control of the hardware but also need to maintain firewalls yourself. This alternative is quite expensive and you should carefully evaluate your needs before you decide to go for colocated web hosting.
Promptness counts
Be sure that the web hosting website is prompt in technical and customer support. This will be important in determining the success and efficiency of your website. Test their services instead of trusting the reviews and testimonials on their website. Slow load time, inability to open pages, inactive links, and delay in updates are some of the dangerous features of a bad web host.
Security isn’t secondary
There is nothing worse than a website which has everything except adequate security systems. A customer will not prefer a site which they can’t trust. Confirm the security software and encryption system being used by the web hosting company to secure your site.
Compare before you leap
There are a lot of web hosting companies with a variety of packages in terms of features and price differentials. Popular sites include ENOM.com, BUYDOMAINS.com and PlanetOnline.net. Be sure to compare the various deals for the best package. A cost-benefit analysis is very important before you arrive at a decision.
Billing policy
Some web hosts might bill you on a monthly basis while others might do it annually. Prefer a website which gives a 30-60 days trial period. This will help you check their service quality before you make a commitment.
Selecting the OS
It’s much better to pick a host which provides both WINDOWS NT and UNIX. This gives you more flexibility as compared to a single operating system.
Probing pays
Don’t hesitate to investigate about the web hosting company you’ve chosen. Look up their physical address, telephone number and check references. Take advice from other webmasters about the reputation and service quality of the web host.
Care for clauses
Ignoring the finer details of the web hosting company’s terms and conditions in the service agreement, can prove to be a huge mistake. Take time to read and understand all the fine print before agreeing to it.
Basically, you need to be vigilant while making a choice of your web host. An incorrect decision can prove to be disastrous for your business. So keep these factors in mind before you make a final decision.