One of the fastest growing services offered in the internet world is web hosting
. It makes perfect sense that companies are competing to to provide people with cheap hosting services. There are a ton of hosting companies out there, and guess what they are dirt cheap, too. In this article I want to provide you with vital points you need to consider before handing your money over to a cheap hosting provider.
Features Are Everything
One aspect in hosting you always want to consider is, what features do they come with. A good provider will provide you with all the tools you need to operate your site smoothly. For instance, what programming languages do they allow you to use. Nothing is more frustrating than getting a site 95% complete and then discovering that they don't allow a MySQL database or your PHP script. Also, you need to consider how many email accounts, domains, and what traffic tracking software they use. Believe it or not, not all hosting companies use the same thing.
Reviews Don't Lie
Check on what consumers are saying about their service. Do not buy cheap hosting as an impulse buy. This would not be a smart move at all. Keep in mind where the information is coming from when you read stuff online. Does the reviewer profit from you buying a hosting service? Don't stop at just one review; read about 5-10 to make sure they all agree on one cheap hosting service.
Call Them
Actually take the time to call the hosting provider. Ask them a couple questions that you need answered before spending any of your money with them. Does their customer service seem to know what they are talking about? Or does there customer service leave a bad taste in your mouth prior to talking to them. Believe me, at one point in time you are going to have to pick up the phone and call them. Problems do arise and customer service is very important with cheap hosting.
Any Downtime
This goes back to doing your research and seeing what dirt you can dig up on the hosting company. Every second that your site is down you could be missing out on tons of business. A good hosting provider will remain up for 99% of the time. Be skeptical of companies that tell you that they are up 100% of the time.