subject: Guide to Finding an Inexpensive Web Host [print this page] Guide to Finding an Inexpensive Web Host Guide to Finding an Inexpensive Web Host
There are many things that need to be taken into account when looking for an inexpensive web host. The real problem is that there are tons of "inexpensive or cheap" web hosts out there, but there are very few high quality inexpensive hosts. There are many ways that you can tell if a web host has their ducks in a row if you will. It is very important that you know what to look for in a web hosting company so that you can make an informed decision. Every year I have to help hundreds of people move from hosts that loose information, are down more than they are up, and even worse steal domain names. Web hosting has gotten a lot cheaper since the early days back in 1999, but along with these chepaer prices came a flood of "fly by night" web hosting companies that are nothing more than glorified scams. I am going to show you how to find a good inexpensive web host, and not get caught in the many traps out there today.
Content/Design
The first thing I look at (besides of course the prices to see if they even qualify as inexpensive) is the design of the website in question, If the website looks like it was built by a 4th grader then you should probably move on unless you want to be dealing with that same 4th grader when your website goes down. If a company hasn't invested time and effort into designing their website it tells me several things. First it tells me they probably do not care very much about their brand name, or their reputation because they are letting people perceive them in such a poor light. It also tells me that this company is probably very stretched on resources if they can't even afford to get a decent website, which in the web hosting world is your only business front. Why does it matter if they are tight on resources? Well you have to ask yourself how stable is this web hosting company, are they going to continue to be able to offer these cheap and inexpensive web hosting rates for the forseeable future? What if the owner decides it's not worth it and moves on? What then? These are all questions you should be asking yourself when you see the design of the website.
Length of Time in Business
If I see a web host with incredibly inexpensive pricing, and a good design then I move on to my second question. How long have these guys been doing this for? I would recommend asking the company via live chat or telephone (If they have it, but we will cover this aspect later on) how long they have been in business for. You can't just take their word on it though you should check on when their domain was registered at http://who.is, and if the date's don't match up inqure about it.
Methods of Contact
This in my opinion is one of the most important things in choosing inexpensive and cheap web hosts because so many of them lack these vital features. How are you going to get ahole of your web host if/when there is a problem? The standard methods of contact are LiveChat, Phone, Ticket Systems, and Email. If the company does not have at least one DIRECT contact method (LiveChat or Phone) I would pass on them and look for another inexpensive company. You also need to make sure that you check the hours that their live chat and or phone is available.
