Friday, November 7, 2008

How To-35: "How to Dig up the Truth About a Web Host"



How to Dig up the Truth About a Web Host

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

You have been bitten many times before by web hosting companies that promised you the sky but could not give you a decent service. You are now wary of any new web hosting offers that are mushrooming on the internet every day. You do not want to be cheated again. It is understandable. Here are some tips on how to dig up the truth about any web hosting company before you fork out even a single cent.

Steps

  1. Create a list of the features that you require in a web host, as well as those that you may require in the near future.
  2. Go web host shopping - use your favourite search engine to look for web hosts that offer the features you have listed, at a budget comfortable for you.
  3. Bookmark as many web hosts as you can, ideally those with very close and competitive plans that you need for your web hosting account.
  4. Collect the technical support email addresses of these web hosts. If they use a customer help desk system, register and bookmark the help desk URLs as well.
  5. Begin by testing the efficiency of their customer support services. Before you do this, prepare a list of questions, concerns and issues that you need addressing when you have a web hosting account. Write as many questions as possible.
  6. Start posing your questions to all the web hosting companies' customer support emails or help desks, one question at a time and wait for their replies. Gauge how quickly they respond to your query.
  7. Once the first question has been answered, proceed with the second question, posing it to all the web hosts you have listed. Repeat this process indefinitely.

Tips

  • Go to Google or your favourite search engine and look this phrase up: "Name of Web Hosting Company reviews". However, keep in mind a lot of these "web hosting review" sites have biased reviews, as they are mostly affiliates who are paid to write about the best financially paying host rather then the best host for you. Always question the motives of the reviewer. Is it money-motivated or is the reviewer actually looking out for your best needs. You are sure to hit upon a number of sites that give user reviews of said web hosting company.
  • You can also search this phrase: "Name of Web Hosting Company sucks". This will yield a list of sites, blog posts and other rants that have a negative review of the particular web hosting company you are intending to sign up with.
  • Read and absorb everything there is about the web host, both the good and the bad, and judge for yourself.
  • Scour the web hosting forums and get the opinions of others concerning the particular web hosting company you are reviewing.

Warnings

  • Do not be tempted by dirt cheap deals. Price is often an illusion when it comes to the web hosting industry. You are better off paying a little more for a web host that offers much less space but is reputed and has a proven track record for stability and excellent customer service, than paying only a single digit monthly fee for one that offers gigabytes of space and bandwidth but is wanting in terms of service and server stability.
  • Apply the same discretion when scouting for good domain registrars. Your domain registrar is just as important and crucial to your webmaster life as your web host.

Things You'll Need

  • Good search engine skills
  • A ruthlessly discerning, critical mind
  • Good 'arm-wringing' skills

Related wikiHows

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