Cost
As with most buying decisions, price is going to be a factor. And price varies vastly in the web hosting world. Whilst the cost will need to be weighed up, using it as the sole decider could leave you with an unsuitable service that isn’t fit for your needs.
As with most buying decisions, price is going to be a factor. And price varies vastly in the web hosting world. Whilst the cost will need to be weighed up, using it as the sole decider could leave you with an unsuitable service that isn’t fit for your needs.
Specialism
Some web hosting providers specialise in particular areas or industries, such as small businesses, businesses which need high security and enterprise-level customers. Map out your needs before you start shopping for a provider.
Some web hosting providers specialise in particular areas or industries, such as small businesses, businesses which need high security and enterprise-level customers. Map out your needs before you start shopping for a provider.
Technical needs
When assessing web hosting providers you need to understand very carefully what the packages on offer do and don’t cover, and be clear on any limitations. For example if you need to host or stream videos on your website or upload very large files, you’ll need to ensure this is covered in the cost.
When assessing web hosting providers you need to understand very carefully what the packages on offer do and don’t cover, and be clear on any limitations. For example if you need to host or stream videos on your website or upload very large files, you’ll need to ensure this is covered in the cost.
Reviews
The best way to get a true picture of a web host’s service is to ask other people. If you know someone else with a website, ask them about their experience with web hosting providers and what they would recommend.
The best way to get a true picture of a web host’s service is to ask other people. If you know someone else with a website, ask them about their experience with web hosting providers and what they would recommend.
Support
Find out what support web hosting providers offer. Is it 24/7? Are extra costs involved? Is support by phone or only email? It may not be something you would automatically consider too carefully but if you’re using your website for business you could be losing money any time it’s down, and you’ll want someone on the end of a phone that you can contact immediately.
Find out what support web hosting providers offer. Is it 24/7? Are extra costs involved? Is support by phone or only email? It may not be something you would automatically consider too carefully but if you’re using your website for business you could be losing money any time it’s down, and you’ll want someone on the end of a phone that you can contact immediately.
We run a number of websites across a number of different web hosting providers and have chosen Blue Host for many of them, as well as being an affiliate of Blue Host, because of the excellent customer support we have found with them. They have extremely knowledgeable staff based in the US who have always been friendly fast and helpful on the rare occasions I have needed to contact them.
Ease of use
Some hosting services seem to be designed just for techies, whilst others have been carefully designed with mere mortals in mind. Make sure you are able to look at the back-end dashboard and see whether it looks user-friendly enough.
Some hosting services seem to be designed just for techies, whilst others have been carefully designed with mere mortals in mind. Make sure you are able to look at the back-end dashboard and see whether it looks user-friendly enough.
Room to grow
When you’re shopping for a web hosting provider, don’t just consider your existing needs but have your potential future needs in mind too. How might your business ideally grow? If you achieved this growth would the web host in mind still be suitable? Changing web hosts can be a pain so taking the time to pick the right one in the first place can save you a lot of time and stress down the line.
When you’re shopping for a web hosting provider, don’t just consider your existing needs but have your potential future needs in mind too. How might your business ideally grow? If you achieved this growth would the web host in mind still be suitable? Changing web hosts can be a pain so taking the time to pick the right one in the first place can save you a lot of time and stress down the line.