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Your new website is ready to upload, and now you need a web host. Or perhaps you already have

a web host, but uptime and support are lacking. Of the thousands of web hosts to choose from,

how do you find one that you can depend on? Know what can go wrong and what to watch out for,

and research prospective web hosts carefully.

What can go wrong with web hosting

Too much downtime

Problems happen, and even when they don’t, server maintenance results in a minimal amount of

downtime. A dependable web host not only maintains servers well, but also monitors the servers

and fixes problems immediately. With the type of web host you want to avoid, however, your

site may be down for days.

Features that don’t work

When your email doesn’t work, your business shuts down. Problems with databases and other

features can also slow down or stop your business. Most web hosts understand this, but some

don’t place a high priority on keeping not only your site online but everything working as

well.

Poor support

Dependable web hosts answer tech support questions within hours. Other web hosts, however,

have been known to take days. And when those responses come, sometimes they’re canned

responses that don’t address the issue.

Poor communication

Support people with good communication skills help keep problems from becoming bigger

problems. Being told, “Everything looks fine here, so the problem is solved,” leads to

frustration. So is having your site shut down because it used too many resources rather than

the web host contacting you about the problem first.

Billing problems

Even after you cancel your account, problems may continue. Some less-than-dependable web hosts

don’t honor their refund policy. Others don’t stop automatic billing after the account is

cancelled.

What to watch out for

When you see the following at web host websites, consider them red flags to warn you of

possible problems.

Unsustainable pricing

If the pricing looks too good to be true, it probably is. Is it enough to pay for server

maintenance and tech support? You get what you pay for.

Unlimited bandwidth

Nothing is really unlimited. If you sign up for an account offering unlimited bandwidth and

then use a lot of bandwidth, expect to have the plug pulled on your site. The web host may

find another explanation for discontinuing your account, but “unlimited” typically means “as

long as you don’t use a lot.”

An unprofessional-looking website

Consider how much effort the web host put into providing a usable website with informative

content. Does it give you confidence in the web host, or is it full of unsubstantiated

statements and grammar and spelling mistakes? A web host doesn’t need to be a spelling expert,

of course. But if the company hasn’t put much effort into telling you about their services,

will they be conscientious about meeting clients’ needs?

How to research web hosts

Finding web hosts is easy enough. Search engines can take you to the websites of thousands of

web hosts. But after you’ve narrowed down your list by features and price, how do you find out

which web hosts are dependable?

Read web host package details and TOS

If the hosting packages offer huge amounts of disk space and bandwidth for very low prices,

consider yourself warned. Don’t expect the company to have enough money for maintenance and

support.

If you want to be sure that you can get a refund if you want one, check what the Terms of

Service (TOS) says about refunds.

Read the web host forum

What is the ambience in the forum? Are clients’ questions answered satisfactorily? Don’t be

concerned if you see problems; instead, be concerned if you don’t see any problems. Some web

hosts remove posts that don’t show their company in a positive light. If posts about problems

remain in the forum, you can observe how the host handles problems.

Read web host reviews

Client feedback at the web host’s site may or may not be valid. It’s possible for hosts to

make up feedback, and some have even copied feedback from other sites. Look for feedback with

links to the clients’ sites, and check via Whois Source to see if the particular web host

actually hosts that site.

Numerous forums allow people to post web host reviews. When you read reviews, consider the

poster’s credibility. Some people bash their hosts just because they’re unhappy about

something. If the host posts in response to a problem, observe how the host tries to resolve

it.

Check the company background

The “About Us” or “Company Background” page at the web host’s site should answer these

questions.

How long has the company been in business? A new company may be excellent, but it’s good to

keep in mind that a lot of businesses fail within the first year.

 

Does the company publish a privacy policy? Does this policy clearly protect clients’ privacy?

 

Where are the servers located? Ideally, they should be in a datacenter, and not in someone’s

basement.

 

What are the server uptime statistics? If the web host doesn’t publish a link to a server

uptime monitor, ask for a link to one. Uptime of about 99.7 percent or higher is generally

considered good.

 

Does the company publish an address? You may never need it, but when you’re placing your

company website in another company’s hands, you want to know that the company is legitimate

and accessible.

 

 

Email pre-sales questions

Answers to your pre-sales questions tell you a lot about the web host. You’ll see how fast the

company responds and how well they communicate. Ask questions about any of the above points as

well as questions specific to your needs.

 

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Finding a dependable web host takes time, but dealing with problems and moving your site takes

more time. The time spent looking for a dependable web host is a worthwhile investment.