Each time my site went down (due to their faulty systems), they took 30 hours to get it back on. I was pissed. And worst, it usually happened after a successful marketing campaign!

So I decided to invest a little more into a hosting provider who would provide better customer service. I surfed extensively for good hosting packages and checked out comments on several web hosting forums.

Finally I decided to switch to Hostway: http://www.internetmarketingfocus.com o.cgi?l=hostway

What impressed me was their live phone support. During initial site setup, I telephoned them a few times at midnight and they had real live staff picking up phone and attending to my requests!

And I'm not even paying them big bucks. I'm only paying a little more than my previous provider. Is it worth it?

Yes! The amount I spend with them is only a fraction of income my site generates when it is online 99.9% of time!

Tip # 3: Look At The Fine Print

One of factors that you must consider when buying a hosting package is their uptime guarantee.

The difference between 95.0% and 99.0% uptime is 14.6 days in a year. Never go for uptime guarantees of less than 99.0%.

For a list of good hosting providers, go to http://www.internetmarketingfocus.com/links.php?op=viewlink&cid=6

My personal favorite is Hostway: http://www.internetmarketingfocus.com o.cgi?l=hostway

Tip #4: Monitor Your Server

Don't expect your hosting provider or your visitors to tell you that your site is down. Be first person to know!

My site is continuously monitored by QwkMon monitoring service 24/7. Whenever my site is down, they send me an email immediately. They can also contact me via my cellular phone.

I can then quickly call Hostway's phone support staff and get my site restored - though after I moved to Hostway, I haven't had need to do that yet. Their uptime is excellent!

Here is a list of monitoring services that you can consider:

http://www.qwkmon.com (my favorite!) http://www.internetseer.com http://www.netmechanic.com/monitor.htm http://www.serverrat.com http://www.websitepulse.com http://www.siteprobe.com http://www.nfiniteweb.com ools.html http://www.alertra.com

If you're serious about marketing your products and services online, make sure your online storefront is always open for business!

Hint: If you pay for a monthly subscription through PayPal, you must go to PayPal to stop subscription. It's easy to do...the trick is to remember which items you used PayPal for.

3. Don't buy software products unless they offer a trial download. That way you are not risking any money and you can see very quickly if that product is for you. I have bought software that I just couldn't figure out how to use...not because it was a bad product but my skills were not yet sophisticated enough. Many of best products on web do offer a trial.

4. If you are evaluating network marketing programs, don't buy what you can't understand. For instance, if I cannot understand compensation plan (and many, if not most, of these plans are quite complex) I stay away. Also, get acquainted with sponsor you will be signing up under. Send an email or ask that person to call you. You should look for a sponsor who understands program, who can explain it well, and who is willing to help you. That person is your mentor...choose wisely.

5. If you are attracted to an ebook or manual, see if seller offers a free email course. Many will send you a multi-part course by email that is based on their ebook. That will give you an idea about seller's writing style and whether this book really offers anything new. Plus it gives you time to "cool" off and make a more objective decision.

Using these tips may help you make better decisions about what to purchase on Internet. We are blessed with riches in cyberspace, but overindulgence can give us a hangover and play havoc with our budget.