The first thing you should do before beginning your search for a reliable web host, is to make a list of your specific web hosting needs. How much space will you need? How much transfer allowance? How many emails? Will you need a database? Will you need a shopping cart? Will you need a merchant account? Are you going to set up a forum or chat feature with your web site?....etc After all, A Reliable Web host should first be a web host that meets your specific needs. But there are some things that every web host should have in order for you to consider using there services, and they are listed below. Up Time and Reliability You'll want to make sure that your web site is accessible. Ask your web host whether he quarantees a certain percentage of uptime. Many web hosts will guarantee your web site to be available 99.5% of
time. Ask about hardware used, connection, and what safequards are in place to minimize downtimes.
Reasonable Price Your web hosting company should offer you a reasonable price for services and flexibility in payment methods and schedules. Look for hidden costs when comparing prices. You will find that some web hosts charge a setup fee. Don't rule out a web hosting company just because of this expense. Some of best companies charge a setup fee to help in covering cost of having high quality technical support available.
Bandwidth Some services give you a small limit on amount of material that can be downloaded from your site each month and charge you large amounts when that limit is exceeded. Some offer huge traffic allowances for same price. You may not need more than a hundred MB a month now, but why put yourself in a position where you have to move when your traffic takes off? Plan ahead and allow for growth. Make sure you have at least 1 GB of data transfer. Always stay away from web hosts that say that they offer Unlimited Bandwidth Because there is NO SUCH thing called unlimited bandwidth
Disk Storage Space Look for a web host that offers sites of 100 MB or more. This may sound like a lot, but will give you room to grow. Some web hosts offer 20 to 50 MB of space and charge as much as hosts offering 100 MB or more. They then charge you $5 to $10 more a month for every 10 MB you add on when you discover you need more space. This doesn't necessarily make them a bad web hosting service, but it is something to consider when comparing prices.
Server Speed You want a server that is reliable and fast. There is a free tool available that allows you to evaluate this before making a decision. Net Mechanic will measure speed of access for all facets of access (network speed, DNS lookup, connect time, download time, and absence of timeouts). The download time statistic is most important single item to compare. Collect your list of candidate hosting services and run side-by-side tests of all candidates. Sample during peak and non-peak times for optimal comparison.
Basic Features Lots of features is another measure of a good web host. Some web web hosts will offer only minimal features and then charge a monthly fee to add on any new features.
Multiple Domain Names If you have more than one domain name,You can host them using one web hosting account.Some web hosting companies may charge you extra cash for this kind of service.Others will not charge you. You only need this, if you have more than one domain name.
Mail Forwarding Accounts And Email Autoresponders Make sure Web hosting company allows you to set up mail forwarding -- ability to forward you email somewhere else. I have several web sites and have all my email forwarded to my ISP service so I can read it all at once. It would take me a long time to downloard all my mail from each of my accounts. It's a great time-saver.As for autoresponder,its a program that automatically sends your pre-written message to people who email you. An example: If someone sends an e-mail to WebhostsResource@yahoo.com, a message from me will automatically be sent to them. This is a very useful tool in marketing your business as people are sent information immediately and without you doing a thing.
