Why web hosts and ISPs need web site monitoring By David LeonhardtIf you have spent much time earning a living on
Internet, few things will surprise you. However, I am always amazed with how many companies and individuals make astounding claims without backing them up.
Web hosts and ISPs make such claims all time: 99% uptime. Some web hosts post on their site live results of their uptime from a third-party web site monitoring company. However, those hosts are very few.
Here are four reasons why every web host and ISP (Internet service provider) should post uptime and connectivity statistics from an independent, third-party web site monitoring firm, with an external monitoring network.
Monitoring reports are excellent marketing tools
This is most obvious reason a web host or ISP should post monitoring reports on their site. Don’t tell me you have 99% uptime. Even worst hosting companies and ISPs can make that claim, but it does not make it true. Prove it to me. Posting a report right on your home page, or posting a link to report up front on home page tells me you not only can make claims, but you can deliver!
Make sure to post your uptime statistics for last day, week, month and year, so customers know you are in it for tong haul.
Web site monitoring reduces technical support work-load
A recent review by Dotcom-Monitor reveals that accessibility calls to a web host’s technical support can be reduced by 30% just by posting current status of web site as reported by an independent monitoring service.
Often a user will call technical support if he encounters a slow Internet connection or download times, dial-up problems, web site accessibility or various computer issues. Users assume problem is with their web host or their ISP, and call technical support to fix problem, even if problem is on their computer.
Real time independent connectivity reports eliminate need for such calls in many cases, by showing what status of site is. A sample report at http://www.dotcom-monitor.com/reporting-card.asp gives an idea of how this works.
