Thursday, April 26, 2012

How To Approach Your Hosting Purchase

By Timothy Phelucci


If you are new to web building and development, choosing your first hosting service can be intimidating. Choosing a host when you are new to web building seems like it takes a lot of time and work. There are so many hosting packages out there! How do you know which one is right for you? The good news is that there are a few hints that you can use to make everything easier.

You keep your options open when you buy your own hosting. Not all hosting companies are created equal though! Choosing your hosting is a decision that needs to be taken seriously. Here are some ways to make your choice easier.

Spend some time doing research. There are lots of different hosting companies on the internet who all offer lots of different types of hosting packages. Take your time and learn everything you can about the hosts that seem the most promising. When you do your research, offline sources are just as important as online sources. Use reviews. Investigate the business practices of each company that interests you. Do not worry-you will never learn too much about your options. This will be extra true for the company you choose to use because that is the company that will be able to look at your private information and bank account. Ask a bunch of questions. Contact each of the hosting companies on your list. Ask to talk to a customer service agent on staff. If you cannot find a way to talk to a live person do not do business with that company! Do not trust any company that will not allow you to hear the voice of the people who will be helping you build your website. Companies that do not offer live customer service are most likely simply looking for a quick way to steal your information. No matter what the size of the company-legitimate operations have live people working for them. If you cannot make actual contact with a live person be very careful!

Ask your friends and fellow site builders which hosting companies they use. It is easy to fake a good review on a website so if you want to get information that you can trust, ask your site developer friends which hosting company they like best. It's common to get help from the experts when you are new to the field. You might even be able to use some of the site owner's server space to give it a try while you figure out which hosting service is right for you. There are many site builders who earn money by selling server space on their accounts for small fees. To buy server space for a good price (on someone else's account) ask your site builder friends for good deals.

Take some time to examine how the company does business. A company that is legitimate will be listed with the local authorities. Do some checking into the company's physical location-make sure that the headquarters listed on the company site is registered with that city and state. Search through the Better Business Bureau listings. If a company has received a bunch of infractions or complaints against it you should move on to the next option on your list. You should also avoid a company that does is not registered with a city or state. Even sole proprietors and freelance web hosts are supposed to register their businesses with the local authorities. Do not trust any company offering web hosting that cannot be verified through legal means. The amount of space you need and the cost you want to pay for it are both important factors in choosing hosting providers. Take your time to explore your options. Go slowly and figure out exactly what you want to accomplish before you begin trying to figure out which hosting option best meets your needs. When you take the time to figure out what you want and need, you immediately start to narrow your search which can help make the process easier.




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