When looking for a web hosting provider, it’s best to first consider things first before deciding. Almost a lot of companies offer similar claims, like unlimited bandwidth, unlimited email, and disk space.
But the thing is, you also have to be sure that the company that you work with offers 99 percent uptime (or even higher than that), 24/7 support, site and store builders, and so much more.
So, it’s really up to you to do your homework first before deciding which web hosting company you should choose.
This guide will help you on which web hosting to choose and selecting the service package that suits your needs.
Price comparison
Web hosting packages vary in price. When you’re just starting out, it might be tempting to pick the cheapest options out there to save on your start-up costs.
Although these cheap packages might sound appealing at first, you could still potentially find yourself paying for additional costs down the line.
Even if your initial package might cost just a few dollars a month for shared hosting, if your site is starting to gain a significant amount of traffic, you will need to upgrade your options.
Also, remember that switching hosts can be expensive. It’s possible to find an excellent deal in these packages, but you first need to know where to look.
Compare the prices first, and pick a host that can perfectly cater to your needs, and not just because of what a great deal it is.
Specs and limitations
Examine your site and figure out what you want to do. If you’re going to set up an e-commerce site, start a blog, then again, don’t go with the least expensive web hosting packages that you can find.
Going with a cheap hosting site doesn’t probably have 24/7 customer support, a disk space, RAM or managed cpanel VPS. Aside from that, your website would be experiencing a lot of downtimes and loading issues that will frustrate you. For instance, HostNamaste offers great options for these VPS’s: OpenVZ VPS and KVM VPS
Ask for the specific features that are included with the overall costs. Do they charge extra for backups, support, additional domains, and other things like that? Call them to clarify some concerns.
Don’t hesitate to ask difficult questions. Talk to them and tell them how you envision your site to be. They should take your website seriously, just like you do.
Customer reviews
This is where you should really do your homework. Do a quick Google search to see hosting reviews about your preferred service provider. Check out what customers have to say about them.
Doing so will help you gain a lot of insight into how their previous customers feel about their managed cloud hosting and web hosting company’s packages and services.
How about their customer support team? Are they easy to get in touch with when one encounters a technical issue? When one does find a problem with their site, what is their course of action?
Technical support
It’s expected that you’ll encounter several issues down the road, especially during the early days of setting up your site. So having a well-trained technical support team that’s friendly, and responds immediately should be one of your top priorities.
Ideally, look for a company that offers 24/7 support. Remember that your site acts as your 24/7 salesperson.
So, if you encounter a major issue, say, during the wee hours of the morning that needs to be resolved immediately, you should have a support team that you can easily get in touch with through live chat, email, or phone.
Security
One of the most overlooked factors when choosing a web hosting provider is site security.
Although website security mostly depends on how you develop your site, choosing a secured hosting right off the bat can go a long way. It will keep potential hackers at bay.
Make sure that the vendor regularly updates their machines, and do anti-virus and anti-malware scans periodically.
Finally, there should be an access control that’s provided, which only gives authorized people to access the administrative features of your site.
Hosting hardware
Your hosting provider’s hardware will regulate the hosting performance, which directly affects the site speed of a website. So it’s crucial to know what particular hardware they’re using, and it is sufficient enough to meet your needs.
Are their servers regularly tested? Do they have a data center that’s equipped with the latest technology?
Refund policy
Some hosting providers offer a refund or trial period, wherein you can try their services for a brief period before deciding whether you want to continue or not.
Look for a host that offers an extended trial period. That way, you’ll have enough time to try their services for that particular plan.
Final Word
There are a lot of things that you have to consider before ultimately choosing a web hosting provider that you can work with. Remember that the web hosting company that you pick is the very foundation where your site will be built upon. So, it’s essential to pick the right one for your needs.
