How To Choose The Best Web Hosting Plan
Searching for a web hosting plan is easy. You can start by going to Google, and simply typing in, web hosting plan. This will yield millions of results. The hard part in this quest is selecting the “right” choice. What hosting solution is going to make the most sense? Will you be able to succeed in your plans online? You can walk through a lot of tips, tricks, and checklists but at the end of the day, you will be making a decision that may not be accurate. Choosing a web hosting plan based solely by what you find in Google’s results is not a good idea.
The following tips, however, can make that decision a lot easier. These are tried and true options that you can pursue to ensure that you are picking the right choice. There is no need to struggle with juggling choices about web hosting in 2017. There are some easy ways to pick the right web hosting plan today.
Consider What Your Web Hosting Plan Needs Are
The very first thing that you should do is consider what your needs are. Are you going to be building a large website? Do you want to build a blog? Will there be a need for Windows specific programs? Questions like these will help you determine what solution is best for you.
For new comers, these questions may be difficult to answer. Do not panic. If you do not know what to start with, then select a shared hosting plan. Shared web hosting is like renting an apartment in a large complex. You will be given space, and tools to get started. That’s it. If you are an expert in hosting, then you could always seek out larger web hosting plans, including dedicated servers.
Look For Web Hosting Plans That Have Reliable Services
Two factors that should help you make a choice for your next web hosting plan is reliability. The reliability and uptime is important. There are two frames of reference in this regard. There are companies that promise 99.5% and those that offer 99%. Either option is fine. No server can be up 100% of the time, because the internet doesn’t work that way.
You can try to look for server up time numbers, and performance measurements, but most companies give that information to you up front. While searching for web hosting plan, if you do not see this published, the company is trying to hide something. Companies that are forthright with this information, are to be trusted.
We review web hosting companies each and every day and our Top Web Hosting list is updated to reflect this. You can view the Top 3 Web Hosts this week here.
Since we get a lot of requests from Canadian looking for web hosting in Canada you can also check our Best Canadian Web Hosting for 2017. This is a list of the most affordable and reliable Canadian web hosts based on user reviews.
The Cost of Upgrading
There are a lot of web companies that give you low prices. You can select a web hosting plan for cheap. They will even throw in a domain name. But when you want to upgrade, you will be charged a lot. Always consider what the cost is to upgrade. The right company should help your company grow. They should give you the tools for success, and should not hinder your progress.
By charging you a lot of money per upgrade, you may be stuck on a server you do not like. How big can your website grow? Consider going back to the first point above. Websites that grow large within a year or two need more space than just shared web hosting. Your web hosting plan needs to grow with your audience, without costing a lot of money.
Renewal Costs Skyrocket
Hosting deals are common. Every company has a deal to give you on the first domain and web hosting plan you purchase. This is not new. There is a problem associated with this. The main problem is that when you decide to upgrade, you will be charged a lot more. Some companies charge 200% and others charge up to 500% for a renewal. Read the fine print whenever you sign up for a new web hosting plan.
Renewal rates should not sky rocket to such a large monthly or annual fee, that you cannot afford it. If you have any doubt about the price, call a representative and ask them about the fees. In some cases, you can get a locked in price, and stay with a host long term.
The Refund Policy
The last major tip to choosing a good web hosting plan is in relationship to refunds. Purchasing a hosting plan is easy. But if you do not use it, or end up needing it, you need to be able to get a refund. Some companies make it very difficult to do this. To avoid being trapped, always read the fine print of your web hosting plan.
At the end of the day, a balanced decision is needed. Take your time. Read the fine print, and look around for cost effective, shared hosting, or dedicated servers according to your business needs.
