Finding the Best Web Hosting Company
Most people I know have switched from at least one hosting company to another. Switching companies can be a headache but if you are not getting the service you require it is a must. Finding a new hosting company can be difficult and complicating as the market is very competitive. The best way to find a good hosting company is to read reviews about the company and hear other peoples thoughts and feedback. Like any service out there word of mouth goes a long way especially in the hosting industry. Ask your family and friends who they host with and why. Remember, your web host is going to be the home of your website and emails so doing a good amount of research is a must. Switching web hosts can be a headache and for that reason alone you’ll want to find a host that has everything you need and most important solid support when you need it.
Make sure you call your new potential hosting provider and ask a few questions just to make sure a real person is available when you need them! Also check to see if the company has a Live Chat option so you can get support when you need it. Web Hosting companies may have an amazing site and price but you also want to confirm they have good staff running the show. Call your new host and ask them if their support teams works in-house or is outsourced. From experience choosing a web host with an in-house support team is a must. It’s a huge advantage being able to call your web host and speak with someone who actually works directly for the company.
Web Hosting is a very competitive and fast paced industry with thousands of people looking for new hosting daily. Ask your friends, family and use review sites (like ours!) to get real reviews from real people who have used your potential hosting company.
Here is a checklist for finding a great web host:
- If they offer unlimited disk space and bandwidth, find out exactly what that means and if is truly unlimited.
- Ask friends and family who they host with and why
- Find out if your nest host provides a free domain name for life
- Find out if they offer live chat support and phone support.
- Find out if the host will place any ads on your website, most paid providers don’t but always ask.
- Make sure your new host offers FTP access for file transferring
- Ask them which control panel they use. We recommend choosing a web host that uses cPanel as it is easy to use and intuitive.
- Ask your potential host how many email accounts you can create and if they offer a web-based email panel so you can access your email anywhere in the world.
- Do they offer 24/7 phone, live chat and ticket support?
- Do they allow additional domains under one account? Is there a limit?
- What billing cycles do they offer and is the price cheaper if you signup for a longer term?
- Find out where they are located (time zone) and also ask them where their servers are located.
The above questions should steer you in the right direction to finding the best hosting company for your website. Be smart and always do your research, there are just too many bad hosting stories out there! Don’t forget to check our hosting coupons section to find deals and discounts on various hosting providers.
Goodluck!
