Choosing a Web Host
Topics Discussed:
Is it all Web Hosting the same?
Different Hosting Technologies
Hosting Issues to watch out for
Choosing a web host can be a daunting task, as there are so many different options available these days. You can never guarantee you are going to make the right choice, but if you know what to look for and the right questions to ask, you are forewarned. Below is a sure fire list that will assist you in making an informed decision about your future partner in Internet Technology.
Once you've got a list of hosting providers that appear to meet your requirements, visit all their websites.
- E-mail any questions you may have early in the morning of the business
day. It is a test to see if anyone's home, and how well and how courteously
the hosts you're interested in handle your inquiry. Any that don't respond
by the end of the business day should be dropped from your list immediately
("auto-responders" do not count). Trust us on this one - although
a provider may look good "on paper", if they're so busy they can't get
back to you by the end of their business day (make allowance for time-zones),
there's no way they'll be able to give you adequate service, especially
if you run into a serious problem. If you only get an answer in the
evening or at night it's a good sign that the provider has a "day job"
and is a part-timer, making it likely you'll hear back on a question
only once in a 24-hour period.
- Make sure they offer what you require. Ask to see a demo of their
website control panel.
Make sure they offer a 30 Day Money-Back Satisfaction Guarantee. If they are not confident enough in their product to offer this, simply look else where
- Check their User Acceptance Policy to ensure they don't allow spam
or bulk e-mailing. If unsolicited junk mail goes from a server you subscribe
to, the server and/or your website can be "banned" or "bombed"
by recipients who object to this behaviour. Consequently, you could
end up "off-line" or seriously "disabled" by a nasty
virus!.
- Double-check that the host you're researching will allow the access
you need to install and run any software that you require for your service.
- Do a "www.domainz.net.nz" or "who is" search
on the host and find out how long they've had their websites (refer
to the date the record was created). If it is less than one year, move
on!
- Internet Service Providers that offer dial-up access, in addition
to hosting services, are unlikely be specialised and so their service
may not be able to provide you with adequate support. You should probably
avoid them.
- Look for the name of the company's accountant or lawyer on the web
site. This is usually a good indication of the company's credibility
and legitimacy. You can also do a search on them at the Companies Office.
For the NZ Companies Office click
here You can also check any mortgages they may have while you are
there and research information about the directors and other interested
parties.
- Make sure there is a contact phone number on the site. Although generally
e-mail is the best way to request support, may be times when an urgent
enquiry has to be made. You could make a trial call - ask a few questions
to see how helpful they are.
- If they don't have a list of at least 20 current clients on their
site ask for a few references of others that are hosting with them.
Generally if they have established business' on there servers, they
must be providing adequate service to keep these customers happy.
- Your host must have a minimum of a T1 connection to the east and the west coast.
Site Resources
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