How to Choose a Web Host
I have a mailing list that is associated with one of my websites. It has nearly 3000 members and question that is asked most frequently is how to go about choosing the right webhost for both personal and small business websites.
Generally I have the time to chat back and forth with the asker to find about a little more about their needs, expectations, and level of website experience. Different hosting options are right for different people and situations.
I always tell people to stop first and think about things like how much you want to spend monthly or annually, what features you need (like a shopping cart), and the reputation of the company you eventually end up using. For the most part, you can get excellent, reliable hosting for anywhere from $5 to $10 a month. Often times, it’s one of the smallest investments of your online business monetarily speaking, but making sure you are with the right web host for your needs can make or break how profitable your venture is in the end.
In fact, just because your friend recommends a host they have done well with, that does not actually mean the same host will fit your needs. Word of mouth is indeed important, but you cannot go on personal recommendations alone.
When I do not have time to do the whole back-and-forth with someone in order to walk them through choosing the right host, I will send them to a webhosting blog or other site that has a wealth of articles discussing the very same issues I would myself point out to the person.
Web Hosting Geeks is one such site. They have a good deal of informative articles, several categories of company ratings, and more webmaster resources than you can shake a stick at – virtually speaking, of course. If you’ve got any questions at all about how to choose your web host, I urge you to check out Web Hosting Geeks, read some of their articles, get involved in discussions, and basically ensure that you are making an informed decision before you settle on a host.
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