One of the first steps in setting up a website is choosing a web host, so it is important to choose wisely. Not all web hosts are the same, and their quality can vary widely. To make sure you have a good experience, read and make use of the following tips.
Make sure the host you choose has minimal to no downtime. It is frustrating if you try to log on to your site, and the server is down. If you have a business that relies on the internet for sales, this means you will lose a lot of money because your site is not operable.
When choosing a web hosting service, always check their record for down time. If you are conducting business through your website, you will almost certainly lose customers if they cannot access your website at all times, day or night. Check not only how many times they have outages weekly, but what the duration of these outages are.
Call the customer service number and ask about SSL certification and shopping carts. If the technicians are helpful, you have found a web host that understands e-commerce and will be able to meet your needs. On the other hand, if no one is able to answer your technical questions, look for a different host.
Find out what other programming services your potential web host offers. You don’t want your sites to be limited to CSS and HTML. The best web hosts offer the ability to code sites using PHP and ASP as well. Even if you don’t think you need these languages, you should use a web host that offers them. As your knowledge of web design grows, you might want to use these languages to help your site reach its full potential.
If a web hosting provider offers you a deal that seems to be good to be true, it probably is. No provider can offer unlimited storage space or unlimited bandwidth, so if a host claims to provide these, they are most likely scamming you. Look for a host that offers more realistic services.
Choose a web hosting service that offers a simple and easy to navigate eCommerce system. Even if you do not initially plan to offer products for sale on your website, realize that this can be a valuable asset as your company grows and expands. You will save yourself a lot of time and energy if you can easily add this service if the need arises.
You should know that not all web hosting services support Flash plug in. Using Flash on your site allows you to create a more interactive experience for your visitors, for instance with videos, games and new design possibilities. If you are not planning on using Flash, this is not a feature you should worry about.
Choosing the wrong web host can really hinder your efforts to run a successful website, so make sure you do your research beforehand. As you have seen in this article, the quality of web hosts can be quite varied.
Remember what you have learned from this article when you are selecting a hosting service.