Your horse may have a nice comfortable place to sleep at night, but does his or her virtual world offer the same comfort? If you use your website to promote and support your ‘equine habit’ you may want to take another look at its virtual home.
There are really way too many website hosting companies to choose from, but to make a decision here are a couple of questions to ask.
Who supports my website?
Customer service in the world of technology ranges from a guy in his garage answering the phone to off-shore technicians with strong accents to huge impersonal call centers. It is really all about communication. Before you commit make sure there is someone you can talk with and feel comfortable. Some hosting contracts only allow you to communicate with support via email.
How much should it cost to host my website?
You can find super-cheap hosting, but get what you pay for. To offer such low prices companies either need to cut corners in hardware or have huge numbers of accounts on single servers. Either option puts the availability of your website at risk.
Where is my website hosted?
Location is important. Many of the lowest-end hosting companies actually have their server set up outside of North America. That can really slow access down and create reliability issues. The second part of the question is what kind of hardware they are using to host your website. Faster servers mean your website will ‘serve’ or be displayed with fewer delays … and that translates into better customer experience.
What more is there?
Perhaps the most important question relates to what a hosting company can provide beyond the hosting support. While foundational items are essential, what can a company provide beyond the basics? Long-term relationships with people that go the extra mile, care about your success, and know by name helps create a positive experience for everyone.
Check out http://reviews.cnet.com for national hosting company reviews. Also check out your local providers for great hosting options with personal service.
