Five Quick Ways to Determine One Hosting Company From Another

These days, web hosting companies are popping up faster than dandelions. And just like those pesky weeds, they usually aren't going to benefit your business at all. So how do you pick out one hosting company for another for that big Internet move? Below I've provided you some quick ways to sift out the sheep from the wolves.

1. Traceable Testimonies - Many web hosting companies provide a testimony page. Good web hosting companies will actually link to the person who 'said' what is posted. If there is no link, it is possible that the hosting company simply made up the testimony. You don't want to be involved with a company with questionable integrity.

2. Testing Quick Response Claims - Testing out the response of a web hosting company is easy: email them. They should provide an email address or at least a feedback form. Ask a simple question about their service, and see how fast they respond. Compare that with what they have 'advertised' as their response time. See how they measure up.

3. Online Help or Ticketing System - Some hosting companies may even offer and online ticketing/helpdesk. While you may have to be a customer to actually use it, just the fact that it is available is a good sign.

4. Sense of Community ? Good web hosts still have problems. Honest web hosts will be open and (of course) quick to resolve them. Many hosting companies now offer online forums ? a place for their customers and potential customers to post questions, comments, testimonies, and complaints online. Really good hosting companies will not only answer these questions, but they'll supply educational posts that may answer similar future questions.

5. WHOIS ? Taking a quick visit over to www.whois.sc will reveal a lot of information about your web host. Besides giving you some technical information, you'll also find out just how many websites are running on that server. Remember, more websites doesn't always equal better company. You certainly want to make sure the server isn't bogged down!

This is a good place to also make sure that the host isn't on any blacklists. Blacklists usually mean that there are documented reports of spam coming FROM that server, and that's not good at all!

Whether you are a first-time hosting purchaser or a hosting refugee (that's what I call those people who bought hosting from a fly-by-night hosting company, and their website is now AWOL), I hope that these tips will help you save some future headaches and maybe even a little money, too.

About the Author
Will Hanke is a self-proclaimed geek who owns and operates Lighthouse Technologies (http://www.techlh.com), a web development and hosting company based in Arnold, Missouri. For questions or comments, email him at will@techlh.com. And buy yourself a good virus program so he doesn't have to fight your emails with anti-virus spray.

---

Managed Hosting Services - Who Benefits from It?

Managed Hosting Services are used primarily by companies that either... Read More

What to Look for in a Web Host

The first questions you have to ask yourself are: how... Read More

Monitor Your Web Site for Downtime

For those in the Internet business the availability of their... Read More

Tips About Low Cost Web Hosting Services

Here are some things you should know before finding a... Read More

Web Hosts - Not All Are Created Equal

Many people think that all web hosts offer the same... Read More

Useful Tips When Applying For A Web Host Provider

Once you have considered the design for your website and... Read More

How to Choose a Right Web Hosting Service?

Indeed, choosing a right web hosting service for your website... Read More

Windows vs Linux : Hosting

The Basics of Linux & Windows :Linux (and its close... Read More

How to Transfer Your Web Site to a New Web Hosting Service?

There are various reasons why an online business owner like... Read More

Free Web Hosting Tips

1. The reliability of the service and their offers.A brand... Read More

Why Dedicated Hosting?

If you're reading this article, you might be interested in... Read More

Benefits of Web Hosting and Choice of a Web Host

Well let me start this way, a lot of people... Read More

Dedicated Web Hosting Is Easy When You Know These 3 Timesaving Secrets

Dedicated web hosting has its difficulties and problems from time... Read More

Importance of Educated Choice While Choosing A Web Hosting Provider

There are many attributes that makes a web hosting provider... Read More

Steps to Becoming a Web Host Reseller

You've decided to get a reseller web hosting account to... Read More

GBs and Gbs of Web Hosting

What is web hosting you ask? Web hosting refers to... Read More

How to Choose a Quality Webhost

If you are anything like me, you'd probably like to... Read More

Reseller Hosting: The Good and The Bad!

Reseller webhosting can be a great way to earn some... Read More

Transferring Your Existing Website to a New Hosting Provider

You've already got a website, but your current hosting provider... Read More

What You Should Know About Your Web Host

Yesterday I received a nice email in my inbox, I... Read More

How VOIP Has Helped Change Web Hosting

There is really no stopping VOIP (voice over internet protocol)... Read More

Windows Hosting versus Linux Hosting ? Which is right for you?

There are literally hundreds of thousands of web hosting companies... Read More

Choosing Between Free or Paid Web Hosting

There are a number of things to consider when choosing... Read More

Web Site Hosting For Your Business ? Free or Paid?

It's time to choose! Should you spend some money to... Read More

How To Change Your Web Hosting Provider ? Step-By-Step Guide

Whether you are disgruntled with the level of service your... Read More

Configuring DynDNS.org in Linux via DDClient

Most Internet service providers do not give you static IP... Read More

The Big Secret of Fabulous and Mediocre Web Site Hosting Companies

Most web site hosting services like the one you're probably... Read More

Web Hosting Woes for Beginners

Every individual when it starts surfing the net for choosing... Read More

Switching Web Host

Moving a web site to a new host is not... Read More

CHMOD - Undertanding File Permissions on a Unix-Based Server

The basic command for changing file permissions in unix based... Read More

Sell Web Hosting for Fun and Profit

The market is good for new Web hosting companies. According... Read More

Web Hosting: Shared or Dedicated - Which Should You Choose?

Before you begin your search for a web host you... Read More

The 14 Point Web Hosting Checklist

How To Select A Web Hosting CompanyWhen starting out, it... Read More