Regardless of the size of your business, you need a website to announce your presence to customers, project a professional image to investors and serve as a repository for business data.
A Web hosting provider offers the technology necessary to the world to be able to see your website. Unfortunately, many small businesses only compare providers based on cost alone. Basic cost is only one of several criteria to consider when choosing your business web hosting provider - and not even the most important one.
How much a host costs shouldn't be the only thing you ask. Here is a more comprehensive set of questions to keep in mind when selecting a Web hosting service:
How quickly does the business Web hosting provider answer email and/or telephone queries? The provider should be able to provide you with an average response time. If your website goes down, you need quick, 24/7 feedback from the business web hosting provider.
Is there an extra charge for some kinds of support? You should know if you will be charged for opening a high number of trouble tickets, requesting rapid service or otherwise demanding attention that the provider deems exceptional. Know what services are included in your bill and what services cost extra.
What's the catch? Even legitimate business Web hosting providers can use misleading business practices in trying to convince you to pick them. Always read the fine print.
Is the hosting interface intuitive? Some hosting providers provide simple interfaces, allowing a non-techie to easily log in, create websites, monitor traffic and perform other essential tasks. Other providers require you to use other, more technical ways of interacting with their servers. Know in advance who will be responsible for your creating your website, and ensure that the provider's interface is easy for that person to use.
Does the provider support many applications? New computer languages and applications are created every day. Not all of them, such as the application framework Ruby on Rails, are supported by all hosting providers. If you're planning a website that will take advantage of the latest technology, make sure your provider can keep pace with you.
Is the hosting provider stable? There are hundreds of business Web hosting companies in the marketplace; after all, all a person needs to start one is a computer and an Internet connection. Not every provider has a track records of financial stability or a history of solid consumer reviews. Never entrust your website to a hosting provider whose stability, reliability or legitimacy are not attested to by existing customers and consumer reports. Such providers can hold your site hostage or do other kinds of harm. Also, be wary of a hosting provider in active litigation.
In Web hosting, as with other kinds of businesses, you tend to get what you pay for. Finding a reputable and responsive hosting provider may require extra diligence and cost on your part, but the time and money spent will prove to be a good investment in your business.
