Top 10 Web Hosting Providers

Putting a web page on the internet and making it available for the world to see requires specialized equipment and knowledge.  You would need a computer system which has been setup in both its hardware and operating system to act as a server as opposed to a desktop system which is the type of system that most of us are familiar with.  A server has specialized hardware capable of reacting to the needs of the tasks it is asked to perform and is capable of hosting thousands of pages.  Most server systems are priced many times the amount that the average individual would be willing to invest and have additional licensing costs for their operating systems and the applications they run.  In addition, most individuals do not have the expertise and experience required to run their own web hosting server.

A web hosting service is able to leverage the capacity and power of their servers by dividing it amongst a fairly large customer base.  This capability is referred to as shared hosting.  Shared hosting reduces the overall cost per customer, making it affordable for all.  In addition, web hosting services employ their own experienced technicians and specialists to maintain the reliability and security of their systems.

1. The very first consideration when choosing a web hosting service provider is their reliability record.  The reality is, if the web host goes down, your web page can not be found and that costs you business.  Check for feedback from past customers.  It is also not unheard of for less reliable web hosting services to close their doors.  If that happens, your web site may vanish all together. 

TIP:  Always maintain your own backup of your entire web site yourself.  If the web hosting service provider you are using should experience a catastrophic outage or close their doors, you would then have the option of finding an alternate provider to host your web site and be backup and running fairly quickly.  This would not be the case if you did not have a backup and the files being hosted were lost or no longer available.  Backing up your site is as simple as downloading the entire web site folder to your desktop using the FTP service and then copying it onto a CD/DVD.  Please note that if your web site is large, this may take a significant period of time to finish.

2. The second item to consider is capacity, also referred to as disk space.  Very few businesses are run using a single web page.  They require space to house their pages and supporting files. As you see from the chart above, there are several web site service providers who offer unlimited space to their customers.  While it is true that most web sites may not require significant amounts of disk space, why add this to your list of concerns when it is not necessary?

3. Bandwidth is the third consideration and ranks along side of disk space in importance.  Anyone who has used the internet in the era of the dialup connection knows the how painful it is to work with limited bandwidth. Limited bandwidth can result in slow loading web pages that annoy you and more importantly, your customers.  

Another method often used to limit bandwidth is to put a cap on the total amount of data you are able to transmit in a given period of time.  If you exceed your limit in the defined time period, you will face additional costs for any additional data you transmit over your limit.  Some web site hosting service providers will suspend your account until you upgrade to a more applicable package.  Suspension means your web site is no longer available, resulting in lost sales and customer dissatisfaction.

4.  How many email addresses will your business need?  If you are a small business owner, you might say to yourself that you only need one or two email addresses to work with per domain. Take into consideration that you might want a personal email address, a support email address, an address for use with PayPal and possibly others. Consider as well that you are in business with the goal of building and expanding that business.  Once again, many web hosting service providers include an unlimited number of email addresses with an account, so consider carefully if you are looking at one that does not have this feature.

5.  How many domains does the web hosting plan you are considering allow you to host?  This is a major item to consider.  Very few businesses, particularly small businesses, use a single domain name.  A cheap web hosting plan will quickly become an expensive web hosting plan if you are required to pay the same amount for each domain you would like to have hosted.  Once again, there are multiple web hosting service providers who allow you to host an unlimited number of domains on a single plan, at a single cost.  

6.  Domain name registration is the next item on your list of things to look for in a web hosting service provider. Almost all web hosting service providers allow you to use their service to register one domain name.  There are different time frames that a domain may be registered for.  Domains can be registered for a period of one, two or more years at a time.  Many web hosting service providers will setup your services login based on the original domain name you use.  The original domain used also becomes the primary domain.  All other domains are referred to as addon domains.  Hostmonster works in this manner.  They will allow you to change your primary domain without charge or hassle, but your login will still be based on the original domain name used.  In other cases, the first domain name used will be the primary, but you will be allowed to choose a login name.

One thing you want to be on the lookout for are web hosting service providers who insist that you purchase your domain names through their services and who will not allow you to transfer over a domain name purchased elsewhere.  A standard industry practice is to purchase your domain names through a service such as GoDaddy.  GoDaddy is ICANN accredited. Once the domain is purchased, it can be added to your account with your web hosting service provider.

This became a standard industry practice when it was found that some web hosting service providers were only renting the domain names to their customers.  If the customer chose to move their website to another provider, they would not be allowed to use the domain names they had promoted for their websites, and with which they had built their business reputation, because the provider had ownership of the domain name.  To avoid this happening to you, register your primary domain name with a domain name service so that you have ownership of the name, and use it to setup your account with the web hosting service provider.  If they will not allow you to do this, you need to seriously consider getting your money back and taking your business elsewhere.

7. If you have specific applications you need to work with, that would be another consideration.  For those just starting out on the internet, this will not be an issue.  Most web hosting service providers include the tools the average online marketing customer will require with the exception of WordPress. While many provide an easy way to install WordPress, not all are WordPress friendly. The top WordPress friendly providers we have found are Host Gator, Hostmonster, and Bluehost.

Those planning a website for a traditional brick and mortar business, don't need a web hosting service that is geared towards the online marketing community. Instead, they will want a service that is geared towards optimizing a single business with backend shopping cart features. One of the best web hosting services for this type of business website, is Yahoo Small Business Hosting. Yahoo Small Business hosting includes targeted ecommerce solutions and tools for these types of websites.

As well, if you are moving an existing web site or have specialty applications, you will want to be fully aware of any requirements or dependencies for those applications and verify the web hosting service provider is capable of meeting those needs.

8. Customer Service Availability is key to your customer experience with a web hosting service provider.  Do they offer 24/7 support?  Do they offer a variety of methods by which their support can be accessed such as a support ticket system, phone support and online chat?  Are they able to provide professional consulting and assistance?  Poor customer support will cost your business time and money, not to mention the frustration of running into a problem with no one to consult.  When you choose one of the best rated web hosting service providers, you receive a variety of customer support options that allow you to pick which method best meets your needs.

9. Money Back Guarantee and the web hosting service provider's terms of service should be carefully reviewed.  Take the time to thoroughly read the terms of service so that you are aware of what is expected of you should you wish to discontinue using a particular web hosting service provider.  Many require notice in writing 30 days or more.  If you have purchased several months of service or longer, there may be a limitation on the amount you are able to recover.  By taking the time to read the web hosting provider's terms of service, you will be able to make an educated decision on which of the packages offered will work best for you.

10. The last consideration is price and possible fees for the initial setup of your website and account.  A setup fee is usually a one-time cost unlike your monthly hosting fee expense.   As there are many quality web hosting service providers who are able to supply their customers with reliable web site hosting for under $10 USD per month, you should be able to easily find an affordable web hosting service that meets your needs, without breaking your hosting budget.  Price is the last item considered.  If your needs are not met by a web hosting service provider, it doesn't matter that you have found a cheap price.  It will  end up becoming more expensive in the long run as it takes its toll on you and your peace of mind.