In the transient world of web hosting, I suppose that my ultimate nightmare is the 'here today gone tommorow' web host.

Since most of the hosts that hang around here seem to be.

1. Start-ups
2. Aggresively priced and therefore not necessarily aware of the prifitability = viability connection.

What is there to give me confidence in these guys?

Use common sense to protect yourself.
1) Keep a backup on your PC or another server you own of you
web site icluding any databases.

2) Don't buy long term contracts unless you have been with the host for a while and you know how they run the business.

3) Don't be fooled by very low prices. Like you said, some hosts aren't making money, or are even selling below cost. If you think a host is selling below cost, stay away since when they start to feel the heat you will be one of the first to be dumped.

Following these simple rules you can minimize the chances of you falling for a host that will be gone tomorrow, and even if you do fall for one, since you have a full back up, you can be back up and running in no time with another host.

I take offense to the "don't be fooled by low prices" statement. While it is ABSOLUTELY true that some companies offer too much for a low price - and simply cannot stay in business for long...there IS a way to offer low prices and still turn a good profit.

We've been around since 1997 (a lifetime, in internet business years). If you're going to offer low prices, the trick is to do some number crunching and base your pricing on REAL numbers. Figure out how much you pay for bandwidth, equipment, staff, etc. and how much you need to charge and still make a profit.

It CAN be done - but only if there is a solid business plan in place.

At $25 a year, we're pretty cheap. However, we're not going to give you 20 GB of transfer and 200 MB of space for that either. :D

Just look at what you're paying for. If what you're getting for $1 a month seems like too much for the price - that's when you need to start worrying if the host will be around tomorrow.

--Tina

Originally posted by AffordableHost
Just look at what you're paying for. If what you're getting for $1 a month seems like too much for the price - that's when you need to start worrying if the host will be around tomorrow.

I think that is what Wazeh meant, though that's a better way of putting it.

How about asking the hosts how much did they put down for the business?

What kind of server specs?
Support Response Times?

Well I think the more money they put down to start the host then they are somewhat serious.

E.G.

Investing in SuperPowered Servers (Dual P3 1000 1 GB of RAM etc)
Live Help Software (they cost alot.... around $1100 a year for LP PRO)

Just my 2 yen...

Originally posted by Chicken


I think that is what Wazeh meant, though that's a better way of putting it.

Agreed. I initially didn't want to name any names, but everyone who goes to the offers forum can see some rediculously low
prices which have to be way below cost. For example that one host who advertised 700MB for $7 per year or some amount close to it. No matter what busines plan you make, you cann't make any money on these prices.

Looking at AffordableHosting prices, they are very reasonable indeed.

There are a lot of new start up around. There are also a lot of companies that have been around since the begining.

Check out if the company you're looking at has a mission statement or the likes there of. It does not matter if they have only just started or have been around for a while. Either way the important thing is weather or not they know where they are going.

If they have set up a plan and are following that plan, they will continue to be around.

Clayton Shears
<<MOD EDIT:>>
Please list URLs in your signature file and not within your post.
<</MOD EDIT>>
Email- claytons@glopro.com

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M6.net provide web hosting, it's all we do and we do it very well..

Originally posted by Wazeh


Looking at AffordableHosting prices, they are very reasonable indeed.


Okay, I may be assuming too much - but, if you were referring to us, it's AffordableHOST.com - no "ing". :D

--Tina