What makes you signup for a hosting company! ! !

hmmmm

:confused:

Good reputation and good customer service.

I always write sales@ or support@ before seriously considering a host. That's usually deciding factor. I ask as many questions as I can, but I don't ask questions that can be found in their FAQ's, TOS, etc....I always find something to ask ;-)

How fast they respond, how nice/helpful they are, and how they project themselves snares me or doesn't.

What gets me to write is a web page that doesn't look like the kid next door did it, features that I am looking for at the price I want. CPanel is a big plus, as well as a boatload of customer support documents, FAQ's, a forum, etc. It depends on what is most important at the time, cheapie or reliability.

But the email(s) from them--most important.

I can understand the rest, but CPanel? I dunno...I go with ensim or Plesk, CPanel? EEk, I guess I am not a CPanel fan yet.

So the question, ginakra, is why then are you always looking for a new host? At least that's what it sounds like :)

Well, I'm not a reseller--I do web design work and usually looking for client hosting. If a client calls me up and says they want a subdomain added, I don't have to write support to get it (my experience with Ensim). Plesk is okay, just my second choice. I just find that with CPanel, I can go in a do what I need to do, get it done, and I'm outta there--no support or waiting necessary.

With all Cpanel accounts I have had experience with, the only time I need to write to support is when something on their server is broken.

I also futz around with new php scripts to get familiar with what's out there for me and my clients, delete and create databases at whim, and have custom error pages right when I want them.

So I'm a control freak and like to play with CP toys--sue me :D

I will sign up based on how my questions to the company get answered, eg: I would judge the manner of the response, and whether they actually read my email........

My next criteria would be the site, If the site has a nice professional feel that I can associate with quality, I may be influenced to sign up......

Last criteria is price..........too cheap is out..........something in the mid-range is in for me..........

I don't sign up for web hosting, but I can tell you that 9 times out of 10, if they call on the phone, they sign up.

Do other hosts not answer phone calls to their toll free lines? Judging by the response I get when I answer I'd wonder.

I get 5 or 6 sales calls a day, and it's rare when one of those doesn't show up in the new signups either that day or a few days later.

I must say it's nice to be reassured >8)

It seems standars are very high!

;)

1. Thoughtful and helpful posts here by Gary Harris
2. Checked out his website - nicely descigned, easy to navigate.
3. sent email with simple question - got immediate response
4. Excellent price for a small reseller program that was about exactly what I was looking for.

It was the speedy response that backed up his claim for good customer service that decided me. I'm too new to this not to get good support.;)

Phil Noir - I'm glad this thread helped you

:)