I came across a hosting company's website (http://www.iweb.ca) and I just want to share with you how happy I was to see how informative this site is, and how, IMHO, each and every hosting company's website should be, from a consumer's perspective.

Please note: I have no experience whatsoever with this host. I just appreciate the amount of information it provides: Multilingual website (and support), complete info. about servers, infrastructure, technical support, physical location, street address, building, offices and servers pictures, number of sites hosted, etc..., etc...

I really hope each and evey hosting company out there - including resellers of course - will take the time to design an informative website. The pay-off is huge: the few bucks spent in this task will translate in less phone and email requests for info., and should generate bigger sales (professional look, positive perceived image, ...)
And frankly, I think it's a marketing 101 rule. Personally, I feel «respected» when a website gives me more information than average.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of hosts seem to spend more time working on the flashy «2.99$ per month» .gif image than on real issues...

Of course, next, you'll have to deliver, but that's another issue...

I just appreciate the amount of information it provides: Multilingual website (and support), complete info. about servers, infrastructure, technical support, physical location, street address, building, offices and servers pictures, number of sites hosted, etc..., etc...


A multilingual website is great if you are also offering sales/support in those languages, but otherwise there is absolutely no point and can actually be misleading to a potential customer.

Most of the other items you listed are great extras, however they are not really required for a hosting site. You might find it useful, but a lot of others would find it to be information overload. How many people actually want to know how everything works in the background? Remember that not everyone wants or need to know how everything works, they just want to put a site online and forget about it.

The only point I would wholeheartedly agree with is the physical location, this in my eyes is a must for any business website and it is also a legal requirement for companies in some countries.

Designing a website isn't about putting on as many details as you can, it is about finding out the balance of what information people want to see on your site and making sure that the site is not overly complicated.

Personally I like a detailed, informative site, if the info is presented the right way. Different demographics have different behaviours though, and I hope they know their target well, because I've seen their site a bit focused on their corporate image, and selling that image -- at least more than other hosts do.

I would have to agree with FLH-Wullie when it comes to a hosting company that shows their full contact information. Simply for piece of mind, I would want to know that I am actually dealing with a real company.

Well, i agree with all the above-mentioned facts.. But i believe different people think differently. As for me, I would also like a web hosting's company's website to provide me some informative knowledge. Particularly in their knowledge base.

I agree about the address info.... (I think my site is missing that) oops, I will have to update it somewhere. thanks for the tip.
As for knowledgebase.... I think a forum would be great.

I guess that site use some kind IP tracing and it automatically redirects to to the language of you continent, very impressive.

I guess that site use some kind IP tracing and it automatically redirects to to the language of you continent, very impressive.

We use the language pack of your browser :)

I agree with JazzFinder.

Before settling with a hosting firm, you should look for signs as to whether or not the company you are considering has (and can) deliver a consistent service without sudden changes, corrections or interruptions. Decent web hosting providers plan well, so there generally isn't a need to make huge changes. Their website can give you this indication.

Companies who do not plan properly expose you as the consumer to risks you may not even be aware of. Common sense should tell you to avoid companies who display poor planning, through signs such astaking their web site down temporarily; promising to improve; and so fourth should be considered a threat for your web site. If they intend on hosting your website, shouldn't their website be informative enough for you to make your decision?

Whilst a company should strive to improve their services, it should only be to the extent of being marginal — never major. A decent website will always let you know this. Too many web hosts lack the internal systems necessary to maintain a world-class hosting service. Internal systems are essential for the seamless integration between a customer and the support team. As could be imagined, you should avoid companies who use adhoc or unplanned methods for these answers - they are more-than-likely too disorganized to handle your requirements effectively. Once again, their website will give you this indication.

By no means am I saying that a bad website means a bad webhost, but a good website tends to be a good webhost. Not always, but it is a rule of thumb which you (as the consumer) should evaluate.

That is a rip logo, but I just cannot put my finger on who's. Maybe its a child company, not sure.

That is a rip logo, but I just cannot put my finger on who's. Maybe its a child company, not sure.

Who was this comment directed towards? Iweb, for one, is a ledgitimate company.

That is a rip logo, but I just cannot put my finger on
who's. Maybe its a child company, not sure.

What logo? iWeb's logo? I was not going to write on this thread, but couldn't not let this one unanswered :-) I designed the logo in 1998 playing with "i" fonts. The logo and the iWeb name is trademarked to us in Canada. No rip here. If you remember what web site uses a similar logo, let us know!

Thank you all for the good comments on our web site ... we still have to work on it especially to organize the navigation between all the information better and remove the left menu that contains too much links. The amount of usefull information on our web site comes from years of work and constant improvement of the web site since 1996. It's nice to see that other people find it useful :-)

Regards,