Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Hosting : Web Hosting Tutorials : How to choose a Host. A few simple steps, feel free to add to it.

[DomainFinder]

Here are some simple steps in choosing a host.

1. Do your research here and on the internet to find a host that works for you.

2. Every host has had some problems, but that doesn't make them bad.

3. If you find a host that's too good to be true, it probably is. Just remember this, you get what you pay for.

4. There's no such thing as unlimited bandwidth and storage space, so don't waste your time with hosts that offer this.

5. Once you find a host ask questions to see if they fit your needs, and see how long it takes for them to respond.

6. Go with a host that has a 30 day money back gaurantee.

7. I have nothing agains't one year hosting payments up front, but if you're starting out it's better to pay monthly.

This how-to was inspired by watchdog's post, with contributions from idologic_dh, eliquid, Techark, Dennis, and others.

[Akash]

A work in progress I've moved it here for more visibility. Please try to keep this thread as clean as possible

[schmeg007]

Uptime Guarantees: Hosting uptime guarantees can be viewed as worthless. If a host really wants to show its stuff they will post their uptime history.

Backups: If you are running a forum, a news site, or any other kind of web site with daily information, be sure you choose a host with some sort automated backup option. Also be sure that this backup is not stored on the same hard drive as your web site.

Referral: The absolutely best way to choose a web host is through a trusted friend/associate. If they have had a lot of good experience with a host, that is probably the best shot for you getting a great web host. If you don't have any friends...well, you can always read through the WHT forums .

My friends were always asking me for advice on choosing a web host, so I wrote a little Web Host Guide for them. It just a good resource for someone who doesn't have a great deal of experience in choosing a host or knowledge of all the options a host can provide. Maybe you guys will find it useful too.

[Ryan Price]

Price is not everything. There is other and more important things to look for in a host then the price. For instance, if they provide the best quality support, and uptime. If they are freindly and have good reviews on WHT .

[Executive]

I like a host that has a forum where customers can post how they like the service (or vice versa).

[Imago]

Panta rei, things change. A bad host may improve. A good host may turn into hell. One thing yet remains constant - your responsibility for the clients.

Take Uptime guarantee as a promiss, not as thing in itself - it is an ideal never achieved.

Instead, ask for third-party monitoring stats.

Not everything that is cheap is necessarily bad.

Do you really need THAT server now?... You may miss the tomorrow's offer.

[pifua]

ping it first!

[winterchase]

Question: when a company asks for $Xs and says it will submit your site to 1000s of browsers, what exactly are they doing?

This is probably in the wrong place but the sign said I can't begin a new topic.

[scheiner]

* Try to find sites that are placed on the server you want to buy place at. This will give you good idea of how fast (or slow) the server is.

* Prefer host that have support via phone line. It sometimes cost more, but it shows how serious the host it.

Hope that help, I will add more if something pops into my mind...

Scheiner

[ServeByDesign]

Support, support, support. You WILL need it sooner or later. Does it take a week for your email to get answers, or hours?

[YUPAPA]

Go with a host that has been operating for a while (maybe 2 years or more), so that you know they are stable and have the ability to pay for expense

Is this important?

[Shoey]

Originally posted by YUPAPA
Go with a host that has been operating for a while (maybe 2 years or more), so that you know they are stable and have the ability to pay for expense

Is this important?

This is TOO important.

[YUPAPA]

ooooohio~ I am so smart baby

[HostQuest]

This how to is picking up steam, great tips!

[DiegoMontoya]

Totally agree with schmeg007 comments.

Uptime is a useless guage and is more of a marketing gimick for most. unless they spend 200K+ on equipment and contracts they will not get close to 99.9% uptime. Besides, unless you are a bank, you don't need or can afford 99.9 uptime.

Make sure you call/test the tech support line late at night and during the day time to see if a human actually responds within 5 minutes. There will always be problems and live support the is only way to resolve most of the problems in time.