For Newbies: Selecting A Reputable Web Host
You may not know a lot about hosting when you first decide to get a website up and running. You aren't the only one. However, when you want a website you need a place to store your files so that others can see them. That is what a web host can do for you, among other things. Even though you may not know about web hosts, you need a good one. So this article is here to help you learn more about what you should be looking for when you find a host for your site.
What you must do is get recommendations. There are so many web hosts out there that you would be there all day looking for one, so a great place to start is to find out what others are using. A smart place to look first is a forum for site owners or programmers. These people need their sites to work and they need things to run smoothly. They would be experts to talk to about may be a good host for you. The online forum also allows for people to talk almost instantly to each other, so you can have a good list of recommendations in a very short time.
Find out what kind of web services they offer you. Can they offer you a control panel that is easy to use? Can they help you install a blogging platform? While some services seem like they are not for you, remember that you are going to keep learning and may want certain features in the future. Get a good number of services before you pay for hosting.
Avoid free sites unless you only want to do a perosnal blog. This is a major tip. Free hosts may seem attractive until you need your site to continue to work. Free web hosts often have more downtimes than other hosts, and free hosts usually put advertising on your page without your permission (they fail to give you ad approval, too).
Find out what kind of space they're giving you. Space is one of the main reasons you need a web host. They may offered tiering pricing levels for more space, but make sure you can find a reasonable amount of storage for the price you're wishing to pay.
Testdrive their customer service. Customer service is going to be an imperative, any time you have a question or concern. Of course every company will offer you the world, but if there is a problem and you can't reach anyone, that changes. Before you buy a package, try contacting their customer service and see how quickly they respond to you and how simply they answer your question. If they make you wait, it's not a good sign.
Use the information laid out here. It is good advice that will help you avoid a lot of problems. choosing the right web host is not terribly difficult, but it does take time to make sure you make the right choice. Good luck!
