Choosing the Right Web Hosting Provider for Now and the Future - Consequences of a bad choice
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So why is it so important that you choose the best web hosting provider? Well, lets take a look, shall we?
Q: What if the web hosting provider doesn’t have the functionality I need?
A: You need to switch to a new web hosting provider.
Q: What if my site has become so big that I can no longer host it on a shared hosting account, but my web hosting provider has nothing better for me to move to?
A: You need to switch to a new web hosting provider.
Q: What if the web hosting provider you are hosted with cannot support the bandwidth you have grown to need?
A: You need to switch to a new web hosting provider.
If you don’t take these items into consideration when you are first selecting a web hosting provider, sooner or later you will have to move to a new provider. And between you and me, this is no picnic. I mean, let's put aside the complexity of moving the code and maybe even databases from one place to another, then any configurations that may be needed to actually make your site operate in the new location. Those can be hard enough, but the bigger problem you have is called DNS propagation.
What is DNS propagation? When your website is up and running in your new location, you need to tell all of the Domain Name Servers (DNS) in the world that your website can now be found at its new location. You do this by changing your site's DNS servers with your domain registrar. But once this is done, it can take up to 48 hours for this information to completely cycle through the Internet. In that timeframe, customers can potentially be hitting both websites, so you now have the nightmare of either a) having the old website say you are closed to business, or b) have the old website keep running as usual, and try to somehow sync up the two sites after DNS propagation is finished.
Doesn’t sound like fun, does it? It’s not. Making bad decisions on a web hosting provider, even though they won't impact you right away, may impact you in the future. What’s worse, if you are moving out of necessity, then the move is going to impact your bottom line, since your customers will not be able to successfully be able to use your site in its new location for up to 48 hours.
So the what’s the moral here? Spending a little time and research in the beginning can save customers, frustration, and money in the long run. Making an informed decision up front is the right way to go, and can be the difference between a successful online venture and a failed attempt.
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