How to Choose the Host with the Most
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The other day I was speaking to a client of mine about selecting a host for the website that they were planning to build. They asked me a question that I am sure many have on their minds. “Out of millions of options and hosting companies, how do we know which one is the best for us?” The answer is simple. There are three terms that must be met.
Quality Service
Most site owners shopping for hosting will go online, find a $4.00 hosting company that offers 1000 Mbps of server space along with 24/7 technical support, and think that they have found a great deal. The truth is that those are just letters and numbers. Most hosting companies offer 24/7 technical support, but that statement is subject to a lot of interpretation. Does 24/7 support mean that when I have an issue I will submit a ticket and wait 48 to 72 hours before my problem is resolved, or does it mean that I will reach a live person when I call the 800 support number that will actually answer my questions and resolve my issues?
My method usually involves calling the hosting support number before I even order the service to see what type of response I receive. If I get a machine I will leave a message explaining my interest in their services and give the company one hour to respond. If they don’t respond in one hour to close new business, then it is unlikely that they will respond quickly once they have your business and you have an issue. In the event that I do get a live person or immediate response, I then proceed to outline my hosting needs with the tech. Most good techs know the products and services offered by their company. If they don’t know enough about the product to sell it to you, then they can’t know enough to manage it and fix it. Look for the tech that will answer your questions and make useful suggestions towards your goals.
Another important detail to know about the level of service is billing. Important questions to ask include:
1. Who handles billing? An outside company or the same company you are purchasing the hosting from?
2. Can billing issues be resolved by calling a support number?
3. What payment methods are accepted?
4. Do you have full control of your billing through an online account management platform that lets you change your information or look up current and past statements?
5. Do you receive credits for referrals?
There are many hosting companies out there that will answer positively to all of the above questions. Don’t settle for less…it might come back to bite you later. Once you have reached a level of comfort with the service that you are being offered, you should proceed to ask questions regarding the type of equipment the hosting company uses to provide your service.
Next: Quality Equipment >>
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