Finding the best host for your company's Web site is one of the most
important steps when taking your business online. Not only will your host
be responsible for placing your company's site on the Internet; it will
also be responsible for keeping it there and available to potential
customers.
However there are thousands of Web hosting companies with even more Web
hosting plans, and it can be confusing when trying to compare offerings by
separate companies. When you reach this point it is crucial that you
understand exactly what it is you're looking for, and what Web hosting
services or companies to avoid.
TopHosts.com (http://www.tophosts.com)
is an online resource that helps businesses learn about and compare Web
hosting companies. TopHosts.com helps you determine the issues you need to
be aware of when choosing hosting services, and you can use their free
database of hosts to develop a short list of the ideal companies to meet
your site's needs.
TopHosts.com provides the following list of seven things you should do
before you start asking a host for the price of their services:
1. Create an online plan for your site. Sit down with
pen and paper and figure out the nuts and bolts of your store: What you
are going to sell, the number of items, methods of payment and the
features of your site. Then determine the possibilities for your site's
expansion over the next six months, the next year and the next five years.
It's easy to find a host that can meet your needs, if you already know
what they are.
2. Find out what other business owners have to say.
Spend some time talking to people who own online businesses that are
similar in size to yours. Ask about their experiences with hosting
services and see who they recommend you use.
3. Get it in writing. Once you have come up with a
list of potential hosts, submit a request for a proposal to the
candidates. Ask possible hosts to respond in writing how they can
accommodate the needs you determined in step one.
4. Pick your top five responses. Surprisingly, many of
the hosts you submit a request for a proposal to won't respond by your set
deadline -- their apathy says something significant about the way they do
business. Instead look at the responses you did receive and pick the five
best. These are the hosts that you are going to investigate.
5. Ask for references. Take your short list of hosts
and ask them for the names of some of their clients -- then pick up the
phone and see what the host's clients have to say. Be sure to inquire how
good the host is at making the site available online.
6. Take the service for a test drive. Your host plays
an important role in the success of your business, so it's important to
see if their services stand up to their promises. Pick up the phone and
call customer support at 2 a.m. Drop customer support an e-mail to see how
fast they respond to you. Do what it takes to feel comfortable with your
service provider before you enter into any type of business relationship.
7. Trust your gut. When it comes down to selecting a
host, trust your instincts. The host you select will become a strategic
business partner in some ways -- you have to feel comfortable with the
services provided and the level of support you are getting. What good is
dealing with a host that you loathe to call?
Choosing the right Web host is easier if you approach it the way you
would approach any other major purchase for your business. Doing this
homework can save a lot of aggravation and money down the road. It can
also mean the difference between success and failure for your online
venture.
TopHosts.com offers a searchable database of web hosting services.
Visit http://www.tophosts.com to
learn more about hosting or to find the ideal hosting company for your web
site.
This article may be reprinted at no charge, provided it is printed in
its entirety (including this message) and with the URL/link to
www.tophosts.com.
Don't Just Surf the Web,
Learn How To Take Control and Run The Web