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Hosting Tips
Deciding on a web host is not always an easy
process. There are a multitude of factors for
software developers to consider when selecting
a hosting provider. It can be difficult and frustrating
to switch hosts later, so making the best possible
selection in the beginning is very important.
And even more importantly, the wrong decision
can cost you in lost sales, and can negatively
effect your search engine ranking, if the selected
host turns out to be unreliable after you've established
your website with them.
Test The Host
Use tools to test the speed in which the host
responds to web queries. There are a variety of
free third-party tools available that will help
you measure and assess the reliability of a web
host. Reliability is a critical factor when selecting
a web host, so make sure you select a web host
that has an exceptionally good track record.
Test Support
Pick up the phone and call the web host's technical
support. The first obstacle may be locating a
phone number -- web hosts are notorious for burying
their phone numbers deep within their websites.
If you are unable to locate a telephone number
for them, that might be an issue worth seriously
considering. Avoid a web host that only provides
online email or forum support. Keep in mind that
support is all about response AND resolution,
so finding a phone number and placing a phone
call is just the first step in assessing a potential
web hosts' support policies.
Register Your Own Domain
Do not have your domain "registered" with the
same host you select for your web hosting needs.
There have been instances where dishonest web
hosts "own" the domain and allow you to use it,
but make it nearly impossible to switch that domain
to another web host in the future.
Length In Business
In order to determine how long a web host may
have been in business, search the whois.net database
to see when the host's domain name was created.
Also, use the Wayback Machine http://www.archive.org
and the various search engines to get a feel for
the company's longevity in business.
Research
Once you have narrowed down your web host selection,
do your research. Review webmaster and hosting
forums to see what customers are saying about
specific web hosts. Customer experience speaks
volumes, and you might learn how reliable and
dependable a host is based on the experience of
others.
Payment Plans
Web hosts that require (the operable word being
"require") a full year's payment in advance may
not be reliable. Most providers may offer a discount
for payment in advance, but if they require a
years payment in advance, you may want to take
a second look.
References
Talk to other developers about their hosting
experiences. A third-party recommendation from
an impartial hosting customer can go a long way
to lending credibility to a web host. Web Hosts
that other software developers have had success
with:
PAIR Networks - http://www.pair.net
MyHosting - http://www.myhosting.com
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Hosting Tips