Is It Time To Reach Out To A Web Host Provider?

There's a point at which just a company Facebook page or Twitter profile isn't enough.

As you try to grow your business, you'll find that having your own website gives you far better tools for expanding your online reach.

When you start looking for a webhost to work with, keep these things in mind:

Reliability

The first and most important thing you should look for in a potential web host is guaranteed uptime of at least 99%. This means that the host guarantees your site won't be down when visitors come to call. Look for a money-back guarantee if your uptime falls below that guaranteed percentage.

This one's crucial, especially for a small business website. You don't want to fork over money to a web host, only to have your site inaccessible to customers.

Tech Support

This one goes hand in hand with the host's reliability score. In case you do have a problem, you need to know that tech support will be available, 24/7. They should offer you both phone and email contact options, and if you choose email, should reply promptly.

Bandwidth/Disk Space

If your host advertises unlimited bandwidth, do some more digging. Often, the host's definition of "unlimited" actually means "We've set a limit, but it's higher than most users will consume, so we call it unlimited and get away with it."

You might have to scan the fine print to find the actual bandwidth limit -- and the fee for going over it. This might not matter much while your site is new, but it can become an issue once your site is established and your traffic numbers rise.

Reseller versus Hosting Provider

Some companies that sell web hosting don't actually own their own servers -- they just contract with server owners to sell space. Many resellers offer cheaper rates than the actual server owners, but some also don't know a lot about the system -- which can result in longer tech support wait times.

This doesn't mean you should dismiss resellers immediately. If they have excellent reviews from happy customers, they're still worth a look. You'll just want to do a little extra digging into their reputation, especially when it comes to tech support and service.

Research

Finding a host that excels in all of these areas may be easier said than done. Here's where a little online legwork comes in handy.

Run a Google search for the host's name and look for reviews. Check reviews from more than one source to get a more accurate picture. Don't forget that your social networks can be a great source of referrals and information. Post a request for recommendations, and see which company your friends and other business owners use.

As your business grows, reliable web hosting will become more and more important.

Finding the right provider can be a headache, but the extra research up-front will likely pay off in dependable service for years to come.