Is Price The Only Thing To Consider When Choosing A Web Host?

For small businesses and independent ventures setting out to start their website, there are a number of factors to consider. Choosing the right web host is a big issue and one that requires plenty of thought and research. All too often, businesses end up letting price be the deciding factor when they make their choice. Is this a good plan? As The Website Group points out, budget is obviously something to consider but it alone should not be the deciding factor.

Here’s a look at a variety of factors you’ll want to consider and think about as you embark on picking the best web host for your needs.

Determine Your Website Needs

This should be the very first step in the process, after all how can you hope to choose the right web host if you don't even know what kind of website you are building? The questions you should be asking yourself include such things as how many visitors do you expect to get, will this number increase by a large amount over time, what kind of software will you need to use on your website, are you looking to include a WordPress blog, what about visuals (pictures and videos)?

There are no right or wrong answers during this step, it’s all about forming that vision in your head of what you see your website being and becoming.

What are the Plans Offered?

Next you want to start looking into the type of plans these webhosts offer. You will find some are more suited to larger companies with bigger needs, while other plans are meant for small and independent ventures. Don’t let yourself feel overwhelmed with the lingo in this stage, instead be sure to ask questions as they pop up so you are very clear on what each of these plans feature.

The typical plans that people choose from are reseller accounts, dedicated servers, and individual plans. Your choice should be based on what your needs are, which goes back to the first step you should have already completed in the process.

What Kind of Support is Offered?

Just as important to ask is what kind of customer support the webhost will offer you. Do they basically leave everything to you to figure out? If you are inexperienced this can be a real problem. Well-known companies should offer their customers a 24/7 support line as well as a live online chat feature. If you run into a problem you want to know it will be fixed immediately.

Also Worth Considering

Some other factors worth considering are how much bandwidth you are allowed, what their customer reviews are like, and if the company supports web scripts.

Don’t Rush the Process

Picking your webhost isn’t a process that should include pressure and being rushed into making a decision. It is recommended you take your time, do the research, ask plenty of questions, and feel confident in the decision you end up making.