2004-06-20 by 

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Taking the time to carefully choose your web host can mean the difference between a functional or a dysfunctional website.

Choose a host that has a 30-day money back guarantee posted on their site. Be sure to read your host's Service Level Agreement (SLA), Restrictions or "Acceptable Use" policy prior to purchasing. Most web hosts have a link to this information at the bottom of every page. Also, check to see if your host provides an uptime guarantee, which should be in the high 90s. Nothing's perfect, but you will be better off if your host has an uptime guarantee.

Price is important, but if you are setting up a website for your business, this should not be the only deciding factor. There are many inexpensive web hosts that are simply not worth the money. The golden rule with hosting is "You get what you pay for"! The better hosting providers will have quality
equipment and features as well as the technical expertise to support their customer base.

Look for a company that has been hosting websites for many years. When did your web host begin its operations? When choosing a provider, also remember to factor in features you plan to add in the near future. Does the host that you are considering have services that you may need later? Switching hosting providers takes a reasonable amount of effort and is not something you want to do simply for the sake of saving a few hundred dollars.

How good is their technical support? Try testing their support before purchasing. If the host has a 24/7 live chat, check it out. Customer support can make or break your hosting experience. During support hours, check into availability: How long will you have to wait on the phone to get through to a person? Expertise counts, too. See if the support staff is knowledgeable. Will the person answering the phone actually be able to help you resolve your issue, or is that person simply a receptionist?

Call the company's telephone number. See if a real person answers the phone during their regular business hours. If the host that you are considering does not have a telephone number posted on their site as well as their hours of operation, ask yourself "why"? Maybe they do not want their customers to
contact them. Reputable hosts will have their telephone number and other contact information posted on their site in a very visible location. Most veteran hosting companies will have 7 day a week support, or even better, 24/7 support.

Compare their features. Does the host that you are considering have a free shopping cart, multi-media capabilities, a web design tool, and other free features? Does your web host have any free marketing tips or tools? Web hosting companies can be a very valuable source for these features which could otherwise be very costly if purchased separately.

Choosing a web host can be a difficult process. But it doesn't have to be. If you follow these recommendations, then your decision and your website building process may be easier.

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