Five Quick Ways to Determine One Hosting Company From Another

These days, web hosting companies are popping up faster than dandelions. And just like those pesky weeds, they usually aren't going to benefit your business at all. So how do you pick out one hosting company for another for that big Internet move? Below I've provided you some quick ways to sift out the sheep from the wolves.

1. Traceable Testimonies - Many web hosting companies provide a testimony page. Good web hosting companies will actually link to the person who 'said' what is posted. If there is no link, it is possible that the hosting company simply made up the testimony. You don't want to be involved with a company with questionable integrity.

2. Testing Quick Response Claims - Testing out the response of a web hosting company is easy: email them. They should provide an email address or at least a feedback form. Ask a simple question about their service, and see how fast they respond. Compare that with what they have 'advertised' as their response time. See how they measure up.

3. Online Help or Ticketing System - Some hosting companies may even offer and online ticketing/helpdesk. While you may have to be a customer to actually use it, just the fact that it is available is a good sign.

4. Sense of Community ? Good web hosts still have problems. Honest web hosts will be open and (of course) quick to resolve them. Many hosting companies now offer online forums ? a place for their customers and potential customers to post questions, comments, testimonies, and complaints online. Really good hosting companies will not only answer these questions, but they'll supply educational posts that may answer similar future questions.

5. WHOIS ? Taking a quick visit over to www.whois.sc will reveal a lot of information about your web host. Besides giving you some technical information, you'll also find out just how many websites are running on that server. Remember, more websites doesn't always equal better company. You certainly want to make sure the server isn't bogged down!

This is a good place to also make sure that the host isn't on any blacklists. Blacklists usually mean that there are documented reports of spam coming FROM that server, and that's not good at all!

Whether you are a first-time hosting purchaser or a hosting refugee (that's what I call those people who bought hosting from a fly-by-night hosting company, and their website is now AWOL), I hope that these tips will help you save some future headaches and maybe even a little money, too.

About the Author
Will Hanke is a self-proclaimed geek who owns and operates Lighthouse Technologies (http://www.techlh.com), a web development and hosting company based in Arnold, Missouri. For questions or comments, email him at will@techlh.com. And buy yourself a good virus program so he doesn't have to fight your emails with anti-virus spray.

---

Web Hosting: Which Is The Host With The Most?

So you want to publish a web site do you?... Read More

Unlimited Wealth Creation Through Reseller Hosting

Web hosting can be an exciting business start up for... Read More

Linux Web Hosting: The All You Need to Know

Linux web hosting is so named, based on the operating... Read More

Choosing the Perfect Deluxe Web Site Hosting Plan

If you are looking for a deluxe web site hosting... Read More

Steps to Becoming a Web Host Reseller

You've decided to get a reseller web hosting account to... Read More

Choosing Your Web Hosting Package

General rule of thumb is not to sign up for... Read More

Cheap Web Hosting Package? eCommerce Web Hosting? - Choosing A Web Hosting Provider

One of the important decisions you'll make when you decide... Read More

Choose A Host That Matches Your Home Business Needs

With plethora of hosting companies offering services, choosing a good... Read More

Avoiding Bad Web Hosts

The Internet represents the most powerful communication revolution since the... Read More

How To Choose The Best Web Host For You

Web Hosting is a service. Auto mechanics also provide a... Read More

Bound To Your Old Expensive Web Host by Fear?

You're not alone! Many people are bound to the old... Read More

Monitor Your Web Site for Downtime

For those in the Internet business the availability of their... Read More

Adult Web Hosting: The All You Need To Know

What sort of web hosting options should you go for... Read More

Hosting Your Way All The Way To The Bank

Let's face it, the Internet is here for good. Today's... Read More

How to Choose a Web Hosting Company

Web Hosting AdviceChoosing a web hosting company to host your... Read More

UNIX vs. Windows- What Server Operating System Should You Use for Your Web Hosting?

So you've decided to create a website? The most obvious... Read More

First Web Hosting Experience

Well? you've purchased a domain name? created a pretty design?... Read More

Good Web Hosting ? What Is It?

With hundreds of web hosting companies to choose from today... Read More

How to Choose the Web Hosting Provider?

1. Does the company offer telephone support or 24/7 email... Read More

Unlimited Bandwidth in Web Hosting

Bandwidth explained:Bandwidth is the amount of data transfer that you... Read More

Cheap Hosting Packages and Low Cost Web Hosting - Watch For Hidden Costs

If you're shopping around for an affordable web hosting plan,... Read More

Top 5 Mistakes that May Drive Your Visitors Away in Less Than 2 Minutes

You took the leap. You set up a website to... Read More

Web Hosting Solutions In Birmingham

Once you have a website you then need to think... Read More

Setting Up Your First Web Hosting Account

The BasicsSetting up a web hosting account for the first... Read More

Sell Web Hosting for Fun and Profit

The market is good for new Web hosting companies. According... Read More

In Search of Webhosting: First Understand the Industry

In search of a webhosting company for personal or small... Read More

Five Quick Ways to Determine One Hosting Company From Another

These days, web hosting companies are popping up faster than... Read More

Virtual Private Servers (VPS) Web Hosting

A Virtual Private Server (VPS), also referred to as Virtual... Read More

How to Find a Dependable Web Host

Your new website is ready to upload, and now you... Read More

How You Pay More for Unused Web Space and Traffic

"2GB web space with 50GB traffic for $5.95 per month!"A... Read More

What is a Web Host Reseller Account?

A web host reseller account is a web hosting account... Read More

How To Choose A Reliable Web Host For Your Website

A client of mine paid for a solo advert to... Read More

Free or Paid Web Hosting?

Just finished your first website? So it's the time to... Read More