A company, no matter how large, is only ever as strong as its weakest link. Now, in most cases, a company’s weakest link is its web server or its web page hosting provider. If your experience with programming is limited, the technical terminology and directories can become overwhelming. Once the information and choices become convoluted, many people just shut down and randomize their choice. While this may sound like fun, this article will help you to cut through all the confusion.
Web Host
Find out what the security precautions are of the web host. Your website will potentially be under constant threat and attack from unscrupulous individuals and malicious viruses. Verify that your selected web host has implemented security measures, which can effectively handle denial-of-service attacks, as well as many other common threats. Know the potential risks to your site if your host is attacked.
Make sure that you are doing your own backups of your site. It is very important that you do this, not just for compliance, but mostly because you want to have your data backed up and safe. Doing so will help ensure you still have your site, in the event something happens.
Look for a web host that will break down internet stats and web information, so you can learn more about your visitors. Put a counter on your home page, and compare the number it shows to the number your host gives you. As someone who is trying to make a living using the Internet, this data will help you figure out how to best reach your audience.
Does the host which are you are considering offer a refund guarantee if you are not satisfied? Canceling your service should be your right if you aren’t satisfied with what you signed up for within 30 days. Some web hosts do not live up to their advertisements.
Find out which programming languages you’ll need to use on the website you’re building, and ensure the host you choose has all of them available to you. You won’t be able to launch your site, if you choose a web host that doesn’t support the languages you’re relying on for your site as currently designed. Also, you want to know any languages you intend to use in the future because you want to ensure that your hosting company will be able to support you down the road as your site grows. Switching web hosts can be extremely tedious.
Think about upgrading your site’s hosting to use a server dedicated solely to you. Dedicated servers are more secure. You can also get more disk space and bandwidth on a dedicated server. This will allow you to provide your customers with the optimum experience when they visit your site. Try to remember that people that are happy will keep coming back.
Make sure you don’t get taken by scams and hidden fees. A lot of hosts advertise their low prices, but do not mention the extra fees. To combat this, know exactly what you are looking for in a web host and which features are crucial. Pick the plan which offers you exactly what you need for a price you can afford.
Now that you’ve read this helpful advice, you should have a better understanding of website hosting services, and the positive and negative features you may come across in the different service agreements. Even if you are already locked into a hosting agreement, you can inform your IT person and prepare to move your site to a better hosting service once your current contract expires.