With so many web hosting providers out there, it can be difficult to know how to find the best one. To make sure you choose wisely, here are 8 tips to help you weed out the not-so-good from the truly great options. ...
1) Ask Around
Before you spend a dime on a hosting platform, ask your friends and peers for their recommendations. Usually, when I’m researching any tech-related purchase (be it phones, laptops or web hosts), I talk to every single person that I know before making a decision. There are so many options out there—and so many people who have used different services—that it’s best to get as much input as possible before making a commitment. You never know what service or platform is going to be right for you until you try it out! If someone you trust has had good experiences with an online service provider in the past, that could be your answer right there.
2) Talk To Support
There are many hosting platforms out there and it can be hard to tell which is best. Support is a good place to start when looking for information on a web host. When choosing your hosting provider, you need to ensure that they’re ready and willing to answer any questions you have as well as address any problems you encounter. The most important thing, however, is that they're reliable and have a history of responding promptly; nothing is worse than having a tech issue with your site and not being able to get support! Make sure you choose a web host with live chat or phone support; email tickets only allow for slow communication that can easily leave one waiting days for an answer.
3) Use Free Trials
It’s tough to know if a company is right for you if you can’t try it out first. Free trials give you a chance to test drive their web hosting services before making any commitment. Most free trials are time-limited, but they typically last long enough that you can become comfortable with your potential new host and decide whether or not it's right for your needs. When considering free trials, look at all of your options carefully and make sure that each trial gives you adequate time to determine whether or not you want to continue using that service. Also make sure it isn't an upsell where paying for the trial includes more features than paying for it after that.
4) Read Reviews
Nowadays, it’s easy to find out what other people think about a product. And with regards to web hosting, you should read reviews before deciding which provider you should go with. Start by visiting unbiased review sites like G2Crowd or Sitejabber and see what real customers have to say about a hosting company. If there are plenty of negative reviews and only few positive ones, that’s usually not a good sign.
5) Understand The Different Types of Hosting Plans
Not all web hosting plans are created equal, and if you’re looking for a new home for your site, it’s important to understand how different services work. Shared hosting plans—in which you share server space with other users—are often good for small businesses and personal blogs. However, more serious sites may benefit from a dedicated server plan, which means you get your own server and don’t have to worry about competing for storage space or bandwidth. In addition, if you have a high-traffic site that needs more power than standard shared hosting can provide, consider VPS (virtual private server) plans or managed WordPress plans. You should also look at other types of service providers when evaluating web hosting companies.
6) Recognize Good Customer Service
Customer service can make or break a business. The best hosting providers have great customer service departments and will be able to help you resolve any issues that arise quickly and with as little trouble as possible. If you’re looking for a reliable platform, look for web hosts that are willing to work directly with your customers if there is ever an issue. If their servers go down, they should be proactive about getting them back up as soon as possible. They should also do everything in their power to ensure that their users are always satisfied.
7) Consider Who You Are Dealing With
When choosing a web hosting provider, you need to consider who you are dealing with. You should choose providers based on their reputation, whether they provide customer support through live chat and email, what packages they offer and how much space and bandwidth is included in those packages. Don’t be afraid to ask questions like whether there are any hidden fees or whether your website will go down if you exceed your allotted amount of storage space. Remember that a hosting company that advertises itself as being reliable isn’t always trustworthy and vice versa; it’s best to check out all factors before making your final decision.
8) Look For CPanel Access
CPanel is a dashboard tool that lets you control your website files and settings. If you’re not familiar with CPanel, it may be time to research more on your current web hosting platform. Many newbies are wary of CPanel because they think it might be too complicated for them. However, don’t let its name intimidate you; in fact, once you get used to it, CPanel will make running your website so much easier! To learn more about how a good host can help with maintenance and ease-of-use when running a business online, check out our guide on choosing between managed or unmanaged WordPress hosting providers.
