| They May Be Nothing More Than A List Of | | | | Write Down Your Pre-Sale Questions |
| Copied And Pasted Features | | | | If you can't find any customer comments to your |
| You see it all the time, those so-called "reviews" | | | | liking and you have pre-sale questions, make a list |
| of web hosting services that are nothing more | | | | and don't hesitate to contact the company. While |
| than a listing of features already displayed on the | | | | placing a phone call is quicker, emailing or using |
| web host's sale page. That's not a review, it's | | | | their ticket system is best because you'll have |
| redundant information that you can get by | | | | their reply in writing, should you need to use that |
| yourself just by going to the web host's home | | | | information at a later date. Plus, you'll also be able |
| page. | | | | to gauge how quickly they answer tickets. |
| Get Objective Web Hosting Reviews | | | | Guarantees Should Be The Money-Back Kind |
| While low pricing and an abundance of features all | | | | Most web hosting companies have a 30-day |
| play into selecting the best web host for your | | | | guarantee, but not all guarantees are a 100% |
| needs, the most important thing to look when | | | | money back guarantee. Make sure you |
| doing your research are comments from real | | | | understand the guarantee before you sign up. Be |
| people who have dealt with the technical staff, | | | | especially wary when customers complain of calls |
| customer support or billing department, good, bad, | | | | to the billing department going unanswered, refund |
| or indifferent. | | | | requests being promised, but nothing happens, or |
| Look for objective reviews from real customers | | | | "the check's in the mail" gimmick. |
| based upon first-hand experience. Anything else is | | | | Check The Company's Reputation With A |
| nothing more than subjective commentary. Did | | | | Reporting Agency |
| they get answers from the help desk in a timely | | | | If you're in the US or Canada, go into the National |
| manner? Were their issues resolved, if not, why? | | | | Sites section on the Better Business Bureau |
| Was the staff courteous or did they act like they | | | | website to see if any complaints have been filed. |
| were doing the client a favor by even showing up | | | | Be Wary Of "Too Good To Be True" Testimonials |
| to work that day? You want to hear from people | | | | Check for testimonials on the host company's site. |
| who actually have web hosting accounts with the | | | | Do they look credible or made up? They should |
| hosting company. Is the system slow? Is there a | | | | include real names and URLs of the people making |
| lot of down time? | | | | them. |
| Help Desk Systems Are Not All Alike | | | | Does The Web Host Have Any Awards? |
| Do they have a ticket system where you can | | | | Take any awards they have displayed with a |
| submit questions and then track the replies, or is | | | | grain of salt unless they are from reputable |
| their version of a help desk simply passing emails | | | | companies and publications. Click on those awards |
| back and forth? Emails have a way of | | | | and follow the links to the site that issued the |
| disappearing in spam filters, lost over time or | | | | award. If necessary, contact the award giver and |
| accidentally deleted. Names also get dropped in a | | | | ask them why they issued an award to the web |
| maze of cc's and bcc's when being passed off | | | | hosting company. |
| from the help desk to the technical staff. | | | | |