| Choosing a web host can seem like a daunting | | | | important to keep in mind that this promise can |
| task for first time website owners. Fortunately, | | | | never be truly fulfilled When looking at both disk |
| as long as you know what features are important | | | | space and bandwidth, make sure to read the fine |
| to pay attention to, creating an accurate and | | | | print. At the same time, unless you are using a |
| useful web hosting comparison is not a difficult | | | | large number of videos or images, disk space will |
| process. Let's take a look at some of the most | | | | probably not be a big issue, especially for |
| important features that you need to take into | | | | websites with only a couple hundred pages. The |
| consideration when choosing a web host. | | | | same is true for bandwidth. However, it is |
| 1. Reliability | | | | important to keep an eye on the bandwidth that |
| There is nothing more important than making sure | | | | you are using, to make sure that you will not get |
| that your website is always available to your | | | | saddled with overage charges. |
| users. The industry standard for uptime bottoms | | | | Some web hosting companies will allow you to |
| out at 99.5%. Anything less than this is simply | | | | pre-pay for bandwidth overages. While this may |
| unacceptable and a waste of your money. While | | | | seem like a good idea at first, the truth is, you |
| no hosting company can promise 100%, many of | | | | may never max your bandwidth allowance. |
| the best companies are currently posting a 99.9% | | | | Additionally, you may find a better hosting |
| uptime. Many people overlook uptime, because | | | | company in six months and switch hosts. If you |
| they just assume that the web hosting company | | | | do this, you will not get reimbursed for all of your |
| will simply make sure that their website is always | | | | pre-payments. |
| online. This assumption can quickly ruin the best | | | | 4. Flexibility |
| websites. | | | | What your web host allows you to do, becomes |
| 2. Support | | | | more important depending on what applications |
| There is nothing worse than needing to contact | | | | you want to run. If you are going to need shell |
| your web hosting provider, only to realize that | | | | access, then make sure that you get it. The |
| they are not available. If you website goes down, | | | | same is true if you want to install PHP or Pearl |
| or you are having problems, your web host needs | | | | scripts. It also is important to make sure that you |
| to be there to help you. More and more web | | | | are given the programming tools that you need in |
| hosts are starting to support 24/7 help-desks | | | | order to get your website running. Depending on |
| This ensures that you will get a response within a | | | | what programming languages are used, this could |
| couple of hours. Some even have real-time chat | | | | include: Ruby on Rails, MySQL databases, the |
| available to help you solve your problems quickly. | | | | ability to create cron jobs, and much more. |
| 3. Disk Space and Bandwidth | | | | Choosing a web hosting company isn't difficult as |
| While disk space and bandwidth are inherently | | | | long as you know what features are important to |
| related. They both have one thing in common. | | | | look for. By creating a useful web hosting |
| Many web hosting companies offer unlimited | | | | comparison, you can choose the right host at the |
| bandwidth and unlimited disk space. However, it is | | | | right price. |