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Biz QuickTips
Nine Questions to Ask When Searching for a Web Host
You'll want to be sure your web host can support the many features you want your website to have. Check with several different companies to compare features and prices.
You'll also start to get a feel for responsiveness and the level of service you can expect.
It's a good idea to plan your website before you select your website host. This way you will know what features
you need and you won't be limited in your plans for your website by features your web host doesn't offer.
Here's a list of questions to ask potential website hosts:
- Hours of Technical Support
24 hour support is the best, but everyone doesn't offer it.
Ask what hours support is available, and be sure to ask what time zone they are in.
- Tech Support Via Phone or E-mail
You'll find you use the technical support the most during the first 30 days your site is up, and again whenever you add a new feature to your site that depends heavily on technology (such as a database).
If you are a novice, e-mail support will go right over your head as you try to decipher their answers. You may also find it difficult to describe the problem if you don't know the jargon.
Phone support is the most desirable, but e-mail can work fine for simple problems, for savvy computer users and, if you are a novice but your webmaster will handle the maintenance.
- Set-Up Fees
Website hosts often run specials waiving set-up fees if you are transferring an account or if you sign-up by a certain date. Always ask, even if you don't see it advertised. Sometimes there is one coming up the next week and you may be willing to wait.
- Payment Plans and Discounts
Some hosts offer discounts when you pay in advance for three, six or twelve months. Payment methods can include credit card, electronic payments or checks, sometimes with additional fees or less desireable terms for non-credit card purchases.
- Credit For Referrals
Called affiliate programs, associate programs or simply credit for referrals, companies that offer these will have their own plan.
They are designed to get you to encourage others to use their services. Sometimes you get a month free for each referral or you may get a certain dollar amount credited to your account.
Some programs require you to register and others simply ask the new client who referred them. A nice way to add dollars to your own coffers.
- Uptime
Always ask about the uptime. It tells you what percentage of the time the system is up and running. You are looking to hear 98% or 99%. 100% is not possible.
What you are really looking for is whether or not the host knows what the uptime is and/or whether or not they hedge on the answer. You want to know that they monitor uptime, get problems fixed quickly, and are proud of their record.
- Space and Transfer Data Allowance
The space offered by web hosts is usually more than enough for all but the largest of websites. Same goes for transfer data (an analogy in very simple terms would be how many pages can be accessed each month). Only the largest of sites need worry about this, so if your site promises to be the next Yahoo, ask for details.
- Upgrading Service
As your site grows, you may find that you need to upgrade to more space or features. Ask what this will involve. For some hosts, it simply means changing the account status and fees, for others, it means moving your site to another server.
This can be a major undertaking (another reason to plan your site beforehand). Of course, changing from Unix to NT means moving to another server.
- Special features
Based on what you want visitors to be able to do on your website, ask about cgi-bins (for forms handling), message boards, shopping carts, etc. You'll also want to know if they offer auto-responders, web-based e-mail, e-mail forwarding, etc.
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