If you run an online company or just want to start your own site, you will need to find a reliable and affordable web host. How do you determine if a web host is right for you? Let’s take a look at some of the factors that make up an affordable web hosting company.
What Type of Server Do You Want?
There are a variety of different server types that you can choose from. Shared server space can generally be purchased for less than $5 a month. A private server is a server that is dedicated specifically for your site. Although you do not own the server, you should be able to get a secure private server for $75 or less per month. A dedicated server is a server that is dedicated to your site and your site only. Furthermore, you have full control over the server and have access to root files. A good dedicated server may cost thousands of dollars per month to operate.
What Happens if Your Server Goes Down?
If your server goes down, your customers won’t be able to access your site to buy your products. This could cause a customer backlash that could lead to declining revenues and lower profits. In the event that your server is hacked, customers may assume that you don’t care enough about your site’s security. That could turn them off to any sort of online transaction through your site. Lost revenues associated with your site being down should be considered as part of the cost of doing business with a particular web host.
Look for Customer Reviews Online
Once you know what you are looking for, you can find reviews for a variety of web hosts online. Visiting forums dedicated to hosting along with reviews from friends or colleagues who have their own website should allow you to gather as much information as you need on all available web hosts. The final step is to use a particular host to find out if they fulfill your hosting needs. If not, you should continue to shop around until you find a host that you like.
The definition of a reliable web host is going to vary from person to person. You have to know what you need, how much you can afford to spend and find a host that meets those needs. When you do decide to go with a particular hosting company, make sure that you can get your money back if you are not satisfied with what you have purchased.