The following is a guest post by Karen. She has been into web marketing from last 4 years. And part of Web Hosting Search from quite sometime now.
When you run a website it’s important to have a good relationship with your web hosting provider. If you don’t, simple operations involved with running the website could cause you more headaches than the website is worth.
When you feel comfortable with your provider, you can easily tackle the big problems and take advantage of opportunities facing your site or sites. Here are some easy steps to take to help ensure that your relationship with any provider is as fruitful as possible.
Find a Suitable Plan, but Don’t Skimp on Features
When looking for a good hosting provider for your site, you want to try to predict what kind of services you’ll need. In general, the more features you buy, the more the plan will cost, and the more support you will receive.
You may wish to find an inexpensive plan at first, but you’ll want to do so with the knowledge that your website needs may grow. In the future you may need more functionality or access to special hosting features like advanced analytics. As your needs grow, start to look for deals that are more long-term.
Find the providers that include access to features like data backup, online assistance, FTP support and specialized e-commerce applications for a reasonable price or upgrade fee.
Research Each Web Hosting Provider
A great relationship with your provider starts with great customer service. The company will always tell you that they offer exceptional customer service and satisfaction, but in general, each provider will have its strengths and weaknesses.
In the complex world of online hosting and with the vast array of people coming to the Internet to publish a site, it’s important to find a provider that has been reviewed by consumers and has proved that they can effectively address the kind of needs you think you’ll have.
Are you a tech savvy? Are you looking for advanced e-commerce solutions? Are you trying to host a lot of videos? Each of these questions can bring you to a different host based on the features that they offer and their established reputation. User reviews and friends’ suggestions can be great for this step.
Look for a Good Deal on a Dedicated Server
Although getting a dedicated server is more expensive than using a shared hosting solution, there are several advantages that can keep you happy with your provider for years to come. When you have a dedicated server, you can set the rules for the interface and decide the programs that are running on that server’s processors.
Shared systems leave you dependent on the server. Of course, the web hosting provider will need to address not just your issues for your site but every other client’s issues on that system as well.
Test Their Tech Support Services
At some point in your relationship with your provider, you’ll probably have to get in touch with tech support. It’s worth picking up the phone and calling the tech support number listed on the provider’s website to see what kind of phone trees and wait times you experience. This can give you an idea of how well they tend to service their customers. Ask the agent a question or two to test their knowledge, too.
Look for Value Added Service Options
Some of the best providers are those that offer a lot of advanced services. You may come across a company that offers many features that you are not at all familiar with. That’s OK, as long as they make it easy for you to understand the features you’ll likely need.
You can feel confident knowing that the provider also has a stable line of other functionalities should you ever need them. This can help avoid the need to switch web hosting providers down the road.
Pick Your Payment Plan Wisely
It’s always nice to have a flexible way to pay the bills for your web hosting service. In business you can often expect the unexpected. The last thing you want is to be in a financial pickle only to have your money-making site shut down because of restrictive payment options. Look for pay-in-advance discounts and payment plan options.
Ask for a Better Deal
In the end, there is a lot of competition to get your business in the web hosting industry. So it’s a good idea for you to call and bargain with the company about the features that come included in your package. Ask for fee waivers and complimentary upgrades to start.
Look for a Plan That Includes a Dedicated Plan Manager
Check to see if the provider you’re considering hires specialized employees to handle all of your major online needs. This way, they can help tailor the best plan that suits your needs and your budget.
Find a Hosting Provider That Is Well-Established
True, there are many great new web hosting providers on the net, but there are also some that will not perform well or last through important future upgrades. A well-established provider, while perhaps a bit more expensive, offers more stability and therefore it is an easy way to make sure your relationship with the provider goes off well.
Look for Automatic Backup, Virus and Update Features
Having a happy relationship with your provider is all about the future, so you’ll want to make sure they have good backup systems and that they will automatically inform you when updates are available. Don’t forget to find a provider that includes more sophisticated security measures with their offerings.
Share Your Experience with Web Hosting Providers
Editor Note: For Wayne Liew Dot Com, I use Hostgator as my web hosting provider. My experience with them is great so perhaps you might want to give them a try.
For readers who don’t have a site yet, do you have any questions regarding web hosting solutions? And for those who already have a hosted site, what is your experience with web hosting providers and do you have any tips to share?
Feel free to leave a comment below. I would like to hear from you regarding your experience with web hosting.
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Photo Credits: Tim Dorr
