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Choosing a Web Hosting Company - Seven Things to Look For

Published Saturday, August 2, 2008 by bloggerblognet83460 | E-mail this post

The right web host is crucial to the success of any website. Here are a few things to look for when choosing one to host your site.

24-hour support. Problems don't just happen during business hours. You'll want a hosting company that provides round-the-clock service, just in case your website goes down at an unexpected time.

An overage policy you can live with. If you get a spike in traffic and exceed your limit, you'll be charged for it. Check to see what their policy is on traffic overages.

A high guaranteed uptime. Your host should offer a guarantee of at least 99% uptime - and have a refund policy in place if your website goes down.

Satisfied clients. Ask the web hosting company for links to sites they host, and contact the webmasters. Are they satisfied with the host?

Essential features. With an e-commerce business, you may need SSL technology, a shopping cart, a MySQL database, and more. Make sure they offer the features you need.

Easy management and updates. Your host should provide a control panel to manage your web account, change passwords, and perform other administrative tasks yourself without going through their technical support.

Room to grow. Think ahead when choosing a hosting company - look for one that can accommodate your long-term plans for growth, not simply your website at present.

Take your time, research all your options, and be sure to check references - and you should be able to find a web host that meets your needs.

Chris Smith works in sales and marketing for the UK based company on365. On365 provide a range of IT based solutions including UPS protection and cooling solutions. For more info visit http://www.on365.co.uk/