Related Articles
Choosing a web hosting provider
Choosing a web hosting provider isn’t difficult, but searching for good and not-so-good options can make your head spin – especially if you’re taking the plunge and creating a website or blog for the first time.
Free web hosting companies, for example, put ads on YOUR website. That’s how they make their money, and you have no idea what ads will appear on your site. So if you’re a doctor who wants to build trust with website visitors, an ad for a “weekend” dating service isn’t going to make you shine. Avoid free hosts.
This means that it will cost you something every month. You may have to pay a sign-up fee, a maintenance fee, and a bunch of other fees that will cut into your profit margin. No, choosing a web host is not rocket science, but you should at least know what questions to ask. Web Hosting in Lahore
Here they are.
1. How to ask questions?
Wow, a good question, right at the beginning. You can’t ask questions of a web host if there is no contact information, help desk or technical support. If your site has disappeared and you’re wondering about the 404 error message on your screen, an email response 28 hours after you send an email to the host means you’ll be invisible for 28 hours.
And if your site gets spiders when it’s not online, you’ll come under fire. SEOs (search engine optimizers) refer to “lack of website accessibility” as the most important negative ranking factor with search engines. Google won’t send visitors to an inaccessible website, so you need a quick fix.
Make sure the web host offers a variety of contact options – especially a toll-free phone number. Email is fine for billing questions and other non-time-sensitive issues. A downed website needs to be fixed immediately. You want that toll-free number 24/7/365.
2. Where is customer service and technical support located?
Start here during your “interview” with potential hosts. (See #1. If no phone number is provided, you can’t ask questions 2-10, so move on).
Many web hosting companies outsource this task, so you’ll be talking to someone 12 time zones away trying to figure out where your site has gone.
Technical support should be in close proximity to the server room so that if there are any problems, they can be resolved quickly.
3. What do I get with my website?
You should get everything you need to create the type of website you want, and whatever is included in the budget. Your web host should offer website templates for beginners (use them if you’re just starting out), easy blog integration, a checkout, and the ability to code the site yourself with a blank slate option.
If you don’t have a toolbox or goodie bag, keep looking.
4. How much experience do you have?
Look for a company that has a long history of experience online. Experience dealing with a large customer base, with dozens of servers, and with working with customers. A college kid can rent server space and become a hosting reseller. So you think you’re working with Bob’s hosting company, when in reality your website is on a server in an earthquake zone in the Philippines.
Oh, and when Bob graduates, he can just unplug his laptop and move on to greener pastures while you try to figure out where your web business has gone. Web Development Services in Lahore
5. What kind of server-side security are you using?
Look for hardwired firewalls, firewall software, anti-spyware and antivirus protection on the server side. A reputable host will have multiple layers of security, so ask about security redundancy. Your host representative will be happy to tell you, provided you are dealing with a good hosting company.
6. What happens when my web business grows?
Well, for one thing, you’ll be making money. However, you may also want to expand. Look for a flexible host with a flexible plan that allows you to expand gradually as you add more products, more services, archives and other website features.
7. What if I hate it?
The W3 is not for everyone, even though there are more than 122 million websites and 6,000 new websites are launched every day. But maybe you find it too complicated, too unproductive, or just too much.
Good host don’t want to lock you into a long-term contract. They don’t want dissatisfied customers, they want satisfied customers. That’s why a good web host will offer a 30-day trial period so you can try out your new website. By the way, creating and maintaining a website using templates is quite automated and therefore easy, and it doesn’t take much time.
However, if a website is not your thing, look for a host that offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
8. Can I register my domain through you?
Any hosting company is able to register a domain name – your URL or web address. But if you register your domain with host B and then choose host A, you will have to redirect or migrate your domain to the new hoster. You get the idea.
Register your domain name with the hosting company that rents you the space on a monthly basis. Simplifies life on the web.
9. What can I learn from the host website?
A lot, if you read between the lines.
The website reflects the host “brand” – its corporate culture. Some use witty logos and radical fonts aimed at a “younger” audience. Other hosts have a more professional appearance and take the time to explain their company values, i.e. their commitment to customer satisfaction, technical support, fair pricing and value for money. If you are serious about your website, you should turn to a host that is serious about hosting.
Everything from the company logo to the language of the website text defines the company’s brand. Which would you choose? The wild tech geek or the clean design and quality information of a host that sees its own company culture differently.
10. Does the host use green technology?
The Internet is growing exponentially and has gone from a novelty to a business necessity in just a few short years. From small business owners to multinational corporations, having an Internet presence is almost a must.
This means more energy is being consumed, infrastructure is being built out, and many outdated servers loaded with toxins are ending up in our landfills – a problem that will only increase.
Look for water-cooled servers that use recycled water instead of energy-guzzling fans to cool the server racks, one of which hosts your website. Digital Marketing Agency in Lahore
