Ten Things The Web Hosting Company Didn’t Tell You When You Signed Up
July 9th, 2009
Ten Things The Web Hosting Company Didn
Not all web hosting companies were created equal. But how are you to know what distinguishes one web hosting company from another? Here are 10 things that you may want to ask a web hosting company when you are searching for a hosting provider.
#1 - Hidden Fees
After you set up your new hosting account, some companies will try and hit you with extra, unanticipated set up fees and other charges. Don’t let them. Ask them about all possible charges upfront.
#2 - Not-So-Free Features
Many hosting customers will offer a number of “free” features. You will want to ask what the limits or specifications are for these free services. Some hosting companies will offer free benefits for the first 30 days and then charge you for them.
#3 - Bad Security Policies
You will want to know what kind of measures they have in place to avoid identity theft. You will also want to know what they are doing to protect your credit card information. Some people will not want their names given out to public and possibly being associated with a given site. You may also want to ask what you will have to do to terminate your services. Some companies may have a minimum amount of time that you need to be with them before you can terminate their services.
#4 - Are They Really a Hosting Company?
One of the first questions many experienced web folks will ask when seeking new hosting services is if they are a reseller. A reseller is not really a hosting company. Resellers will purchase bandwidth from a hosting company and then resell it at a slight profit. They may also be working as agent or marketers for a site and taking a commission when they sign up new clients.
#5 - Poor Customer Service
The first and probably most important question to ask is whether the hosting company offers customer support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is important not only for customer service issues, but you will want to know what the company can do if their equipment fails. Something like this may cost you business, and so find out if they can provide any relief. Also, find out what they can do to restore their own equipment if it fails.
#6 - Content Issues
Some sites may also be sensitive in nature and you will want to clarify that they support sites like the one you are creating. You would not want to wake up one day and just find out that your site is missing. Take your time and investigate. Ask questions, because this is your business after all.
#7 - Bandwidth Charges
If you happen to go over your monthly allotment of bandwidth then sometimes the hosting company will try to hit you with some steep unexpected fees. Make sure they are fully disclosing what they will charge you ahead of time. You should ask what measures the company has in place in the event you get a lot of traffic and exceed your given bandwidth. With that in mind, you will then want to ask the company what you will be charged if they can provide some extra bandwidth if needed. Many hosting companies will not tell you that there are some really outrageous fees associated with that. This is critical because it could lead to your site being shut down.
#8 - Upgrade Fees
Often times, hosting companies will lure you in with cheap plans that really won’t fulfill your long-term business aspirations. Then, when you realize you need more, they charge you an arm and a leg.
#9 - Dedicated or Shared Server Space
Make sure you find out whether you will be getting a dedicated or shared server space. A shared server may be the cheaper option, but your site will need to split a server with other companies. The dedicated server option is a much better option, if you can afford the extra costs.
#10 -Is the Web Hosting Company You´re Choosing a Reputable Business?
It´s up to you to find out whether the web hosting company you choose is a company that has a solid reputation. The company isn´t going to share the fact that some customers may have had a negative experience. You need to investigate this for yourself.
