Finding The Right Shared Host

One of the key requirements you will need when setting up a website is to find a shared host. This is especially decisive for small websites which don’t have the sufficient funds in order to go for dedicated hosting. In this case, these websites will need to find a hosting company that can guarantee up to 100 per cent of server uptime, which is scalable and whose charges are realistic.

Below are a few of the questions that you will need to ask yourself while searching for a shared web host:

1. Are the server and server technologies being used by the web host able to support the number of expected users?

2. What is the technical dexterity and experience level of the system managers?

3. Can your host route the Internet traffic on another line if one line is down?

4. How good is the network connectivity? You need at least a T3 connection, with sufficient bandwidth which is dedicated to all your needs.

This isn’t all. You will also need to:

1. Only buy those services that are needed by your website. Do not pay for services that are comprised in the hosting package but which are of no use to you.

2. Try to choose a host who can provide you with some technical support through a toll-free line 24 hours a day.

3. Always check for references and communicate with other webmasters whose sites run on the same server. Try to browse their websites at peak, as well as off-peak times, in order to check the response time on your server.

4. Try to check what happens in case your server fails you. Will the web host be able to recover your lost data? Or will you end up losing all your valuable business data?

5. Try to find out if the host possesses the servers and the hosting facilities or is only a reseller.

6. Will your web host offer you any reimbursement if there are breaks in service, especially if these interruptions will cost you some valuable business?

7. Try to check what kind of information is hosted on your server. Try to avoid web hosts that will allow adult sites to be hosted on their servers as these can affect your site’s performance.

These are quite difficult questions. Most web hosts might not answer these questions directly as they might try to confuse you with web jargon. A good policy for you would be to take an Internet professional with you whilst you conduct your research.

You can also go by a trusted friend’s advice who has been previously satisfied with his web host. This will eventually save you the bother of visiting hosting companies and comparing services which could be offered to you by them.

Article Source: http://www.webdesignarticles.net.

About the Author:
Norman Mather is contributing editor at http://www.webdesignarticles.net/. This article may be reproduced provided that its complete content, links and author byline are kept intact and unchanged. No additional links permitted. Hyperlinks and/or URLs must remain both human clickable and search engine spiderable.