A website is like a person, it needs a home. It needs a reliable, affordable or free web host to reside in. But for the uninitiated home or business user, how do you select from all of the providers? Do you go with free or paid, and if you have many sites, do you want to consider hosting them yourself?
The new user needs help navigating terms like bandwidth, space allotments, email account set up, etc. More advanced users need more complex scripting, and more control of databases and other more arcane topics.
It’s all really easy but confusing for the newbie. I remember when I started with my first hostgator reseller account and I had no idea how to even set up hosting space.
Hostgator in particular has excellent hand holding in simple matters, and I had my first site up in hours. I think they are in Arizona, and are available 24 /7. Not overseas, not unavailable. I’ve had my novice hand held through set ups complex and easy by certain web hosting companies, and I’ll give you the low down here. I hope it helps you get online, stay online, or improve your online presence.
I don’t want to recommend any particular hosting company, but I will share my experiences with them in an honest way. I love hostgator (they really RULE!, seriously), but I am also partial to Mochahost, and am not in WESTNIC, too and am checking a few others.
They all offer good hosting coupons and discounts. I’ve collected those and stayed on top of the best ones for you too. Save a buck like I did, and get good hosting. There are lots of good companies, but really awful ones too. I’ve had run ins that I will describe but not necessarily try to skew you towards.
I always get RESELLER hosting, and set my sites up as discreet websites, not subdomains. I just find it easier. And not that much more each month.
There are several truths in hosting:
- No company has 100% uptime, if they guarantee it I would pass on them.
- Most have 99.99% so it ’s really easy to “round up”. But honesty is always better.
- I always do a “customer service” test when I start, calling the 800# and testing the wait time in the US during the day, and at night.
- I do a “chat test” and see how quickly a person comes on chat for assistance, if they HAVE a chat available, and if the responder seems knowledgeable or is they are reading from a manual. You can tell rather quickly. Hostgator, Hostmonster and others are always wonderful in this respect. I even chat with them for non host matters just to get their opinion. I’ve learned much and am grateful to them.
I’ll be adding to this site to help over time, and I hope you will find what you need her. And please feel free to comment with any questions and I’ll do my best to help.
Dave.
I agree that customer service is important - if for some reason your website is down .. your web host should be able to help you in relatively quick time. Customer Service is the key criteria for choosing a web host!
I agree that customer support is one of the most important things to consider, when looking for hosting. I know hostgator is good, because I have been with them for several years. Hostmonster would be my next choice.
I’m new here.. you got a nice blog buddy, great work
thanks for the input. I’m trying to help folks avoid the pitfalls I found, and I’m starting to find that I like Mochahost and WEST NIC but not enough to promote them yet. Anybody have any experience with them?