Basics of a Web Host Background Check

Choosing a web host is not easy, especially when you’re shopping around for a new one after a bitter experience with your old one. Some hosts may seem like good options when you check out the services they provide and others may come highly recommended by friends or people you know. But you need to make sure that you’re rushing from the frying pan into the fire by taking things slowly, weighing the pros and cons of said host, and making sure that all your needs are met before signing on the dotted line. Here are a few tips that come in handy when you’re checking out a prospective web host.

• Talk to other clients of the provider if you know them personally. Web hosts that come with a high degree of personal recommendation are usually reliable service providers.
• Call or email the hosting company and check out the services they offer. Talk to them in detail to see if they meet all your needs. Ask about emergency services and those that can be provided even when no advance notice is given.
• Check the web for customer feedback. Blogs, forums and personal websites are a valuable source of information when you’re looking to ferret out the negative aspects of any product or service provider. While some rants may arise out of sheer spite, others are legitimate and bear looking into.
• You can judge a hosting company by looking at the amount of time the staff make you wait when you call or the response time when you email them. Customer service is an important aspect to consider when you’re placing the responsibility for your server in the hands of a web hosting provider.
• Enlist the help of a utility tool that allows you to check information related to web hosts, like uptime, the kind of software they run, and other information about colocation centers and carrier hotels.
• If you’re going to responsible for the maintenance, upkeep and general troubleshooting aspects of your server, make sure you choose a data center that’s geographically near you. You don’t want to be spending all your time travelling long distances just to make sure your server is up and running.
• If you know of other sites that your prospective web host is responsible for hosting, check out the speed and access times to get an idea of what your visitors are liable to experience.
• Talk to the staff at the center about being to upgrade or downgrade your service features as and when you desire and about remote troubleshooting options and help.
• And last but certainly not the least, read the fine print thoroughly before you sign on the dotted line. There’s no use arguing till you’re blue in the face over anything once you’ve moved over all operations to your new web host. It’s too late to change hosts again (remember, if you change hosts frequently, search engine bots tend to ignore your site) so you’re going to feel bound to accept what you get rather than demand what you need if you don’t go over the documentation with a fine tooth comb.

This post was written by Sarah Scrafford. She writes on similar topics for  web design school.  You may contact her at sarah.scrafford25@gmail.com

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