Nine Things To Know Before Selecting The Web Host For Your Business

It may seem simple yet it is often times overlooked. When it comes to choosing the right Internet hosting provider for their websites, the majority of business owners or companies know very little about making the best Internet/web hosting decisions.

• What makes a good Internet/web hoster for a business website? What makes a bad one?

• How can the wrong Internet/web hoster help/harm your business?

• What are the different types of Internet/web hosting services? Which ones are best for which industries?

Here are some tips to help you make the right decisions:

1. Understand the distinctions between shared, collocated, unmanaged dedicated & managed dedicated hosting so you choose the one that is right for your business.

It is crucial to understand the difference between the types of hosting offered. As the hosting industry has matured, hosting offers have split into a couple of distinct categories, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

Shared hosting (sometimes called virtual hosting), means that you are sharing one server with a number of other clients of that company. The host manages the server almost completely (though you maintain your site and your account). They can afford to charge you little since many clients are paying for use of the server. However, companies other than yours are using the resources of that server. That means heavy traffic to one of the other sites on the server can really hammer the performance of your site. Also, you are typically not able to install special software programs on these types of machines, because the host will need to keep a stable environment for all of the clients using the server.

Collocated hosting means that you purchase a server from a hardware vendor, like Dell or HP for example, and you supply this server to the host. The host will then plug your server into its network and its redundant power systems. The host is responsible for making sure its network is available, and you are responsible for all support and maintenance of your server. Good hosters will offer management contracts to their collocation clients so that you can outsource much of the support to them and come to an arrangement similar to managed dedicated hosting. Most collocation hosts do not offer this service, however.

Unmanaged dedicated hosting is very similar to collocation, except that you lease a server from a host and do not actually own it yourself. Some very limited support (typically Web-based only) is included, but the level of support varies widely from unmanaged dedicated host to unmanaged dedicated host. This type of server can be had for around $99/month. Support levels are typically only provided in general terms. Ask the host to go into specifics about what support they will provide -- will they apply security patches to your server? -- before signing up. This service is typically good for gaming servers (like Doom or Counterstrike servers) or hobbyist servers, but not for serious businesses that need responsive, expert-level service.

Managed dedicated hosting means leasing a server from a host and having that company provide a robust level of support and maintenance on the server that is backed by quality guarantees. This maintenance typically includes that services such as server uptime monitoring, a hardware warranty, security patch updates and more. Be sure to make sure your managed dedicated host is specific about its managed services included so that you can be sure they are not disguising an unmanaged dedicated offering as a managed dedicated server. This has been known to happen unfortunately, which is why it is important to do your homework and ask the right questions.

2. Ask If Your Potential Host's Network Has Blackholed Ips.

Many hosts care little about who is actually hosting on their networks, so long as the clients pay their bill. That means many hosters will allow porn sites, SPAMMERS and servers that create security issues on their network for the sake of the dollar. Even if you are to place ethical issues aside, this does have a negative impact on customers in general, however, when a network gets blackholed for spamming, for example. Getting blackholed means that other networks will refuse e-mail originated from IPs that are blacklisted. Some hosts have a number of entire class C (up to 256 IPs) networks blackholed and redistribute these tainted IPs to new clients. That means if your business relies on legitimate closed loop opt-in e-mail marketing to drive sales, being on such a network can severely cut response to your campaign because your e-mail may never get to its destination.

Check with any hosts you are considering to see if their networks are blackholed. Also, here is a link to a third party source that tracks blackholed networks and lists them: http://www.spamhaus.org/sbl/isp.lasso

The following URL is a good resource to help you understand what is labeled SPAM and what isn't: http://www.spamhaus.org/mailinglists.html

3. Don't Confuse Size With Stability.

Just because a web hosting company is big, does not mean it is stable and secure. In fact, many of the biggest filed for bankruptcy protection or were saved by being sold to some other company, in some cases causing uncomfortable transitions in service for their clients. How do you protect yourself? Ask some key questions:

How long the has the host been in business?

Is current ownership the same as always?

Are they profitable and cash flow positive from operation-generated revenue?

4. Don't Make Price Your Only Priority.

The old saying "you get what you pay for" applies to most things in life, and hosting is certainly one of those things. When you over-prioritize price, you run the risk of ending up with a host that will provide you with a connection to the Internet and little else in terms of support (and even that connection may be running at maximum capacity or have uptime issues).

5. Make Sure Your Host Has Fully Redundant Data Centers.

When dealing with smaller vendors, make sure that they have their own data centers and that those data centers are fully redundant in terms of power and connectivity. Here are a few questions to ask:

How many lines do they have coming into the facility?

What is the average utilization of their connections?

(No matter how large the connection, it if is running at maximum capacity it will be slow.)

Do they have redundant power to the servers?

Do they have a generator on-site?

How often do they test their generator?

What sort of security measures do they have in place for the network?

What physical security do they have?

What type of fire suppression systems do they have in place?

6. Find Out If They Have Actual Experienced Systems Administrators On Their Support Staff.

When you call in for technical support, it can be a frustrating experience to be stuck talking with a non-technical "customer service" representative when you really need to talk to a systems administrator who can resolve your issues. Find out the structure of their support department, how quickly you can get to an actual systems administrator when you need to, and which systems administrators can help you when you need help.

7. Make Sure The Host Is Flexible.

It is important that the hoster understands how important quality servers are to their clients' businesses. Even most managed dedicated hosts will not go near supporting applications that are not part of their initial server setup. Find a hoster that has a vast amount of experience to support a wide variety of applications, and one that can bring that expertise to you through their services.

8. Find Out What Their Former/Current Clients Say About Them.

Can your prospective host provide you with success stories for clients with similar configurations to yours? Are they able to provide references from clients who can tell you about their experience using that company?

9. Make Sure The Host's Support Doesn't Include Extra Charges.

Make sure any host you consider provides you with a comprehensive list outlining the support they offer so that you can have an understanding of what is supported for free, what is supported at a fee, and what is not supported at all. Many hosts will try to hide a sub-standard level of free support behind non-specific statements of high quality support, so make them get specific to win your business.

About The Author

Chris Kivlehan is the Marketing Manager for INetU Managed Hosting. INetU is an award-winning Allentown, Pennsylvania-based hosting provider that specializes in managed dedicated hosting for businesses nationwide in the online retailing, web development, e-learning, financial services and online marketing industries, as well as for governments, non-profits and civic institutions.

610-266-7441

chrisk@inetu.net

www.inetu.net

info@spreadthenewspr.com

Business Consulting Web Development Web Site Design Graphic Design Ecommerce
Marketing Web Hosting Domain Name Registration Clients Web Maintenance Voice Overs Talent
Contact Us Company Info Home Page
>> Link Exchange Directory - Ad Your Site Now! <<

INFORMATION AND HELPFUL ARTICLES
Web Design Web Hosting Web Development Search Engine Optimization
Web Design Samples Graphic Design Samples Glossary Pantone Chart RGB HTML

Tampa Web Design and Development Tampa Bay Web PHP Development and Web Hosting
Graphic Design Tampa Bay Small Business Consultant

Small Box Web Design & Consulting Moves Website to SmallBoxWeb.com - PR Web (press release)

Small Box Web Design & Consulting Moves Website to SmallBoxWeb.com PR Web (press release), WA - 6 hours ago Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) September 7, 2008 -- Web design and search engine optimization firm, Small Box Web Design & Consulting, today announced that it has ...

01Interactive Recognized as the best Web Design Pakistan Firm and ... - Live-PR.com (Pressemitteilung)

01Interactive Recognized as the best Web Design Pakistan Firm and ... Live-PR.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria - 16 hours ago 06.09.2008 23:56:46 01 Interactive Studios marks its five year anniversary by being acknowledged among the best Web Design Pakistan Firms and freelance ...

Maximizing Visibility with Dallas Web Design Company - TransWorldNews (press release)

Maximizing Visibility with Dallas Web Design Company TransWorldNews (press release), GA - 23 hours ago That is why 1VIZABILITY, a Dallas based web design company, aims to assist business owners by creating a “buzz” effect and amping up with the use of Web 2.0 ...

Web design CEO sells in Las Vegas - Blockshopper

Blockshopper

Web design CEO sells in Las Vegas Blockshopper, IL - Sep 5, 2008 by Ross Franco, BlockShopper Staff Zachary A. Harding and his wife, Tina, sold a five-bedroom, three bath home at 7636 Splashing River Court in Las Vegas to ...

Bank of Newman Grove Selects Goldleaf’s Web Design and Hosting ... - Business Wire (press release)

Bank of Newman Grove Selects Goldleaf’s Web Design and Hosting ... Business Wire (press release), CA - Sep 3, 2008 In addition to the Web design and hosting, Bank of Newman Grove also selected Goldleaf’s security package, which includes SSL and Pharming Shield. ...

Web Design For Small Business - 3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine

Web Design For Small Business 3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine, Germany - Sep 2, 2008 Branding is an aspect of web design that usually costs more money, but is worth every single penny spent. A logo and certain set of colors is what sets one ...

New York Community Trust Selects Embolden for Web Design ... - MarketWatch

New York Community Trust Selects Embolden for Web Design ... MarketWatch - Aug 26, 2008 Embolden www.embolden.com, is one of the nation's fastest-growing web design, development and technology consulting firms serving the community foundation, ...

Design Oven launches Web design service - CIOL

Design Oven launches Web design service CIOL, India - Aug 31, 2008 LONDON, UK: Design Oven has launched a range of Web design services geared towards meeting the needs of small business owners, after identifying a need for ...

Offshore Web Design & Development, E-Commerce solutions, Content ... - PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung)

Offshore Web Design & Development, E-Commerce solutions, Content ... PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria - Sep 1, 2008 If you are a firm looking for cost savings through outsourcing, we are offering offshore web & software development services for companies like you. ...

Web design & FOSS - ZDNet UK

Web design & FOSS ZDNet UK, UK - Aug 25, 2008 It is easy to forget that the computer is just a tool, a means to an end. It might be fun, it might be interesting, heck, you might even scrape a living out ...

Web-Design - Google News

� MediaRocket.com All rights reserved.
 
Business Consulting Web Development Web Site Design Graphic Design Ecommerce
Marketing Web Hosting Domain Name Registration Clients Web Maintenance

voice overs work, onhold music, on hold message, on hold messages, message for voice mail, voicemail greetings, voice mail greetings, voice mail greeting, voicemail messages, messages for voicemail, messages for voicemails, voice services, radio voices, radio voice, voice over recordings, voice over auditions, voice acting, voice over artists, voice over artist, voiceover artists, voiceover artist, voiceover auditions, voiceover audition, voiceovers auditions, voice over agents


Tampa web site design voice talent and voice overs, small business consulting web design graphic design business consulting services tampa web design web design tampa business consulting st. petersburg web design florida web design sarasota web design jacksonville web design orlando web design miami web design business consultant  radio station web design radio web design clearwater web design tallahassee web design small business consultant real estate web design west palm beach web design ecommerce web design business web design hosting web design professional web design flash web design flash graphics web design web design company web page designers color chart Web Design -- Business Consulting Services Web Development Web Site Design Graphic Design Ecommerce Marketing Web Hosting Clients Web Maintenance Contact Us Company  Home Page Employment  Privacy Glossary, Voice Talent, Voice Overs voice over talent voiceover artist voice overs