1. Understand Your Hosting Needs
Before you choose a web host, you should identify your hosting needs. Understanding your needs is essential to finding the right web host. To get a better idea of what you are looking for in a web host, ask yourself the following questions:
- What kind of website are you running?
- Will you use WordPress?
- How much traffic are you expecting?
- Are you looking to create multiple websites?
2. You Shouldn’t Have to Pay Full Price
The cost of web hosting is often a frustrating yet necessary expense. Fortunately, there are coupon codes available to give you a major discount on high-quality web hosting services. To make sure you are getting the best price, shop around and compare the prices of popular web hosts, then visit sites like hosting sonar to see how much you can save on web hosting with coupons.
3. Pay Attention to the Web Host’s Uptime Guarantee
If you are running an online business, downtime can cost you money. Look for a web host with an uptime of 99.5% or higher. If the web host has an uptime below 99%, it can’t be considered reliable enough for your online business.
4. Reliable and Knowledgeable Customer Support Is Essential
When something goes wrong or you need a bit of assistance, you will want to be able to reach a knowledgeable team member in a reasonable amount of time.
Before signing up for a hosting plan, look into the web host’s reputation for customer support. How can you get in touch with a support representative if you need help? Is their support team available 24/7?
5. Refund Policies Vary by Web Host
If you want to “try before you buy” or have the peace of mind of a money-back guarantee, pay close attention to each web host’s refund policy before signing up for a hosting plan.
While some web hosts offer a free trial, others offer a 30- or 60-day money-back guarantee. Read through the terms of each web host’s refund policy to find out if you can try their services risk-free.
6. What Features/Add-Ons Are Included in the Web Hosting Plan?
The features and add-ons offered by a web host are what make each company stand out from the rest. Ask yourself, “what makes this hosting company unique?”
Notice what features and add-ons make each hosting company special. There may be a web host that offers features more suitable for your needs.
7. What Are Other Customers Saying About the Web Host?
You may have to do a bit of research to find real reviews, but it’s important to know how current and former customers feel about your prospective web host. Use Twitter to see what tweets are being sent out about the web host, or do a quick Google search to find real reviews on sites other than the web host’s page.
8. What kind of security features are available for your site?
Security is something that should be taken seriously. What security features are included in the web hosting plan? If you sign up with that web host, can you feel confident that your site is safe and secure? Pay close attention to the security features offered and compare them to those offered by other web hosts.
9. Know Your Upgrade Options
If you are just starting out, it’s unlikely you will need to sign up for the biggest hosting plan. And while a beginner-friendly hosting plan is adequate for the time being, you may need to consider upgrading your server down the road.
Look into whether your prospective hosting provider allows you to upgrade your plan, or how much it will cost you to do so, then compare that to other web hosting companies.
10. Avoid A Shocking Price Jump Come Renewal Time
Even if you score an incredibly low sign-up price, a year or two down the road you may get hit with a surprising price jump. Many hosting companies will hike up their renewal pricing and in some cases, it’s significantly higher than the price you paid when you signed up.
To find out about a web hosting company’s renewal rates, find the renewal section in their Terms of Service.
11. Understand the Backup Policy for Your Website
Accidents happen, even with the best security measures in place. A good backup policy ensures that in the event of a website crash, a virus, or a hack, your site can be restored with minimal downtime and few major losses.
Before signing up with a web host, learn more about their backup policy. Find out how often they conduct full backups and whether you have to manually backup your site or if it is regularly backed up automatically.
12. What Email Features Are Included?
What email features are guaranteed by the hosting provider? Email is a significant part of a complete online presence, but not all web hosts include email with their hosting plans. Before you sign up for an account with a web host, learn more about the email features they offer.
All 12 things know before choose your hosting are help to select your hosting for the website.
