Finding the perfect web hosting company is sort of like finding the perfect mate. We’re all out there looking for something that our hearts tell us is there but our heads say doesn’t exist.
Of course, we all realize that no person is perfect and just like us no web host is perfect, either. Web hosts are really just a mix of people and technology and either or both is likely to fall down just when we want them up. That’s why I think it makes sense to apply the same rules to finding a web host that we apply to finding a mate.
First, start with yourself and your motivations. To really know what you’re looking for you need to know why you’re looking. What is it you really want out of a web host? Are you interested in creating your own blog? Forming a forum on the plight of escorts in New York? Creating your own brickless storefront?
The kind of site you have in mind may help to point you in the direction of a particular kind of host. Will your site require interactive page generation, will there be lots of traffic, or heavy database activity? You may need the extra power of dedicated servers. Are you creating a site to show of pictures off your quilting accomplishments? You will probably be happy with a shared server.
Are you new to the whole web hosting scene? Avoid the desire to be a wall flower and look for somebody that will treat you with tenderness and respect. Focus on customer service, look for reviews indicating great communication and support along with lots of ease-of-use features. After you’ve made a choice, test their support services early on before you have a lot of time and effort committed to your site. Send emails, make phone calls, use the online support to see how quickly they respond and how helpful they are. If you’re not satisfied don’t stick around hoping they’ll change…they never change.
Try to have some idea what software you will need before you start searching for a host. Many hosts provide free and easy to use software packages for things like blogging and forums. If you are planning something more involved, make sure the host can support it. If you’re a PHP type and your host is strictly ASP, you will never be compatible.
If you’ve experienced the hosting scene before, think about your prior affairs and what you liked and didn’t like about them. It sounds obvious, but try to find hosts that offer the features and services you liked and avoid those you did not. So often we tend to repeat the same mistakes we made in the past both in choosing patners and in choosing web hosts. Just because they promise us a terabyte of bandwidth doesn’t mean we’ll really get it. Read the fine print.
Undertand yourself and your current situation first, then seek out a web hosting provider that meets your needs. Research thoroughly before you dive in, remember to read the fine print, and don’t be afraid to end a relationship that isn’t working.
In the end, though it may be true that there is no such thing as a perfect web host, with careful planning and lots of research you can find one that meets your needs and makes for a happy long-term relationship.
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