Your web business depends on your site's uptime around the clock. When you want to make a purchase online, you most likely take the time to check the ... of that ... Yet, how many of you Your web business depends on your site's uptime around the clock. When you want to make a purchase online, you most likely take the time to check the credentials of that business. Yet, how many of you actually bother to check out the credentials and competency of a web host, which is absolutely the stronghold of your web business? I've been in the hosting industry as a reseller for almost 5 years. It's become a zoo out there. With so many hosts coming and going, or sites constantly going down or getting cracked into from lack of security measures (very common), how can you really know for sure if you're going with a reliable and competent host? Emailing to test their support response is NOT a good indicator of their response time. Some will be very fast for pre-sales questions, but extremely slow or non-responsive for support once you are a customer. On the other hand, sometimes very slow for pre-sales and fast for customer support. Here are a few important tips to keep in mind when shopping for a web host: First of all, be sure they have a phone number posted on their site. There's no reason why they shouldn't be reached easily via phone. Phone them and ask questions. It's preferable to get a technically savvy person to call for you. You need to be assured that the host's staff is competent and security conscious. There are so many variables in securing servers. Only a competent technical person would know the key questions to ask, but importantly, can also tell by conversing with the host how competent they really are. I may sound redundant, but you'd be surprised at how many hosting providers wing their way i.e. they learn as they go along, thus, causing downtime and/or slowing down the speed of your website. Also, discuss with them what your needs are for your business. If you need any of the following, it's vital that you find out if the host can accommodate you: Streaming Media - for live audio and video feeds SSH (secure shell) - SSH is a secure telnet - Some programs need telnet access for installation. Also, if you want to add more data to the data base that may be too large to install using a web-based data base system like phpMyAdmin (a common program provided by most hosts), it will require telnet access. If a host provides unsecure telnet, run the other way! SSL (secure sockets layer) Certificate -This is needed if you'll be using a merchant account to take payments from the web. If you use an SSL Certificate, it is mandatory that you get an IP based account, whereby you get your own IP number instead of sharing the same IP number with several other accounts on the server. Mailing List Accommodation - Many hosts are not equipped to accommodate large mailing lists on their email servers. So, if you have a large list and use your own list software, get the specifics on this. Data Bases - Think about how many data bases you'll need to start with. For instance, if you'll be running a forum using php software, it will require one data base. You may decide to use a program to make your site data-base driven, that will be yet another data base needed. CGI and PHP -They should already have this enabled on the server. If they don't, then they aren't keeping up with the latest technology. Be sure the host can upgrade your account as your business grows. I don't recommend that you get a dedicated server unless you know how to administer one or can pay for a system administrator to handle your. A lot goes into managing a server. When a host offers 'managed' servers, it doesn't necessarily mean that they take care of everything on your server. You are responsible for maintaining it, otherwise the average tech fees are $95 per hour. Find out how many backbone providers they have. A good host would have a minimum of 2, preferably more. That's a very important factor. A few years ago, I was hosted and also was hosting sites from a popular large international hosting provider. All the sites went down for two days due to a problem with their backbone. That's when I discovered that they only had ONE backbone provider. That could have been avoided had they another provider. Had I did my homework more thoroughly, I could have avoided a full day of downtime! In the event you go over your bandwidth limit, does the site go down or do they just send you a bill with the extra costs, accordingly? You need to know this from the very start, so you don't get surprised if your site goes down from exceeding your bandwidth limit. Also, there are hosts advertising 'unlimited bandwidth'. There's no such animal. Even backbone providers couldn't guarantee such a thing. That's impossible. Most hosts who advertise unlimited bandwidth have a disclaimer attached to their sites, usually stating that your site will go down or you'll be charged for extra bandwidth if you exceed 4 gigs. Do they have daily backup? This is very important! However, be sure to do daily backup of your own sites and any important info to your hard drive for safest measures. Also, download your sites to cd or zips and keep them in a fireproof safe-box along with your other important biz docs. Word of 'Very Reliable' mouth from someone who has been with a host for at least a year, with minimal or no problems is another good factor. From time to time, problems can occur with the best of them. Importantly is the efficiency of the host, in handling the problems. You can find out if a host is a reseller by using the tools at either http://www.Samspade.org or http://www.DNSstuff.com. There's nothing wrong with going with a reseller if they are very competent and manage their business well. Actually, many of the cream-of-the-crop resellers don't even advertise their services, since they get plenty of business via word of mouth. The advantages of going with a very competent reseller are that you get more personable attention and some will even give you extra services. A reseller should tell you up front that they are a reseller. If your bread and butter is dependent on your online business, you'll go the extra miles in doing your homework when shopping for a host, less you don't mind losing business and/or moving your sites from host to host. Article Tags: Online Business, Data Base Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com .
Top blog stories
A review of Idmobile.com
Idmobile.com offers both pay-as-you-go and contract plans. Pay-as-you-go plans are ideal for customers who don't want to be tied down to a long-term contract, and they can purchase bundles of data, minutes, and texts as and when they need them.
Idmobile.com offers both pay-as-you-go and contract plans. Pay-as-you-go plans are ideal for customers who don't want to be tied down to a long-term contract, and they can purchase bundles of data, minutes, and texts as and when they need them.
AO.co is a trusted expert in TVs, washing machines, clothes dryers and other household appliances. AO.com is one of the largest retailers in the UK and it specializes in electronics, clothes and home furniture.
At Three, we believe phones are good. They just make life better. Easier. And more fun. But
we all need to find a balance that works for us. Our mission is to help our customers use
their phones to live their best lives.
We make your life easier
Since 1992, we’ve been helping customers get the best deal on their dream phone. We firmly believe in giving you the highest quality, for the lowest price. That’s why we work with three of the UK’s leading networks to do all the haggling for you,...
At Halfords, we're all about the journey. With more than 700 stores with over 10,000 colleagues, we're the UK's leading retailer of automotive and cycling products. We are also the leading operator in MOT, tyres, car servicing and car repairs - pleasing more than 750,000 customers every year.
It's important to us that everyone gets great customer service and can enjoy our products, no matter their level of sight. So, if you're blind, partially sighted or struggle to see or read the screen, we’ve a range of features to help you get the most from our products and...
Look iconic, without the hassle— using Nasty Gal discount codes, you can shop your favorite pieces for way less by simply entering one of our promotional codes (of your choice) at the checkout. From delivery offers, to promo deals, we keep ‘em coming, so you always have the offer you...
The Covid-19 has caused the school and universities to shut down around the world creating a major issue in Learning and Education. As this virus spreads through the interaction and if social distanci... The Covid-19 has caused the school and universities to shut down around the world creating a major...
Why its Important to Manage Your Holiday Calendars?
A printable calendar 2021 is a prominent online platform where you download printable calendars of your choice. These calendars can be customized as per our client requirement with photo, text, logo, or any other image. If you are thinking of planning a dream vacation tour with family and kids but...
The world hasn’t forgotten the Superiority of the German People theory adopted by Hitler and resulting in massive destruction represented in the killing of millions of people and the destruction... The world hasn’t forgotten the Superiority of the German People theory adopted by Hitler and resulting in massive destruction represented...
Emmaneul Macron, the youngest president in French history and the youngest French head of state since Napoleon, has said: ‘In the absence of a legal framework, they (EU member states) could rapi... Emmaneul Macron, the youngest president in French history and the youngest French head of state since Napoleon, has...
1-The dictator believes that all his opinions are always right. 2-The dictator believes that he is the embodiment of the country. Any kind of opposition against him is considered a crime against the ... 1-The dictator believes that all his opinions are always right. 2-The dictator believes that he is...
We know the importance of getting our dogs groomed. But not all of us can actually afford the grooming of our dogs luxury pet centre. We know the importance of getting our dogs groomed. But not all of us can actually afford the grooming of our dogs luxury pet centre....
You need to travel, or you are traveling frequently. What are you doing with your pets or your beloved dog? You can’t take your dog with you when you are traveling. You need to travel, or you are traveling frequently. What are you doing with your pets or your beloved...
This article teaches you how to train a dog at home. You can toilet train her at home. You can also train her in removing unwanted behaviours and many exciting tricks. You can train a dog anywhere. So, how can I train a dog at home ? In fact, most...
Having a dog is great but comes with a lot of responsibilities, just like having any other pet. The main responsibility is grooming the dog regularly, something that some people still question the importance of it. If you have been wondering whether you should be grooming your dog, then below...
Neutering (also known as castration) and spaying are the common term used to describe the surgical procedure during which both testicles (in males) and uterus and its parts (in females) are removed in order to sterilize (make infertile) a male and female dog respectively. At Pet Prime Veterinary Clinic (Dog...
You may have noticed cases of your dog suddenly showing signs of aggression or rather becoming aggressive and threatening to bite. Such nasty behaviours and signs of aggression by your dog may be frustrating Well, if you have no idea why your dog gets aggressive all over a sudden and...
The loyal nature of dogs makes them the perfect pets, whether you have a family or not. However, most of the time, people rush into adopting pets only to end up being overwhelmed with the responsibilities, which are physical, emotional, and psychological. If you have been considering adopting a pooch,...
Search topic
Things You Need to Consider Before Adopting a Dog
The loyal nature of dogs makes them the perfect pets, whether you have a family or not. However, most of the time, people rush into adopting pets only to end up being overwhelmed with the responsibilities, which are physical, emotional, and psychological. If you have been considering adopting a pooch,...