Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Testing Web Hosting Companies

By Bob Willis

So you have reached the final stages of the web hosting selection process and you need to now select from the finalists. While you have done most of the spadework in terms of research and lapping up on relevant information, it is always advisable to test these companies and then compare their features, prices and support system as a whole. It is now time to test the finalists and since you only want the best for website, delve a little deeper and you would be on your way to finding the right web hosting company for your website.

Start by sending out emails or queries through their "client support email system" and ask them whatever concerns or queries you may have about their services, features, prices etc. You can find out more about the company on their "about us" page. Verify the given information with reliable reviews, testimonials or hosting directories.

Validate their contact information through their "contact us" page and call or email them in order to verify the validity of their contact information.

Remember, the amount of time it takes to receive a response from the host will determine the quality of customer support they offer to their customers. Send your query or email to different companies at the same time and then perform a valid comparison. Also ensure that the mail sent out on a weekend is timed as well. A time evaluation response of anything under 6 hours can be considered as a positive sign.

Next thing to consider is the quality of response delivered by the host. Is the response accurate and include all relevant information requested by you? Also ensure that the answer is well structured and explains all the jargons without making it sound gibberish to the novice ear.

Also, go through their website and read their terms and conditions and service agreements in its entirety. Reading the fine print is imperative in order to assess and compare their various rules and regulations as well as the hidden costs involved, if any.

Furthermore, do a little research on the history and reliability of the host. Search for unbiased reviews and testimonials; get involved in discussion forums and blogs. This would give you a better idea about the performance levels and services offered by the hosting company.

If all this still makes you feel a tad unsure, you could always sign up for their free hosting package and then analyze their services. Remember however that free hosting packages offer limited services, support and features and is only a good idea if your website can run on its restricted features.

Beware of companies that are trying to lure customers into "unlimited bandwidth and disk space". These types of advertisements are usually deceptive and come equipped with other hidden costs or limitations.

It is only wise to perform a thorough research on the given host and compare various features and tools of their packages with other hosts. This way, you would be in a better stead to handle the selection process and thereby make a well-informed decision.


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