Choosing a web hosting service is similar to choosing a restaurant. There are so many options out there that it’s nearly impossible to choose one without at least checking other options.
For those of you that have never chosen a web hosting service before, here are nine things you should consider when looking for CMS hosting services:
1. Customer Service
Customer service is critical to me, and I’m sure most other people. Does the company offer around-the-clock live chat support if something goes wrong with your site (which can happen often)?
It’s not uncommon for people to complain that many web hosting services seem to hire support staff in offshore countries where it’s difficult (if not impossible) to communicate with them.
2. Technical reliability
No one likes having their website go down but shop around for a company that offers a 100% uptime guarantee when it does. It is often referred to as a ‘shared hosting plan because it’s almost always on an Apache server. To put this in simple terms, this means your website is being hosted on the same server as other companies’ websites.
3. Money back guarantee
You really can’t be sure if you’re going to like the service until you’ve tried it. It is why it’s essential to ask if your web hosting company offers a money-back guarantee. When you purchase the service, how long do you have before you can get your money back? Most companies offer 30-90 days, but others only offer 15 days or less.
4. Control Panel
The control panel is the centralized place where you can manage everything related to your website. You must have complete control over all of your web hosting account details, including FTP credentials, email accounts, databases, and more.
5. Control via the command line
Many people don’t know about this feature, but it is significant. If you use Linux or Unix-based operating systems, you’ll be glad to know that many hosting companies offer this feature. The command line powers servers and allows users to control them using a prompt window. It is often referred to as “SSH access” or “Shell access.”
6. Server location
In most cases, people will select a web hosting company based on the location of their customers. If you’re only serving clients in your town, then it’s not necessary to use a company based in China or India. More often than not, companies that are closer to your target audience will offer faster servers and better customer service.
7. Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be sent to or from your account. It’s important to note that bandwidth isn’t just about limiting customers. It’s also about security. No one likes their website being hacked because someone shared sensitive information on their server.
8. Disk space
Disk space is another critical aspect of web hosting. If you don’t have enough disk space, your website will likely go down.
9. Price
Price is always a factor when deciding to purchase any product or service, but it shouldn’t be the only thing that matters. You must compare the price to what other companies offer in terms of features and the quality of support.
In conclusion, there are many things to consider when choosing a web hosting service. Knowing what to look for and asking the right questions will help you save time and money in the long run.
