How to select a webhosting provider?

[3DProf4online]

What useful tips would you provide from your own experience? What major factors should be taken into consideration when selecting a hosting company for a website?

[Manuel123]

It all depends on what you are looking for. Describe the type of website you wanna host and the services you provide/ expect/ need.

This is better than just suggesting you go with, say, www.hostgator.com or else...

[3DProf4online]

Originally Posted by Manuel123

It all depends on what you are looking for. Describe the type of website you wanna host and the services you provide/ expect/ need.

This is better than just suggesting you go with, say, www.hostgator.com or else...

I am going to host 4 websites, 3 forums and one SEO company's website!

[alemcherry]

For me it would be:
1.Overall reputation
2. Uptime and performance (hard to verify unless you host there!still read customer feedbacks)
3. Support
4. Features(cPanel would mean that I get almost all i need)
5. Resources(these days all of them oversell, so not an issue)
6. Price

[3DProf4online]

Originally Posted by alemcherry

For me it would be:
1.Overall reputation
2. Uptime and performance (hard to verify unless you host there!still read customer feedbacks)
3. Support
4. Features(cPanel would mean that I get almost all i need)
5. Resources(these days all of them oversell, so not an issue)
6. Price

How to understand the company has a good Overall reputation, Uptime and performance?

[~ServerPoint~]

It must satisfy your needs. Do not go with the name - go with service provider

[ZunuZunu]

Read their hosting packages and if it's as per your need then

Write email to their support (tech) and ask stupid questions that are already answered in their hosting packages.

Example:

How many domains I can host with your PACKAGE_NAME package?
How many sub-domains I can create?
Does your server support PHP, MySQL, SSI ... (here type your requirements)
Are you using PHP 4?

And don't ask all questions at a time. Send first email with few questions and when you get a reply, ask more.

If they replied your questions with related asnwers then it's a good host. But if they replied without the answers and with the link to FAQ or hosting packages then don't buy hosting from them. If you still buy, you will be sorry in future.

[SiberForum]

How to understand the company has a good Overall reputation, Uptime and performance?

Use review web sites, forums etc - do search there for company name
Uptime - use hostracker and other uptime monitoring tools.
Good luck with your search

[3DProf4online]

Originally Posted by SiberForum

Use review web sites, forums etc - do search there for company name
Uptime - use hostracker and other uptime monitoring tools.
Good luck with your search

Could you please advise where good uptime monitoring tools can be found, I have never heard about such tools!

[cliffsupport]

it would be always best to check various forums for the reputation of the company. Make sure you go through the TOS/AUP of the company you finally select, before signing up with them.

[ellion]

when i need hosting i hang around at www.webhostingtalk.com particularly in the offer section and i ask questions to see if what is offered suits my needs.

[kcbizman]

I agree with Zunu. I would highly recommend asking the following questions as well:
1) where are your servers located? (in the guys basement or ???)
2) do they have a phone number to call?
3) how long have they been doing business? Has it been under the same name the whole time? (If they changed business names, ask them why?... bad reputation or???)
4) what kind of value added software or tools do they offer? (face it. disk space is cheap. to compete in today's hosting enviornment they better be offering more than just disk space. IE: website automation software, tools, etc.

For what it's worth and good luck.

[martyan]

Originally Posted by kcbizman

3) how long have they been doing business? Has it been under the same name the whole time? (If they changed business names, ask them why?... bad reputation or???)

I don't think someone is able to know the truth about this^ from the company. In both cases, If company is to hide anything, or has everything clear we'll hear only "good news".

There are useful tools on the net like www.domaintools.com - there is possible to look up everything about the certain domain and website.

[3DProf4online]

Originally Posted by kcbizman

2) do they have a phone number to call?

if, for example, they have no phone support, but livechat support works 24*7, what are your opinions about this?

[shakir]

Good reputation, Price and best support like live chat 24/7/364 Tel support

[edyst3]

My consideration when buying webhosting service
1. what I am looking for (dedicated or shared)
2. reputation
3. Performance and uptime
4. price
5. how many domains can be added for a single account (this is for shared hosting)
6. other feature
7. customer service
8. cpanel (must be user friendly for me)

[3DProf4online]

Originally Posted by edyst3

My consideration when buying webhosting service
1. what I am looking for (dedicated or shared)
2. reputation
3. Performance and uptime
4. price
5. how many domains can be added for a single account (this is for shared hosting)
6. other feature
7. customer service
8. cpanel (must be user friendly for me)

Almost all hosting providers include this in their packages and Cpanel 11 installed!

[Karooki]

Originally Posted by 3DProf4online

Almost all hosting providers include this in their packages and Cpanel 11 installed!

You know that is not always like that.

[~ServerPoint~]

8. cpanel (must be user friendly for me)

Did you mean control panel?

[~ServerPoint~]

6. other feature

Almost all hosting providers include this in their packages and Cpanel 11 installed!

I believe they are different by #6