How Do You Choose A Web Host?

HostSurfUK · Share | #1 (**permalink**) 03-25-2012, 08:14 AM

Hi V7N,

Was just looking to see what makes you guys choose a web host. There are loads to choose from in various locations throughout the world with different features and pricing structure.

Please take part in the poll.

NOTE TO MOD: Edit to make the poll multiple choice?

Webcs · #2 (**permalink**) 03-26-2012, 12:59 AM

I think many factors influence the choice of the host.

**snakeair** · #3 (**permalink**) 03-26-2012, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webcs

I think many factors influence the choice of the host.

What factors do you look for when looking to pick a new web host?

Everyone has there own things they look for and it would be nice if you talked about this.

Phomatic · #4 (**permalink**) 03-26-2012, 08:27 AM

Generally price, because I really hardly ever use support. I guess I tend t look at a mixture of them.

HostSurfUK · #5 (**permalink**) 03-26-2012, 11:37 AM

For those that choose reviews. Does anyone ever check out 3rd party review sites? or do you take the views and reviews of a friends experience.

Its hard to find a review site that is not bias as they all tend to link using affiliate links and you can never really tell who is posting the reviews.

**snakeair** · #6 (**permalink**) 03-26-2012, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HostSurfUK

For those that choose reviews. Does anyone ever check out 3rd party review sites? or do you take the views and reviews of a friends experience.

Its hard to find a review site that is not bias as they all tend to link using affiliate links and you can never really tell who is posting the reviews.

I look for good support but instead of visiting those review sites that can have fake reviews, i use google to search for reviews about web hosts. Also I ask on webmaster forums like this one for opinion's.

c5c1lia · #7 (**permalink**) 03-26-2012, 10:06 PM

reading reviews. Mm.. where to read them. Actually there are no. of websites which consists of the reviews about the web hosts, domains etc. but, make sure that the source you're going throgh/reading is active, trust worthy and look for the real user opinions in the comments section of the review page. It's better to listen from the other webbers than reading the website review.

HostSurfUK · #8 (**permalink**) 03-28-2012, 08:04 AM

Yeah, review sites can be very misleading.

Quote:

Also I ask on webmaster forums like this one for opinion's.

I would deficiently agree here. They have to be a bit established with a decent amount of rep, posts as well as checkable live links or proof the domain was ever pointed to the host I think.

Something I forgot to ask in the poll was the website design its self? Does a dated or basic design put you off choosing a web host?

Jay Wessman · #9 (**permalink**) 03-29-2012, 06:36 AM

I usually choose by reputation so I guess that would come under Reviews. If a host has a lot of people complaining about them on forums and blogs then I'll stay right away.

ByteHouse · #10 (**permalink**) 04-02-2012, 03:51 AM

I think that they're a myriad of factors that really come together, some of what you've said are issues that relate to these factors (e.g. reputation must be based on something so I'd suggest that that would be a combination result/ short cut).

I'd also suggest that it would be important in different ways to different people. High traffic ecommerce sites would probably be more interested in performance and security, rather than price, whereas informational sites would probably be more price sensitive.

All hosters should be interested in location as it determines ranking and performance (if your clients are UK based then it would usually be a better hosting experience for them if they're hosting from the UK.

I guess support becomes critical if anything goes wrong, as well as how they react to problems and deal with them (factors of reputation?).

That's what I think, what do others believe?

Quote:

Originally Posted by HostSurfUK

For those that choose reviews. Does anyone ever check out 3rd party review sites? or do you take the views and reviews of a friends experience.

Its hard to find a review site that is not bias as they all tend to link using affiliate links and you can never really tell who is posting the reviews.

Ya, I believe that reviews work best off of trusted sites (few and far between) as well are refferals from friends and familly

.

Nothing like a happy client to bring people onboard.

khanaya · #11 (**permalink**) 04-04-2012, 08:41 AM

When choosing a web host, I would consider Price, Performance, Features

simplyamazing12 · #12 (**permalink**) 04-04-2012, 08:44 PM

After the economic recession, price is always a concern with most people I talk to about web hosting. It is a service and money speaks for itself.

LN2 · #13 (**permalink**) 04-05-2012, 05:48 PM

Performance and price are the two main deciding factors for me.

I recently switched from GoDaddy to Hostgator, which is slightly more expensive, but the performance of HG in comparison to GD more than makes up for it.

HostSurfUK · #14 (**permalink**) 04-06-2012, 08:32 AM

So far no one as mention the Control Panel. Is this because everyone expects cPanel?

**snakeair** · #15 (**permalink**) 04-06-2012, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HostSurfUK

So far no one as mention the Control Panel. Is this because everyone expects cPanel?

That's what i would expect when i go looking for a web host. I expect cpanel since it's easy to do things in there. It's newbie friendly.

My host that i have right now is a special host. I don't have a cpanel at all. I login FTP to upload or edit files...etc (websynthesis.com)

If you want to discuss this host, create a thread... I don't want to take this thread off topic.

A lot of people are usually using shared hosting and expect cpanel to be able to do things. Not a lot of people are tech smart and once there site is transfered to there host or uploaded, they might login to cpanel once every few week's to check there bandwidth stats. Cpanel to me loads fast when you clicking on any feature that's available. A host needs to be newbie friendly and i'll join in. I don't want to spend 10 minutes trying to find out where i can find the link to my awstats. lol

JesseN · #16 (**permalink**) 04-07-2012, 05:55 PM

Reading reviews is the most important thing for me since you get an idea of how reliable they are and if they are worth considering. Problem is finding a good place to find honest reviews but once you find one then it's the easiest way to pick out the ones that you think are good. Also, there's no point of checking the prices and features first then you find out that they treat their customers like dirt, just my opinion.

Amazing · #17 (**permalink**) 04-07-2012, 08:47 PM

Price, up-time and positive reviews are the three most important things I personally look for.

holyground · #18 (**permalink**) 04-09-2012, 02:44 AM

performance, price ... not so. Since I did use very cheap hosting but crap service so I don't look for price any more. But a more stable server is good!

HostSurfUK · #19 (**permalink**) 04-14-2012, 05:38 PM

Just as I said above about no one really caring about cPanel surprisingly no one has even mentioned location.

phpscripts · #20 (**permalink**) 04-15-2012, 10:52 PM

Most of the users is always choosing Host as per reviews & uptime.