Thread: Choosing a web host based on price? Don't!

Choosing a web host based on price? Don't!
3 reasons why price should not dictate the web host you choose By David Leonhardt

It's tempting. There are so many companies offering cut-rate hosting - loaded with astounding post-futuristic techno-gizmo features ! - that it just makes sense to save a few dollars, right?

Think again. First, consider how much you would be saving. If you run a business site, saving $5, $10 or even $15 a month is not a big saving. No going concern will become a stopping concern on account of even $15 a month. But the wrong web host can stop a business cold.

Here are three reasons to look beyond price when choosing your web host.

1. Usability. Confession time: I chose my first website host
based on price. The control panel was not easy to use, and I
often found myself traveling in circles trying to enter it. I switched to my second web host based not just on price, but on usability, and I instantly became a pro. Well, not quite. But I was able to manage my email accounts and learn about CGI, and check my traffic stats and edit my html files right on the server. Not bad for a newbie who couldn't even find his files on his previous host's server.

2. Service. I thought my second host had great service. They
even answered my emails. Until the dreaded day that some guy with a chip on his shoulder filed a phony spam complaint. I was out in the cold. In fact, they would not answer my emails or even speak to me at all. Meanwhile, my ISP responded to the same phony complaint immediately, sharing with me a copy and giving me a chance to deal with it. That ISP is now my third web host. I pay a little more, but the personal service is worth it. I have no hesitation recommending http://www.phastnet.com to anybody who wants the assurance that they won't be hung out to dry at the first whiff of somebody in a bad mood.

3. Reliability. When that phony spam complaint struck, my
website was down for four days. Ouch! But there are many other things that can bring down a site. What is your web host's uptime? And how reliable is its reporting? Other things can happen, like a form not functioning - meaning lost sales. Worse still, what if Google comes crawling just when your site is down?
Search engines don't like sending people to unreliable sites.
Companies like http://www.dotcom-monitor.com monitor websites for a variety of measures, and the cost is nothing compared to the cost of lost sales.

To point # 3 above, here is a real posting to a forum (with all identifiers removed):

"I have been at number one on Google for the past several years when you do a search for my [edited] company. However I am changing hosts at the moment and my site was 'offline' for about
5 to 7 days before I managed to get something back up. This lead to me completely disappearing from the Google listing!! You can imagine my immense disappointment!!"

Sure, save a few bucks on hosting, and pay a whole lot more in lost sales and increased stress. Your web host is your Internet landlord. Take as much time choosing your web host as you would the place you live in. Price alone just is not enough.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Leonhardt's website is
http://www.seo-writer.net
Read his SEO book:
http://www.seo-writer.net/books/seo-book.html
Read his media relations plan:
http://www.seo-writer.net/books/med...tions-plan.html

I chose Canaca.com based on price and have pretty much regretted the decision daily. It's been good for the past few days though, of course now that I've said something it'll crash again and be down for hours.

Ovi...do you want to republish your article on my site?

Look here: Webmaster Articles and Tutorials

If you don't have time, I can add it with your permission. Thanks!

Definitely better to find a more reputable host that has been in the business for a long time. I have used cheap hosts from time to time less important sites, but always ended up leaving due to lack of support or downtime.

Pinyo, as you see that is not my article. You don't have to ask for my permision but for author permision. ;)

Ovi

I had no idea, since I only know you as "ovi". Any way, look like the author found my site and submitted it: http://www.greatnexus.com/articles/a57.html

:)

I think the author has found you trough this forum ;)
Who knows...

Ovi

Most likely through here :)

Yes, right ;)

Ovi

I definitely think choosing the host based on price is a wrong idea. I discovered that after a year and a half with one host in Spain (one of the seemingly top reputable companies.). Everything was alright while I was finding my way around websites and things until the day came along a few months ago when I realised I had learnt more than they were capable of coping with. I discovered that I was actually quite competent at a few things and that, for the same money, I could host all my own sites through a reseller account at a top service host based in the UK and start setting up a site to offer niche hosting for others. Needless to say the philosophy will be based on techinical possibilities and customer service :)