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Choosing a web host isn’t the easiest thing to do. If you aren’t careful, you might find yourself in a nightmare situation with a host that doesn’t provide quality service, respond to technical support requests, or provide solid up-time for your website(s). There is a huge selection of companies providing web hosting services, and to someone unfamiliar with the industry, it’s very easy to end up with the wrong provider for your needs. Here are five tips to hopefully get you pointed in the right direction.

1: Define your needs. If your web site is a small or medium-sized informational site with a few graphics, it will require less disk space and bandwidth than a multi-product e-commerce site will. If your site uses a specific programming language such as PHP or ASP.NET, you will be required to use a web host that offers hosting in that particular language. If you plan to sell online, your host must include e-commerce security and shopping cart functions. Knowing what to look for will help you find a suitable web host.

2. Bandwidth. Your website will generate traffic. The amount of traffic that is driven to your website will determine how much bandwidth you will need. If you are a small business owner or have a personal website, a small amount of bandwidth, such as 5 MB, should be enough. To stay competitive, many web hosts now offer unlimited bandwidth. If you foresee heavy traffic to your site, ensure you read the fine print to avoid overage charges because unlimited usually has restrictions.

3. Email. Ensure your web host offers an email address using your domain name in the address. This gives you a more professional appearance and is a great way to further advertise your website. This is an example of how your email address should look: support@yourwebsite.com. An email address is usually a free addition to the web host service.

4. Secure Server. If you will be selling products or services on your website it is essential that your website offers a secure server (SSL.) A secure server ensures that personal information collected through your website is safe from hackers.

5: What is included with the package? Is FTP allowed? File Transfer Protocol allows for uploading files directly from your computer to the hosting server. Most web sites are uploaded using FTP and it should be an included feature. Are email accounts included with the hosting package? How many? Does that include POP accounts or just web mail? Look for a web host that offers both. How often does the host backup the web site? Many hosts do backups every 24 hours to prevent data loss in case of a server crash.

So there you have it. Those tips should have you well on your way to becoming a safer shopper when it comes to purchasing your new web hosting service. Just remember, if there’s anything you’re unsure about with a particular host, just keep moving, because the choices are nearly endless! Good luck!

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