or individuals & database capacities?
businesses, choosing an • What type of hosting plan
affordable web hosting plan will you need - Windows hosting
on a limited budget is a plans or Linux hosting plans
challenge. • Will your website have any
streaming media requirements?
The main reason for this is that • Will your site change
most companies offering ecommerce substantially in the future?
hosting solutions focus on the • Affordable web hosting only
higher-end corporate market and for your purposes or for clients
often overlook the small business - shared web hosting.
web hosting segment.
User Review Survey:
However, finding reliable web
hosting isn't exactly a cakewalk, • Always take testimonials at
but it can be relatively easy if face value. User forums are the
you follow these simple steps: best place to find the truth.
define your requirements; user Also mail webmasters to get a
review survey; create a short reality checks.
list of potential ecommerce web • Be wary of Web hosting
hosting as well as email hosting directories and mailing lists,
services and ask questions. many are owned & operated by Web
hosts.
Define your requirements: • Read the declarations
regarding service uptime,
• How much disk space and downtime, backup, security etc.
bandwidth is necessary?
• Type of hosting - dedicated / Create a shortlist:
private or shared web hosting?
• Will you require CGI or • Make a list of potential
ecommerce web hosting and email SOHO consumers can find the most
hosting services that you see are effective hosting services for
recommended the most and their business if they follow and
complained about the least. understand the following
• Determine which hosts offer recommendations:
specific services that you need,
with scalability for future • Make sure the hosting company
changes. offers 24/7/365 technical support
• Determine which host fits by phone, email and chat whether
your price range. you have opted for windows
hosting plans or Linux hosting
Ask questions: plans.
• Do not be seduced by hosts
• Ask mundane questions to offering cheap shared hosting
check the quality, speed & services or extra services than
efficacy of their response. you need. Most of them skimp on
• Ask the service providers security & support.
technical questions to gauge • Choose a host who is
their acumen, knowledge and flexible, scalable, and who can
accuracy. grow with your business.
• Ask a lot of question to • Ensure that you can add
determine the host's commitment domains to a core plan and resell
to customers. services.
• Subject host to an honesty • Ensure that the host offers a
test: offer them the opportunity knowledge base of scripts, online
to up sell you needlessly. marketing effective coding. (A
(simple yet effective) surefire way to check their scale
of operations)
The Tricks of the Trade • Check to ensure that the host
offers some level of interaction.
• Watch for signs of rudeness, ROI. Reliable and affordable web
impatience and unresponsiveness. hosting can be the crucial factor
• Do not sign a long-term between failure & success.
contact for hosting services
right away. Summary - For a small web
• If you have more than one business start-up, choosing the
site, consider spreading them right ecommerce hosting at the
among several hosts. right time can be the best
strategic move. It can enable
For a small web business your business to grow fast and
start-up, choosing the right offer you a high ROI. Reliable
ecommerce hosting at the right and affordable web hosting can be
time can be the best strategic the crucial factor between your
move. It can enable your business failure & success.
to grow fast and offer you a high
About the Author:
Andy Lewis is an expert author on web hosting: http://www.serverplex.com/ related topics. Affordable web hosting plan: http://www.serverplex.com/sharedh.html, Linux hosting plans: http://www.serverplex.com/vps.html
Read more articles by:
Andy Lewis
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