or those wanting to set up maintained by the host at both
a Web site on a budget, peak and off-peak hours to check
finding a good shared host response times.
is key. A hosting company that
can guarantee close to 100% 4. How does the host connect to
server uptime, is scalable, and the Internet? It should be at
has reasonable charges are among least a T3 connection, with
the most immediately obvious sufficient bandwidth dedicated to
demands. the Web site's needs.
Other questions that must be 5. Can the host provide technical
asked while searching for a support through a toll-free line
shared Web host: 24 hours a day?
1. Is the Web host capable of 6. Does the host have an
supporting the number of expected alternate route for Internet
users? What kind of server do traffic if the main line is down?
they employ, and how does the
technology compare to the 7. What happens in case of a
competition? server failure? Will the Web host
be able to recover lost data?
2. What technical skills and Will valuable business data be
level of experience do the system lost? Will the Web host offer any
administrators bring to the compensation if there are
business? interruptions in service,
especially if these interruptions
3. What do other Webmasters using cause business losses?
the host's services have to say?
Check as many references as 8. Is the company the owner of
possible. Browse the sites the servers the Web site will be
stored on, or are they merely
resellers of an existing service? These are not all easy questions.
Many Web hosts are reluctant to
9. What other content is stored answer these questions directly.
on the host's servers? Web hosts Some will try to obfuscate their
that allow adult sites to be answers with Web jargon. An
hosted on their servers should be Internet professional should be
avoided, as the traffic on those employed to avoid this if
kinds of sites can negatively necessary.
impact the performance of other
sites. Trusted friends, family, or other
business professionals who have
10. What services are actually good experience with a specific
necessary? Only those services Web host can save a lot of time
that are required should be in such a search by immediately
purchased. Paying for unused pointing out a quality business.
services is a waste of money.
About the Author:
Donald Brown contributes to several web magazines, on work at home and small business topics.
Read more articles by:
Donald Brown
Article Source: www.iSnare.com 
