10 important points to know before signing up to any host

[jakson0100]

Security

The best Web hosting services host their sites at a remote location with multiple backups. The best also provide dual firewall protection. Web sites hosted in this capacity provide the best protection against a power failure, natural disaster, or identity theft.

1. What security does the service offer?

Storage

The amount of storage your Web site host offers is directly proportional to the size of your Web site. More storage, simply, means a larger, possible Web site. Make sure that your web host provides enough space not only to build your current Web site but to expand it in the future.

2. How much storage does the Web host offer?

Technical Support

Technical support is a must and should be readily available. You should not hold longer than two or three minutes. Long hold times mean one of two things: either problems with the product exist or technical support is understaffed.

3. What expertise does their technical support division have?

Domains

The right Domain name for your business is one of the most crucial decisions to make When you hit on the right one you want to keep it. Make sure the Web host helps you to do so.

4. Does the hosting company register your Domain name for you?

Search Engine Optimization

To help your search ranking, it is necessary to submit your Web site to search engines, such as Google or Yahoo!.

5. Does the Web hosting package include search engine submissions?

Contract

Depending on when you sign and with whom you sign, you may or may not be under contract with your Web Hosting Service.

6. Are you locked into a contract? How long?

7. How does the cancellation policy work?

Cost

Look for hidden costs. Companies may low-ball you initially, knowing that they can charge you for additional services later on.

8. What are all of the costs?

9. What are the setup and cancellation fees?

Value

Always compare service providers before purchasing one. In this Web world, buyer beware is true as ever.

10. What makes one service better than their competitor?

[Bushgrass]

Good info, thanks. I don't really agree about point number 5 though. Submitting your website to major search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing is as easy as pie. Even a beginning blogger can do it himself.

[Harry]

Originally Posted by Bushgrass

Good info, thanks. I don't really agree about point number 5 though. Submitting your website to major search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing is as easy as pie. Even a beginning blogger can do it himself.

Yes, i do agree with above.. also the 4th point
4. Does the hosting company register your Domain name for you?
It is not an mandatory service for any hosting service provider. Domain registration is an addon service offered just to help their clients to keep all services under one roof.

[Gerald]

Yes, I agree with that. A hosting provider is to provide hosting service, and not to get your domain name registered. It is the job of a domain registrar. Though, it would be great if a hosting provider can help you with this.

[Crowbar]

That's a very helpful list. Thanks for sharing it. I agree with all of those points. 6 and 8 are particularly important to take into consideration. Most clients forget to look for hidden costs and end up complaining on various blogs and forums that they have been scammed, when - in fact - they haven't.

[zander]

This is a great list. I completely agree that it's so important to consider all the factors when choosing something as important as your web host. Support is a very important criterion for choosing a host.