Like most things, making a decision when it comes to choosing a web hosting company can be quite tough. It is not an overnight process in which someone could just easily tell the right one is. With all the providers out there – not to mention the different packages (e.g. unlimited resources, uptime, knowledgeable support, etc.) – it is even harder to come up with a choice. But, of course, there should be a way around it, right?
In reality, finding best cheap web hosting services is not that daunting. There are key things that you need to keep in mind, as they can help in making an informed decision. Without further ado, here they are:
#1. Not All Big-Name Web Hosts Are Good
Just because someone says this provider is exceptional, it does not mean it is the right choice. Likewise, not all big-name web hosting providers are good. Sure, they are able to build their brand and provide top-notch services, but it does necessarily mean they suit your needs or wants. As a matter of fact, it is easy to be blinded by all the successes around them. And, as a result, you barely pay attention to what matters most. To put it simply, your chosen web hosting provider should be able to provide you with the right hosting solution – the type that could suit your business needs.
#2. Don’t Make Price a Deciding Factor
This is without a doubt the aspect that many will look at first when choosing a provider. However, this should not always be your deciding factor. It holds true that price can put some weight on how you assess your options, but it can also be a significant indicator as to why you may want to move forward with a web host provider.
For instance, provider A is offering higher rates than provider B. But it turns out the former actually has better and more interesting packages or features than the latter. This ultimately gives you an idea as to why you would rather go with provider A. Remember that, in some cases, it is better to pay a little more than settle on lesser rates but with awful services.
#3. Support is King
Imagine putting up your website and everything is all done. You are excited to see just how far it would go – and you are probably stoked to witness some live traffic. However, your website crashes and you have no idea why. Obviously, you would want to contact your hosting provider’s tech support for help. But, for some reason, they could not be there to help you. So what happens next? You are missing a lot of opportunities, most of which could improve your sales conversions.
The aforementioned clearly suggests that you need tech support that is available 24/7. Keep in mind that you do not know when your site is going to face some issues. As such, you want support to be there when cases like the above-mentioned example happens. Believe it or not, you will be surprised that not all providers are equal when it comes to technical support. You will even find that those big-name providers suck at providing this. So, make sure that you take this area into consideration.
#4. Customer Reviews
Let’s say you did your homework. You researched everything about a certain web host provider. You already know about the different packages or services they offer including the rates. For some reason, you are still torn between two providers. This is where you want to check customer reviews or feedback, as these can directly tell you the kind of service a company provides. Just simply do an online search, say, on Google and reviews about this provider will immediately pop up. From there, you can easily tell if your chosen web hosting provider is up for good.
#5. Security Strength
Ah, this is probably one of the most important things you need to remember when choosing a provider. You want to choose a web host provider that offers top-notch security strength. This is most especially the case if you are going to obtain customer information on your website. For instance, you want the provider to have the means to give you a backup plan in case your site loses content or data. If you have an e-commerce website, you want a provider that offers SSLs. There are many security features out there, and each can differ from one web hosting provider to another. That is why you need to assess what you exactly want and find out if the company can meet these standards.
#6. Features and Add-Ons
This is where you want to ask yourself: “What makes this web host provider special?” You see, there are various ways web hosting companies capture the interest of their customers. They could offer packages that come with discounts if you choose to extend your plan. Or perhaps they could set you up with free domains if you choose a certain package. The list goes on.