Reliability - Finding a Good Web Host

A Web Hosting Article Contributed by Frances Rhea

What a Good Web Hosting Offers

The four most important factors for judging the quality of web hosts are: 1) Support, 2) Cost, 3) Reliability, and 4) Features. In this article we will discuss the reliability of a good web hosting service.

How You Can Tell a Web Host is Reliable

Choosing the right web host is essential for your web site success. It is difficult to tell from the homepage how reliable a host will be. There are a few ways that you can find out more about a web host's reliability before signing up giving up your cash.

Server downtime can completely ruin your web site. If a web host cannot keep the sites hosted on their servers live and visible, nothing else the host features really matters. No host can offer 100% uptime to their users between viruses and natural disasters that can affect data centers. Some hosts guarantee 99% uptime which is much more of a reality. A reliable web host would offer and perform at a 99% uptime rate or above.

Look at the Web Hosting Testimonials

No one knows better than one of the hosts actual users how the server is performing. User testimonials can provide potential customers with important information regarding reliability. Look for referrals that talk about up/downtime, honoring of guarantees, and advertised claims.

Web Host History

Whether a host is new or well established can affect its reliability. A well established host has proven it has the stability to make it through tough technology problems. A new host may not be around tomorrow or may not have worked out the bugs in their servers. Look for a host that has at least one year of service.

Web Host Data Center

The data center is the facility that houses the servers for your uploaded files. Consider whether the data center is in the middle of a natural disaster laden or terrorist area. Check where the host's business offices are located and where the data center is. See also how they monitor the facility for safety. This is one area that web hosts provide the information themselves. If they have a good data center, they brag about it on their site. Choose a host in a safe location that uses up-to-date appropriate hardware.

Web Hosting Guarantee

A reliable web host will guarantee their services. If there is no satisfaction or money back guarantee move on to another site. Make sure you read the small print of any guarantees. Terms differ by amount of days the guarantee lasts, how much they are willing to refund, and if set-up fees or unused service months are refundable.

Web Host Reputation

A web host's reputation can be hard to determine. Many hosts are widely marketed by affiliate programs by sites that may recommend a poor host just for the payments that they receive. Visit their forums and read what other users have experienced. Read user reviews but remember happy users do not usually post reviews.