How To Find The Perfect (or at least good enough) Web Host

By Dan Scott | April 3, 2008

A perfect web host can be as hard to track down as the proverbial matchless mate. Only your Aunt Sally isn’t constantly trying to hook you up with the perfect web host.

By now I’m sure you realize that, just as their is no perfect mate, there is also no perfect web host. Just like people, web hosts are subject to mishap and seem all too often to let us down just when we need them most. Given these shortcomings, finding a web host we can feel comfortable with should follow some of the same rules for finding a mate.

So, where to start? Start with yourself and your needs; self evaluation is critical before starting any long-term relationship. What needs are you trying to fill? Do you want to start a personal blog? An e-commerce web site? A family web site? A forum to discuss urban landscaping?

The kind of site you have in mind may help to point you in the direction of a particular kind of host. Will your site require interactive page generation, will there be lots of traffic, or heavy database activity? You may need the extra power of dedicated servers. Are you creating a site to show of pictures off your quilting accomplishments? You will probably be happy with a shared server.

Are you new to the whole web hosting scene? Avoid the desire to be a wall flower and look for somebody that will treat you with tenderness and respect. Focus on customer service, look for reviews indicating great communication and support along with lots of ease-of-use features. After you’ve made a choice, test their support services early on before you have a lot of time and effort committed to your site. Send emails, make phone calls, use the online support to see how quickly they respond and how helpful they are. If you’re not satisfied don’t stick around hoping they’ll change…they never change.

Make sure the software you want to run is compatible with the host you select. Will you need MySQL or POP3 support? Do they support all the PHP modules your application requires? Do they have installers for the blogging software or the image management package you want to run? Whether you already know exactly what you want to run or you’re not really sure and just want to know what’s available, ask. It’s better to find out early on in the relationship that the two of you aren’t really compatible.

Been there before? Use your prior experience to look for those things that have worked for you in the past. And, although I shouldn’t have to say it, stay away from the things that have burned you before. If you’ve learned the hard way that a terabyte of storage doesn’t always mean a terabyte of storage, use that experience and read the fine print this time.

Undertand yourself and your current situation first, then seek out a web hosting provider that meets your needs. Research thoroughly before you dive in, remember to read the fine print, and don’t be afraid to end a relationship that isn’t working.

In the end, though it may be true that there is no such thing as a perfect web host, with careful planning and lots of research you can find one that meets your needs and makes for a happy long-term relationship.

Dan Scott is a Computer Scientist with over 25 years of accomplishments in developing, building, and supporting computers and information systems. Make sure you check out his web hosting reviews on the top affordable web hosting providers.
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