Assuming that you have decided to go for commercial web hosting rather than free services, here are a few tips on how to select the right web hosting service.

Uptime

Uptime is the amount of time that the service is functional. If you are purchasing a web hosting package for commercial purposes, then even a few seconds “off the radar” can be harmful for business. Most service providers promise an uptime of 99.5%. Anything less than this is not worth the time and the money spent.

Disk Space

Disk space requirements depend on the type and number of websites. A website with 100 pages does not generally need more than 4 MB of disk space. But keeping a margin is always better. Websites do offer as much as 1000 MB disk space, and that is sufficient, considering a future business expansion might require online presence overhaul as well.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth issues are critical for site administrators. Bandwidth is technically known as data transfer. While unlimited bandwidth is a dream comes true for site owners, it is not possible to provide that without additional charges. Some service providers promise unlimited hosting bandwidth, but extract money for each gigabyte extra after you cross their usage cap. Ethical service providers tell you upfront about the exact data transfer allowed, without attracting penalties. Depending on the package, bandwidth caps can be anything from 40 GB to 160 GB.

Programming Languages and Databases

A dynamic or CMS (Content Management System) based website usually requires the following features to run properly:

PHP programming language

MySQL databases

Scripts

One click installation of popular CMS such as Joomla, Wordpress and many others makes creating websites an easy process. Make sure that the service providers offer these as part of the package. Some hosts do not offer all the scripts. Others ask customers to install these scripts on their own, which may entail additional expenses and time, not to mention the trouble of deploying a dedicated IT team.

Server

You have the option of going for Linux or Windows based servers. Linux servers are superior, owing to their versatility, reliability and high performance. They also allow more manoeuvring space to the site owner, allowing them to customize the site themselves by using any of the above mentioned Linux native CMS.

Tech Support

If you plan to run a business website, then your hosting service provider needs to provide customer support round the clock. Websites are crucial to business transactions, particularly if a large part of your business is conducted online. Reliable customer support ensures that a minor glitch does not snowball into a long-term, major problem.

Security

From bandwidth losses to malicious hacking and viruses, there are a large number of threats to deal with in the online world. You not only stand to lose data, but also your investment and reputation, if your website does not perform optimally and jeopardize users’ personal info. SSL certificates is one tool that makes online transactions safe.

Number Of Domains

A single hosting package should support multiple domains to enable you host more that one website in one web hosting account.

Cost

Costs for a single hosting package can range from $2 per month to $150. It depends on a number of factors, including the ones mentioned above. In the long run, annual packages are cheaper than half yearly packages, which are in turn, more cost effective.

These tips should help you select the best hosting package and provide good return on investment. For more details check out our web hosting packages page.