Posted in Internet Marketing Systems	October 22, 2007

Questions to ask before you decide on a Web host

There are thousands of Web hosting companies, based all over the world. So it may look like rocket science and become overwhelming if you're trying to compare them all. If you're new to Web hosting, here are a few questions that you can anticipate hosting providers will ask you.

• How much storage space you will need?
• How much bandwidth do you estimate using on a monthly basis?
• What technologies will you be using? (PHP, Perl, ASP.NET, MySQL, MSSQL, etc.)

These questions should be easy enough to answer, based on your current usage. However, if you're in the development stage without some previous data, you may want to look for a package that is scaleable. Most hosting companies will also be willing to work with you in order to find out what will suit your business model.

But there are many more questions that you should be asking. If they're not questioning whether you're from the competition yet, you're not doing a good enough job interrogating!

What is the pricing?

Do they have annual contracts? Monthly? Will you have your own IP address if you're on a shared server? Is that extra?

Also ask what is included in a package and what is an add-on. Support, mySQL and email capabilities are common add-ons.

What is the set-up time?

This is a very important factor when considering your launch date. Most hosting companies will have you up and running within a few days, while many can have you up and running in a matter of hours.

A more complex setup such as a dedicated server can have up to a month waiting period. You may also want to ask if there is a setup time for additional storage and bandwidth, because good hosts will let you scale instantaneously.

What are the methods of customer contact?

Most companies will at least have phone and email support. More progressive companies will also have live chat. Different levels of support may cost extra, so you'll want to inquire about that as well.

What OS are you running?

Generally Linux and Solaris are good operating systems. Windows has been rumored to have more security problems than the latter, but if you intend to be using ASP, you'll likely have no choice but Windows.

What version of PHP, Apache, and mySQL are you running?

A hosting company that is running the most current version of all of the above is likely to have their act together. The most current versions of each are: PHP (v5.2.4), mySQL (v5.0.45), and Apache (v2.0.61).

What is your uptime guarantee?

If a company doesn't guarantee their uptime at all, you have a problem. The uptime guarantee you're looking for is at least 99%.

Do you have a money-back guarantee?

Credible hosting companies will offer at least 30 days.

Will my server allow streaming media? Progressive or Real-time?

If you're looking to host videos or audio, you'll need a server that allows streaming media. Most hosting companies will allow progressive streaming, meaning that you can host videos that ultimately download to a users desktop and is played in a streaming fashion via RealPlayer and the like.

Real-time streaming will usually be more costly, because the host will be providing you with more bandwidth because it streams from the server, making it un-downloadable.

What would be my email capabilities?

In general, a good Web host allows for emails from your domain, POP3, mail forwarding, and autoresponders. You should be able to access this from a control panel and be able to add, delete, and modify passwords on your own.

Do you support SSL and a Shopping cart?

If your Website is product-driven, you are going to need a secure server that allows SSL and shopping carts with mySQL databases.

Will I have FTP and SFTP access?

Generally unless you have your own dedicated server, you won't have SFTP access due to security. At a minimum, FTP access should be a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised.

What is your backup system routine?

Very good Web hosts will allow you to configure your own back-up settings, but if they don't, they should conduct nightly backups.

One last tip would be to ask about their servers. If they don't know about their own servers (and it's surprisingly common), then ask to speak to someone who does. Hosting companies that are proud of their equipment tend to be a good catch.