Best Web Hosting: 10 Key Questions

Page 3: What you need to ask before choosing your website hosting services

by Judi Maddigan

8. Will you use POP3 email accounts from the same service provider?

Many hosting plans include standard email features, but the security and reliability of those features must be adequate for your organization. For example, an option for convenient web-based email accounts would allow you to access your business email account from any web browser with an Internet connection. Other variables include the number of accounts included, spam filters, anti-virus protection, and the level of technical support for email-related issues.

9. How much customer support will you require?

An experienced web developer will not need the same level of technical support that a newbie will require. Once you've determined how much support you are likely to need, you can evaluate which hosting companies have the capacity to provide that support. A 24/7 toll-free phone line will not help unless it is consistently staffed with knowledgeable specialists. Email response times can be misleading, especially when based on automated replies that state your case has been assigned to a technician who will reply within 24 hours. That's too long to wait on a critical problem.

10. Do the hosting companies offer refunds?

For any company that expects payment for 6 or 12 months of hosting in advance, you'll want to check on their refund policies. Are there provisions for you to obtain a refund for unused portions of the term? When you discover a problem with your dedicated hosting provider, you should be able to switch to a new host without forfeiting the entire balance of your prepaid amount.

There are hundreds of dedicated web hosting companies. Knowing what questions to ask and doing your research will go a long way towards untangling the technical issues and helping you determine the best web hosting to fit your specific needs.

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About the Author: Judi Maddigan has technical training as an Information Architect, working with a dot.com in Silicon Valley. She has been active in the web development field since 1995.

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