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Hosting Space for Your Business Web Site
You need space to which to upload your site, that's obvious, yet still a choice exists as to whether you will use free space (such as provided by your ISP or by a site specialising in free web space). The alternative is to buy space from a specialist Internet hosting company. I recommend the latter for reasons of professionalism and because it creates the best first impression for your business.
Note, too, that some ISPs do not cater for commercial sites and some free space providers are very limited in terms of free space available (usually not a lot) or because the firm's own advertising messages can be overpowering and off-putting to visitors to your site. Not to mention some free services prefer you to design your site using their pre-loaded templates, which again may include their advertising or may not be exactly what you want for your business. If in doubt, pay for space; some very good deals are available.
Finding A Good Hosting Company
* Spend time surfing for one, preferably by visiting other people's sites and looking to spot which companies they use.
* Ask successful people you know with sites you like for details of their hosting company.
* Read Internet and computer magazines for their editors' and reviewers' recommendations on web site hosting alongside most other web-based products and services.
* Read consumer magazines covering Internet-related products, such as Which?
* Read reports in national dailies most of which carry a special Internet and ecommerce column once or twice a week.
* Choose one offering a free trial, such as many you'll find in Internet and ecommerce publications.
* Ask hosting companies for details of their clients, people who might answer whatever questions you want answered before committing yourself to a web space provider.
* Contact the company before signing up. Phone and ask a few questions. Note how well they answer these questions, how knowledgeable and helpful they appear to be. If they're not helpful or want to rush you off the phone or force you into a buying decision, go elsewhere. Chances are they just want your money and after sales service is not a priority.
* Ask what support service is available, on what days, during what times, and if a charge is involved. In my experience the best hosting companies have 7 days a week telephone and email support, they don't charge and they'll bend over backwards to help you until your problem is solved.
* If you're new to the Internet ask questions and note how answers are given. Are these Internet experts talking down to you, do you suspect they're laughing at your lack of knowledge, is their attitude superior? If yes to any, move on.
* Choose an established company over a small organisation, often one person, who thinks he knows it all but actually knows very little. The bigger companies recruit knowledgeable people and give adequate pre-employment training.
* Sadly, though many one person bands are also extremely capable, my saddest days have come from trusting another person's opinion of him or herself. On more than one occasion I've come unstuck and actually paid high fees to someone whose sole knowledge comes from an Internet manual, usually one they're reading just as they're working on my site!
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