Finding a Good Host – Questions to Ask
May 16th, 2009 | By Dee | Category: Newbie Boot CampSupport, support, support..This is huge. Does the host have 24/7 support by phone AND email? Test them out first, call them and ask questions see how quickly they respond if you have to leave a message. How long does it take for them to get back to you from both email and phone? Be wary of hosts who ONLY offer ’support desk’ or email support.
Once you have gotten in touch with them… Ask:
How long will it take for my site to be set up?
Max for this should be 24 hours unless you are ordering a dedicated server. Sometimes those can take 48 hours, but no longer.
Will you change the nameservers for me?
Any good host will do this for you.
Can and will you transfer my sites from my old host?
All good hosts will do this for there clients free of charge.
Do you offer PHP and Mysql?
Both should be free of charge.
Do I get charged a flat rate for usage?
This is a must. See if you don’t use the full amount you’re paying for. If not, then why should you be charged for it? Make absolutely sure the host you choose charges by the gig OR by mbps (megbits per second) and it’s a flat rate.
Do I get charged for usage over what I signed up for?
I don’t think this is fair at all but there are hosts which do this and it can wreak havoc on a budget. So be SURE to ask this one.
What is the rate I will be charged?
Hosts that offer lower pricing tend to be on poor backbones and a lot of hops. The poorer the backbone the cheaper the pricing, as well lots of down time for sites. Shop around, compare prices and get a feel for fair pricing so you can ask this question and have the required knowledge to gauge whether the answer is a good one.
What type of backbone does the host have?
Another very important question, as this really determines speeds and down-times.
Does the host have a redundant backbone?
Reliability is dramatically increased to nearly 100% through redundant connections, so make sure your hosting provider has at least 2 lines. This is important – if one goes down the other will kick in so your sites stay online.
What type of hardware does the host use?
Majorly important again. Ask the host if they use name brand equipment for hard drives, RAM etc. I know a lot of you may not know all these types of hardware, but it’s always good to ask the question to see how the host responds.
How many sites does the host put on a machine?
If the host gives you a *number* of sites then it’s the wrong answer. A good host will monitor their machines for the amount of load placed on the machine. The scripts that are running, the amount of gigs each machine uses, etc., to ensure that your sites load fast and have no downtime.
What type of stats does the host offer?
Host should have good solid stats programs although they do vary in type. They should all be accurate and offer a wide variety of details of the usage for your site.
Does the host charge you for ftp uploading?
This varies between hosting companies but the majority of hosts bill you for this bandwidth usage of loading your sites to the servers. This is not a huge expense, but does add up over a month so always check.
Does the host offer things above the call of duty?
Meaning will they help you with script installs, form installs, general web help etc.
Will they talk to you and help you in unrelated areas?
This I have found is an area where the majority of hosts lack. It’s maybe not required but I think it’s important to ask if you’re looking for a long term solid home for your sites. When you think about it, if the host isn’t good it costs you money.
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