Check Out These Great Web Hosting Tips

So, you just got a domain name and are now looking for someone to host your website. But, where do you start? What features should a web host provide for your site and at what cost? How do you determine the reliability of a particular host? This article will guide you through the process of choosing and purchasing web hosting services. With a little knowledge, you can easily avoid common pitfalls.

While it’s common for web hosts to offer add-ons with their packages, the actual features and packages vary widely between hosts. When you are analyzing the different providers, compare the different levels of service so you know you are getting the right features you require. For example, one host’s low price advantage may disappear when you find that a feature you want is only included on a higher priced package.

Keep a list of back-ups when you choose the web host you’re going to sign on with. If the problem doesn’t lend itself to an easy fix, you’ll be ready to move to a new host. You’ll avoid downtime and lost traffic to your site regardless of what caused the initial problem.

When transferring your site between hosts, have a copy of your website at both your old and new hosts for a few days. It’s important to do this because it takes 6-48 hours for the DNS to propagate. During this time, some visitors will be sent to your old website, while others whose ISPs have updated their DNS info will be sent to your new site.

Make certain to read reviews to determine whether your potential web host has frequent periods of downtime. If your website is often inaccessible to visitors, there can be drastically negative consequences. For example, if you are running an online business, downtime directly translates into lost business because potential customers will not be able to access your website. Customers may also feel uncomfortable conducting transactions on your website because they might believe your website to be unreliable. Choose a web host that does not have a history of being offline frequently.

Your site building efforts won’t be successful or complete until you choose a good web host. Getting your website online is not that hard once you have an understanding on where to start and what information you should know about your hosting company. Use the tips you just read so you can more quickly get your website online.