Selecting a web host
There is no dearth of web hosting providers in the market but finding a reliable one is not an easy task. With everybody claiming to provide the best services, new bloggers are often left confused when it comes to selecting a web host.
Which is the best web hosting service?
If you ask us to select one web hosting service provider, we would go with HostGator without a second thought. HostGator provides the best, yet reliable, affordable and inexpensive web hosting.
HostGator
Reasonable pricing
99.9% uptime guarantee
Fantastic server speed
Friendly and helpful in chat support
One of the most experienced web hosting providers
Also provides Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting and dedicated server hosting
Web hosting coupon codes
If you happen to select HostGator web hosting, don’t forget to use these coupon codes:
$9.94 OFF coupon codes
These coupon codes will entitle you to a discount of $9.94 on HostGator’s shared hosting plans:
webhostingez
ezwebhosting
Remember, these are only for shared web hosting.
10 Things to look for while selecting a web host
You should choose your web hosting provider with care. But as we already said, that’s not an easy task. So, how do you identify the best web host? Here’s a quick web hosting checklist we’ve compiled for you:
Web hosting checklist – General
These are some of the general things your web hosting provider should offer irrespective of the applications you are going to install or the purpose you are buying the hosting space for:
1. Server uptime
Settle for nothing less than 99% uptime. See to it that the web host is reputed enough to honor the promise.
2. Server speed
Web visitors are impatient. Ensure that your site loads fast.
3. Scalability
This should also be one of the important considerations while selecting a web host. Today you may be okay with shared hosting. But tomorrow, you may grow and require Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting or Dedicated Server Hosting. If your host provides these types of hosting as well, you will not have to look elsewhere in future.
4. Reliability
Always go with the reputed one.
5. File backup
You should be able to take a complete backup of your website from the web hosting control panel. This will be useful when you plan to move on to some other web host. Even otherwise, it’s always prudent to take periodic backups.
6. Support
Since web hosting service providers are generally located away from us, a good customer support definitely matters.
7. Affordability
Last but not the least in the web hosting checklist is affordability. You should be comfortable with the pricing.
Web hosting checklist – WordPress
If you are going to install WordPress, then also look out for these additional things while selecting a web host:
8. Web hosting control panel
Look out for some easy to use control panel like cPanel.
9. Auto install script
If you do not have technical knowledge, then you may not be able to install WordPress without the help of some auto install script like Fantastico.
10. CGI/database support
Check out whether the web hosting you are selecting supports the required versions of CGI/database such as PHP & MySQL.
Hope, you find this web hosting checklist useful in selecting a web host. Here’s wishing you all the very best!
