Top 10 Web Hosting

First Determine your needs: how much disk space, how much data transfer? Do you need specific scripts installed?

Start looking around to see what's offered. Search for hosting companies and look at all their plans. Don't limit yourself at this stage to your specific needs and think about the future. Look at all their plans so that if your site should need more disk space or bandwidth... in the future you won't have to switch host because your host doesn't offer more or if he doesn't permit change of plans. Read host reviews and customer testimonials.

Next, you should visit some of hosts' web sites. Check how fast the pages load. Bear in mind that large sites may take longer to load if their pages aren't optimized.

At this point you should have narrowed your list down to 2 or 3 hosts. Look if there's any promotions or discounts available that fits your needs.

TIPS: If you have any questions about features offered by your potential hosts, don't hesitate to email them with your pre-sales questions. This is a good strategy to check a host's customer service. For example, if a host can't seem to answer simple questions you should questions their abilities as an host. If there's a particular hosting feature that you need is advertised on a site verity that the information is up to date. In terms of support response time, some people will tell you that pre-sales calls don't necessarily reflect on how a host will give you support in the future, but let's face it if you have a money making site downtime will kill you. They maybe very good in the future but are you willing to take the chance?

Before signing up with any host, take the time to read their Terms and Conditions. You'll find there crucial information that you should know before signing up. For example, many hosts will put important statements qualifying host's uptime guarantee or maybe they don't allow controvertial material. If there is a money back guarantee, see if the setup fee is also refundable. You will not be refunded however if you host disallowed material and your host finds out..Look also if there's a limit on your daily bandwidth usage.

Also have a look fort the host FAQ and read it. You'll find technical infos about the host. If there's an online forum go and visit it. Read a few messages posted to see what problems other clients had and to see if the host corrected the problem satisfactorily. Host that have message boards are usually better hosts cause they know their clients are satisfied.

Don't sign up with hosts that don't provide contact information. Look on the host site for a phone number or a real mailing address, not a P.O. Box. In rare cases when you have a major problem with the hosting company that can't be resolved by email or online chat, you'll need this info to contact the company.

If everything looks fine then sign up.