Thinking of launching a website or blog for your business? That’s a great stride towards the success of your business.

However, you can’t think of launching a website or blog and forget about web hosting services.

Now, choosing the best web hosting company is not a walk in the park. It involves thorough vetting of the available hosting companies.

So, as you scrutinize until you land on the company that will offer you a good return for investment, here are great mistakes you must avoid.

Mistake #1. Opting for Free Web Hosting Services

Imagine wanting to run a business where you intend to obtain goods or services freely and sell to make money.

The question is… who can agree to transact this kind of business? Who can supply you with goods and services freely, yet on their end, they pay dearly for them?

…never, right?

And that’s it with free web hosting – unless you’re launching a website for fun.

There are many free web hosting companies out there, but the fact is you can’t make money out of them. Repeat this say by Ralph Waldo Emerson after me, “Money often costs too much.”

Again, compare the pros and cons of free web hosting, the only advantage is the fact that it’s free, nothing else.

However, here are some limitations of free web hosting:

Ads, Ads, and Ads. The company posts ads on your site at will. Yes, it’s worth doing because your site occupies a space in their server – it’s a cost-benefit sharing.

Besides, any profit out of clicks or purchase courtesy of these ads only benefits the hosting company. But remember, these ads distract visitors’ attention on your site.

Limited pages. Most free hosting plans restrict the number of webpages you create on your site.

Low customer care services. Quality services are never free. So, with a free plan, don’t expect good customer care services.

Limited bandwidth. Speed is essential for your site. However, limited bandwidth may affect the loading speed for your site, especially if your site has many pages.

Mistake #2. not reading  Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions or terms of service are binding legal statements of the web hosting company.

In most cases, people ignore reading terms and conditions. Instead, they scroll down very fast and click “accept.”Don’t be part of this mess.

Remember, by clicking the “accept” button, you commit to adhere the terms up to the latter.

And so, to avoid regrets afterward, read the terms and conditions properly to understand each clause.

Take note of the following when reading the terms and conditions of a web hosting company:

• Know that you’re entering into a legally binding contract.
• Don’t feel high with the guarantees in the agreement; not all are fulfilled in case of a loss. For instance, if the server crashes due to one of your scripts, do you think the company will compensate you? Instead, they can seek compensation from you.
• Remember, most terms of conditions enjoy a clause where the company has the right to change the terms of service without informing you.

Mistake #3. Believing the”Unlimited” Features

The word “Unlimited” is so tempting. It sounds like there are no limitations to the product or brand you want to purchase. But can this be true…

Not really. The truth is most of the web hosting companies use a shared server. And so the word “unlimited” is only a business language to attract more customers.

You won’t be operating on your own server. And therefore, it can hardly be unlimited – anything human-made that’s shared can never be unlimited.

For example, you see promises of unlimited bandwidth or storage on a shared server that has a standard capacity. Think about what happens when the server reaches its maximum capacity. Can it hold to the expectation?

So, regarding this “unlimited” story, make sure you read the specifications and the restrictions of a web hosting company to see if they fit your needs before accepting the deal.

Mistake #4. Basing Your Selection on Prices

The price of web hosting alone is not a guarantee of its efficiency and reliability.

Actually, your ultimate desire should be hosting your website with a company that provides optimum performing services.

Again, a low price doesn’t mean poor quality services; neither does a high price guarantee high-quality services.

With that in mind, don’t base your choice solely on price, but dig deep on other indicators as well based on your needs.

Why?

Consider this scenario. Company “A” charges a relatively low price, but looking a the features of their hosting services, it’s awesome.

On the other hand, company “B” lacks some features you value for your business, and at the same time, their hosting charges are high. Which company will you choose for your hosting in this scenario?

I know you’re shouting “Company A” in the background. I also agree with your choice.

Now, here is to go about the web hosting price stalemate. Note down the features of the web hosting that your business requires.

Then, visit a variety of web hosting companies and study them keenly to find the right one for your brand. Review your budget as well because you can’t purchase what you can’t afford

Also, don’t forget to check other specifications like limitations and restrictions attached to it.

Mistake #5. Not Reviewing Their Customer Care Services

You’re a valued customer to that web hosting company. Excellent customer care service is your portion – you deserve it,not by default, but because you pay for it.

Many host companies promise heaven (in fact, they say 24/7/365) but end up providing peanut or no customer care. And many people learn this only after paying the hosting fee – and now calling for assistance.

How can you curb this? Conduct a thorough review of their customer care services through the following ways

• Read as many online customer reviews as possible. What does the majority of customers say about them? Bear in mind also that some host companies even pay some people to do sweet-smelling reviews about their services to attract customers.
• Ask live questions as you browse their website, monitor how prompt they are to address your concerns.
• Try reaching their customer services at the odd hours. How long do they take to respond?

Mistake #6. Closing You Eyes to Security Issues

Cybercrime is no longer a story. And all websites and servers are at risk unless you lay down robust security protocols.

• Confirm if the company has a back-up server in case of a crash.
• Find out how they manage their passwords and user access authorization.
• Don’t forget to inquire about the Operating System (OS) they use for their server. The best OS is either a Windows-Based OS or Linux-Based OS.

The Bottom Line

You’ve all the right to choose the best web hosting platform. Again, you now know the mistakes that people make when deciding on which hosting company to contract.

Some of these mistakes may sound minor to your ears but can cost you tremendously. Remember, as a business, customers believe in your services – including the security of their information.

Read the mistakes carefully and the tips given in this article to avoid falling in the same trap.

Bio:

Anastasia Belyh – Co-founder of Founderjar and Cleverism

Anastasia has been a professional blogger since 2014. With a degree in accounting and philosophy & economics, she used her passion and skills to build two blogging businesses, Cleverism and FounderJar, to a 6-figure online business. She loves to travel the world, play the piano, and eat chocolate.

Source of the image used:

https://www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/afroamerikaner-frau-arbeit-arbeiten-business-1181316/