Internet Service Provider (ISP), Part 3

The Internet Service Provider Will Definitely Make or Break Website Presentations

Five more things you should keep in mind when you consider using an ISP Hosting Service:

Point #6: Get Recommendations from Others

• Now that you have narrowed your list down to a number of contenders, it is time to see what others have to say about them; and who better to ask first than current users of their services.
• Most reputable hosting services will have a partial client list of customers who use them.
• If they don’t have such a list on their site, then ask the web host for them in your test e-mail.
• Contact these customers and ask them if they are satisfied with the services provided.
• Be sure to ask about any problems these clients may have had with each of the ISP’s you are investigating, if the host has been down much in the past, how the customer service and technical support is, and if they would recommend the web host you are checking.
• While you’re at it, consider the type of clients this host has.
• One important question to ask web hosts is if they are hosting any adult sites.
• These sites often use up substantial server resources, and you do not want to be sharing a server with any bandwidth hogs.
• In fact, if your company size and budget warrants it, you should look into getting your own dedicated server so you can avoid the big-time bandwidth users.
• Most web hosts are not stupid enough to list their unhappy (former) customers in their client lists; so, it is important that you take the initiative to explore whatever dark sides these hosts may be trying to hide.
• This should not be too difficult given the resources available on the web today.
• Be sure to check the web hosting directories and guides, which often have forums, reviews of hosting companies, and even blacklists.
• You could save yourself a world of grief by checking these out before spending your money.

Point #7: Evaluate Customer Services and Technical Support

• Contact them and ask the support staff a few technical questions of the type you anticipate you will be asking when you host with them.
• Then determine how quickly and efficiently they respond.
• This is what can make or break a web host.
• This is the contact point between Us and Them.
• Funny thing, then, that so many web hosts apparently pay so little attention to customer service and technical support.
• It is not at all “funny” if you don’t get the customer service and/or technical support that you need.
• It takes a truly professional, committed company to invest the funds necessary to establish and maintain high quality support departments.
• This is why you must assess a prospective web host.
• Unfortunately, there will be times, hopefully less rather than more, that you will need accessible, efficient, and personal technical, and customer support.
• So add this to your list of questions for your e-mail, look around their sites for contact points, and see what their online help files look like.
• You should be able to judge whether a company cares about its relationship with you, or if it is simply trying to dodge and avoid you by making any contact all but impossible.

Point #8: Check Out Responses from the Host Provider with E-mails

• Use the list you have made to write an e-mail to your prospective web hosts.


This will be useful in several ways:

First, it will help you define and articulate your needs, so that by the time you have finished the e-mail, you will have a better idea of what you are actually looking for.
Second, your e-mail will be very useful in determining the different web hosts’ level of customer service.


• Although their sales departments may respond more quickly than their technical support people, at least you can eliminate those hosts that do not even bother to respond to your inquiry.
• It seems that all too many web hosts have more customers than they know what to do with, at least, judging by the slowness or complete absence of responses to inquiries and requests for assistance.
• Be that as it may, there are those out there who do want your business, and are willing to take the time necessary to build working relationships with their clients.
• Obviously, these are the ones that deserve your business, and they are well worth seeking out.
• Send your test e-mail to them and see which among them actually wants and deserves your business and hard-earned money.
• Finally, just because a host says that it has 24/7 customer support does not mean that it really offers that level of support.
• Test each one out by sending your e-mail after hours or on a Saturday afternoon to see how long it actually takes for you to receive a response.
• In addition to the speed of the responses, judge the quality, competence, and care taken in the responses to you.
• Test them even further by requiring that a real person with an actual name and e-mail to administer your account be assigned to you, so that this person will be familiar with your site and any problems it may have.
• This will do wonders for the web hosts’ accountability and sense of responsibility.

Point #9: Decide on Payment Limits

• After looking over your list of criteria, you may decide that you need all or most of the features you have written down.
• The price, however, might convince you to go somewhat lower.
• If the web host has scalable packages, you can always upgrade to those other features later.
• Choose a host that offers you most of what you need at the most reasonable price and with options to upgrade later for additional reasonable rates.
• While you are looking at prices, keep in mind these admonitions: “You get what you pay for.” and “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!”
• This doesn’t mean you should choose the most expensive plan.
• Generally, you should be able to find an acceptable virtual domain provider for your domain site between $10 and $25 per month, including as much server space as you need (depending on your content requirements).
• Consider paying somewhat more for extra server space and better customer service.
• That way, even if your website expands, you won’t have to go through the trouble of changing web hosting companies.
• You will never regret going with the “host with the most” in the area of customer service, you can be sure of that.
• There is nothing more frustrating than having to wait for a response from your web host for days and days while your site is down or important features are not functioning properly.
• There are free sites around, but most require you to display banner advertising and offer few features, not to mention abysmal or non-existent customer service.
• A site with a banner and annoying pop-ups does not highlight your commitment to having a professional site; although, for a small, personal homepage it may be fine for your purposes.
• Finally, most web hosting companies offer monthly, quarterly, and yearly payment options, so be sure to ask about their minimum commitment period as well as their refund and cancellation policies.
• You should also receive a discount for longer time periods paid for in advance.
• Exercising due diligence in these matters pays off many times over in the long run.
• After all of these points have been completed, it is finally time to make the big commitment.

Point #10: Make Your Final Choice and Carpe Diem [Seize the Day] or “Just Do It!”

• After having completed all the steps outlined above, you should be in a good position to make your decision.
• Start by eliminating all those hosts who have not responded to your e-mail or have responded inadequately.
• You should have a very short list indeed by this time, and chances are you already know who you would like to work with and who you want to be your web hosting partner.
• All that is left to do then is place your order and upload your site to the Web Host using the information that will be provided.
• If you’re not certain, sign up for web host that offers a money-back guarantee.
• Of course you will need to inform your registrar about your new DNS information, or register a domain name, so people will be able to find you on the internet.
• Now that you have a happy home for your website, you are well situated to begin the exciting work of promoting your site, letting others know about it, and establishing yourself as a real presence on the amazing World Wide Web.

You may return to Part 1 of this ISP Hosting presentation from here.