1. Let your needs control
First of all, it’s impossible for me to tell you what plan you should choose as I don’t know you and your needs. Read reviews, compare, ask questions and collect as much info as possible in general. In the end however, it’s your needs that should determine what provider, and plan, that is the best for you.
2. Pick an accredited registrar
When a web host is a registrar it means that ICANN has approved it as a reseller of domain names, which vouches for them being serious. Sure, there are several reasons to host your site with a company that’s not a registrar but if you’re somewhat of a beginner and don’t know that much about the industry it might be good to go for the easy solution and get a combined provider/registrar.
3. Prioritize reliability
This is perhaps easier said than done. Try to get an idea of for example uptime. Remember that there’s a big difference between 99.9% and 99.99% uptime even though it might not sound like it.
4. Don’t forget about the backup
Do they have backups? How often? Does it cost extra? Do they restore your files regardless of whose “fault” it is?
5. Inspect the support
Only you know how important the support is for you. Reconsider a host that does not offer generous open hours for their support team. Can you get help even if it’s in the evening or on a weekend?
6. Read reviews
Choose a provider that has a lot of satisfied customers. Don’t trust the quotes on a provider’s own homepage. Read editorial, as well as user reviews and find out what real customers and professionals think.
7. Find out the real price
Are there any hidden costs? Is the domain name free for a year or for life? The more you know, the less you are likely to incur additional expenses or unwanted surprises with your hosting account.
8. Choose the right size
Make sure to choose a plan that is the right size for you. Storage is cheap and there is often not a big difference in price between 10GB and 1GB – this is not the time to be cheap.
9. Think about the traffic
As a site owner you obviously want as much traffic as possible and if you expect a lot of traffic you need hosting that can handle the pressure.
10. Find out where the server is located
Ok, the Internet is global but you should still find out where the server is located. If you expect a lot of traffic from the states it might be wise to have your server in the US as well.
11. Check the email services
It’s a common mistake to put all of the focus on the website and hence neglect the email solution. The email is probably what you’re going to use the most internally and needs some attention as well.
12. Terms and conditions
Even though both you and your web host probably want a long-term relationship it’s not 100% certain that you’ll be a perfect match. After a while you might discover some cracks and if this happens you should be able to leave without too much trouble. In other words – find out the terms and conditions before signing anything.
13. Take a look at the economy
And I don’t mean your economy alone but also the economical situation of the web host. Make sure that the provider has a good financial situation and won’t disappear in the nearby future. Avoid fly-by-night operations at all cost.
