Info about Bad Webhosts
How to Avoid Bad Web Hosts
If you are considering starting your own website, you will need to find a web hosting service that is affordable and reliable. There are plenty of good web hosting services out there, but there are also a number of bad ones. Unless you have a recommendation from someone you know and trust, you will need to do the research yourself and be sure you are getting a good deal and a quality, reputable web hosting service. There are scamming web hosts and cheap web hosts that don’t do what they promise, so be cautious when searching for the web hosting service you want to use.
Be weary of any web host that does not have a solid reputation on the Internet or is brand new. When you have found a web host you are interested in, do an internet search for their company to read previous reviews and testimonials about their site and services. You can also try searching for them on the Better Business Bureau’s website at bbbonline.org which will list any scams or negative marks against them. This doesn’t mean all new web hosting services are bad, but that you should practice caution when choosing one without many customers.
You should also be weary of unrealistic pricing and long term contracts. Web hosts that provide rates which seem too good to be true, they probably are. Unlimited web hosting with one fee is a big red flag because it is unrealistic; why would they lose out on money by providing good web hosting services for such a low fee? Long term contracts should also be avoided, such as paying for an entire year in advance. Typically, web hosts will give you the option of paying on a monthly, bi-yearly or annual basis but if they only charge annual fees, you are better off going elsewhere. Before purchasing any web hosting service or product, read through their entire site including a trial period, refund policy, customer service information, security measures, privacy policies and terms of service.
Watch out for common red flags of a bad web host. These include a web host which does not provide excellent customer service or technical support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If the web host is hard to get a hold of, does not have a phone number or ignores you as a customer, they should be cancelled immediately. A good web host will always put their customers first. Secondly, if you notice that your website seems to be down or having technical difficulties on a regular basis, it may be time to switch web hosts. Your web hosting provider is not providing you with the services they promised, and this can severely affect your business. Each time your site is down, you are essentially losing money. Lastly, you want a web host that has extremely high security policies and practices. If they do not make internet security a top priority, they will not provide you with the online security your website requires and you should move on to another web host.