How to choose a web host?

While looking at the web hosting plans, that a company have, you may find features that are not listed here on our site. We've made a selection of the most important and commonly used features here. There might be features that are specific for each hosting company. For example, the list of free pre-installed scripts that they may offer. This list may vary from several simple scripts - FormMail, GuestBook and Counter to some advanced shopping carts, message boards, web blogs, content management systems, etc. In some plans you will even find listed the versions of the server software used - web server, database server, scripting engine. Some will list trivial features like client JavaScript and Flash support, which are not server dependent at all.

Another thing you should look at and read carefully are the Terms of Use and the Acceptable Use Policies of the web hosting company. Often some deal breaker information can be found there. So our advice is - always check these documents. Sometimes when your site or site content is in violation of the latter, it will be shut down and you will not even get a refund as it is defined in any of the above documents. If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to contact the webhost and ask them for elaboration. Look for any catches and definitions as daily bandwidth, monthly hits, etc. Check for any content or activity limitations defined.

You can try to place a test order on the host site to see how the order process goes. You can enter whatever name and email you'd like, just to test the process. Please remember that the real deal goes the moment you enter you payment information. So while testing, stop at the screen where you need to enter any payment information. This should give you enough information how to order what you are interested in and what the payment options are.

Check the web hosting company site for contact information - email, phone, address. If anything goes wrong you may need these.

Make sure to check the web hosting company FAQ (frequently asked questions). Often you will get a lot of details there. If you cannot find what you are looking for - write them an email.Some hosting companies even have on-line message boards where you can read opinions of existing customers, you can find common issues there and how the webhost has responded to these.

And at last but not least, use a search engine like Google or Yahoo to find any additional information about that webhost that might be available somewhere over the Internet.