In 2005, the domain name registered by a web-based entrepreneur became
due for renewal. He had registered his domain name through his web
hosting company, so he mailed them a check for the renewal. The web
host cashed his check, but neglected to renew his domain. The domain
expired and became available, and was then registered by a domain
squatter who would not sell it back. The entrepreneur lost his domain
name, and his brand identity, because of his web hosting company's
negligence.
In 2007, a customer of another web hosting company lost several days of
income when his web hosting provider elected to migrate their services
to a new data center, but did so incorrectly. The customer's website
was taken offline, rendering him unable to make any sales until service
was restored. The hosting company hadn't even informed its customers of
the upcoming migration. When the hosting company finally did restore
its service, the customer was horrified to discover that the web host
had changed the software running on its servers, rendering his website
inoperable until the code would be re-written.
When disasters happen with a hosting provider, a refund can be issued
that is commensurate with the downtime experienced. However, this
refund, which may amount to $10-20, is far from fair compensation for
hundreds or even thousands of dollars in lost business. Therefore, it
is crucially important to look for impartial, third-party web hosting
reviews before choosing the company that your business will rely upon.
There are several important factors that need to be considered when
evaluating a web hosting company. The first is speed. A web host's
connection to the internet must be shared among all of its customers,
and the available bandwidth can be anywhere from about 1.5 megabits per
second to 13.2 gigabits, an extremely wide range! Next, look for
uptime. A review might mention that a particular web host has backup
diesel generators in case of a power outage, for example, which is a
major benefit. Lastly, the hosting company must have a stellar
reputation for providing excellent customer service. Replies to
communication should be prompt, and any changes to server
infrastructure should be announced well in advance.
There are many companies providing web hosting services worldwide, and
the services they provide range from poor to superb. Do yourself the
favor of reading a review before deciding which company your business
will rely upon.
