Choosing A Web Hosting Company

Which One Is Perfect For Your SME?

So your enterprise is getting ready to launch a corporate Web site. Or perhaps you are looking to switch hosting companies for some reason. You want to factor in things such as price, space requirements, uptime guarantees, server components, and support. When it comes to choosing a Web hosting company, what are the key issues you need to look for? How do you compare hosting packages? Is it better to find a local host or one with a nationwide presence? What are the advantages between the two? What, exactly, is the best way to go? Key Issues Before you go blindly into the night, Adam Rosenthal, who works in customer support at Web Hosting Logic (www.webhostinglogic.com), says there are a few paramount issues to consider. Rosenthal says, “The key issues to consider include server components that are offered, the company’s uptime track record, and, most importantly, the level of support that the Web hosting company offers.” Andreas Gauger, chairman of the board of 1&1 Internet (www.1and1.com), says that uptime plays a key role when looking at the top issues to consider. He comments, “First of all, small to midsized enterprises should not compromise on having a high level of performance and reliability for their Web site. In order to ensure this, they should select a Web host that offers a 99.99% uptime guarantee so that they can rest assured their Web business is operating reliably.” Gauger says other important differentiators are a company’s Web hosting package features. With so many different Web hosting packages available, it can be tough to decide what’s right for your SME. But Rosenthal says it's not that hard to find the right choice for your enterprise. He comments, "As most hosting companies seem to offer the world in their hosting packages, I recommend that customers look up reviews on hosting providers, get referrals, and even call the companies to test their level of support and friendliness." Rosenthal says spending your time comparing hosting packages will most likely get you more for less "from just about every company out there." He says if you really want to compare, look for a Web hosting company that does not offer "the world" and then look for the real differences between them and everyone else. Gauger says today’s Web hosting packages are very affordable and include very powerful and helpful features. He notes, “Make especially sure to notice the number of included domains offered. If there are no domains included, you have to pay significant amounts to add them. This gets easily overlooked. Also, be conscious of free tools such as a Web site builder, newsletter tool, Web statistics application, or any other productivity features that can help improve your success.” Gauger says by considering these elements, you can determine the most valuable Web hosting package for your business. Does Locale Matter? So do you hook up with a Web hosting company in your own neck of the woods or choose a company that appeals to the masses? In Gauger’s opinion, bigger is better. He explains, “It is always advisable to choose a large host because they are technically and financially stable and will be serving and protecting Web sites for many years to come.” According to Rosenthal, it depends on the Web presence you want to achieve. He says, “It really does depend on your Web presence. If you’re a large company and can afford to have servers all over the country, then I would recommend going with a company that can help support the larger infrastructure. But if you have a smaller Web site, then it really doesn’t matter. Chances are, though, that you’ll receive better support and service from a local provider.” In Gauger’s opinion, a worldwide Web host, such as 1&1, has significant advantages, such as large research and development teams to develop industry-leading products. “This approach helped 1&1 pioneer the one-stop-shop approach to Web hosting and enables us to deliver the latest Web solutions quicker and at more affordable prices than many smaller providers,” he notes. “Our technical strength also allows us to develop new Web hosting features that local hosts do not offer. Last but not least, a nationwide presence means the ability to offer excellent connectivity to many providers, which results in faster and more reliable Web sites.” Rosenthal adds, “A nationwide company can offer you servers in multiple locations. This allows a company to build a more redundant and fault-tolerant infrastructure. On the other hand, a local provider will only allow you to locate in one area. Depending on the size of your Web presence, this may be just fine. As always, I believe that a local provider will offer better service and support than a nationwide company. With a local provider, the customer is not just another username or number.” Rosenthal says there is something to be said for a personal touch when it comes to service. by Chris A. MacKinnon SME Web Site Must-haves: Communication Tools Interactivity is becoming a key component of the Internet. Consumers are attracted to communication features such as pop-up dialogue boxes and chat channels that allow you to talk to them in real time. SME Web sites should also include a registration form; by collecting the email addresses of visitors, you have the opportunity to send out a newsletter or survey. “SMEs should make sure to include many communication features to connect directly with consumers,” says Andreas Gauger, chairman of the board at 1&1 Internet (www.1and1.com). “By utilizing these tools, businesses can entice consumers to return to their Web site.” Consumers have ever-broadening expectations when it comes to Web sites; include live content such as news feeds, weather, route planners, and maps. These will enhance the credibility and functionality of your Web site. Choose a Web host that offers full-article content within your Web site as part of the hosting service. The Future Of Web Hosting A look at a large Web host’s Web site can reveal just how far Web hosting services have progressed. Web hosts now offer point-and-click solutions for Web design, communication, collaboration, and ecommerce. “For SMEs, the ever-increasing importance of the Internet now means that hosting their Web site is not just a space for a Web page,” says Andreas Gauger, chairman of the board at 1&1 Internet (www.1and1.com). “Today’s business hosting packages include an array of free applications for developing and marketing a Web site. These include Web site building, marketing, and communication tools. In the future, Web hosts will continue to develop these applications.” As SMEs demand more sophisticated sites, hosts will need to deliver the technical performance and features to create them. By adding features and applications to packages, Web hosts will play a greater role in the overall expansion of a business. In the future, Web hosts will have to keep up with innovation by advancing their products and services in order to keep apace with growing SMEs.