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UGLYSWEATER
To begin with, there's no "best hosting service". There are a whole lot of them, and which one is "the best" is entirely subjective. It's highly dependant on your own needs and requirements.
You need to ask yourself the following questions:
What is my website?
Is it e-commerce? Is it just a personal blog? Am I going to use it for development? You're asking yourself this because they will require different things. Take e-commerce as an example, you'll likely need both web hosting, an SSL Certificate to ensure security, and a domain. You can either split these up at different providers, or you can find a provider which can offer it all to you.
For a personal blog or development, you might just need the web hosting and domain (or a free subdomain if the provider offers that).
How many visitors will I have?
If you're just starting, don't plan on having a huge amount of visitors from the get-go. The reason why you're asking yourself this question, is because every even decent host has a limit on something called "bandwidth". Every time you get a visitor, that visitor esentially downloads your page. That means data is being transferred, and that goes toward your total cap. There are other things that consume bandwidth - but generally, a small personal blog with very limited visitors might consume somewhere about 300-500 megabytes of bandwidth a month. A popular blog or e-commerce site with several thousand visitors daily might instead consume a whole heap of bandwidth (all depending on the size of the website).
A warning here is to not look at hosts offering "Unlimited" bandwidth or "Unlimited" diskspace. There's no such thing, and it's generally a big warning sign that they're not serious. It's an old, albeit still effective, marketing plan.
What is my budget?
On top of the above, you'll need to find a host within your budget. That doesn't mean you should settle for a host that you might not feel great about just because it's a bit cheaper than another one - it's better that you spend an extra dollar per month to find a host you'll be pleased with. However, this is a saturated market, and prices are therefor very competitive.
How is their support?
If this is your first time around, you'll likely need help with various things. Have a chat with any host you're thinking about, to get a feeling for how they run their support and how they talk to their customers. This will play a key role in your overall satisfaction with that host, so take the time to evaluate them.
How is their reputation
Try to find reviews and such for your candidates. See what other people think about that host! If they have a bad reputation, then there's no reason you should choose them.
iPage, BlueHost, HostGator - Endurance International Group
I see someone above recommending iPage, and I want to give you a fair and rather stern warning here. Since you're new to this, you're likely to not have heard about EIG, or the brands that operate under them. Basically, iPage, BlueHost and HostGator are some of the absolute worst hosting companies you could possibly go for. They have an absolutely horrible reputation in the web hosting market. They once used to be good hosts - but eventually, they were bought up by EIG, and after that, it's been purely downhill. Their support is horrible (and very, very slow), their performance is lacking, their backbone is terrible - the only reason these companies survive, is because they are huge providers, with a lot of customers who simply do not know that there are a lot better options out there.
iPage is NOT one of the most recommended companies. It's one of the LEAST recommended options.
The single biggest mistake you could make is by signing up with one of these providers. This is a mantra that is spoken of very often, and which you'll easily find more info about by running a quick search on either of them (or on the EIG brand as a whole). There are simply so many better options out on the web hosting market.
There are two exceptions to the EIG road of destruction so far. One is A Small Orange, and the other one is Arvixie. These two companies have yet to go down the spiral that the other companies in the EIG-list have - so if you're looking at one of these two, then you're still on good grounds.
Best of luck in finding your provider. Don't hesitate to ask if you've got any more questions.
This has nothing to do with marketing. This is a question commonly asked among the communities I am involved in, and it is commonly answered the very same way. That's for a good reason.Nytshade said:Now this is a pretty slick way to promote your hosting company, you are good haha D:
I could link you to as much info as you need to tell you the exact opposite. You're dead wrong here, but go ahead and PM me if you wish me to prove it to you.Nytshade said:Stop lying man, these companies might be bad as you say they are but they have good reputation online not a bad reputation
They aren't recommended by anyone who actually knows the web hosting business.Nytshade said:or else they wouldn't be the most recommended.
That's because they're backed by investors who spend ludacris amounts on SEO, and because they have a huge brand.Nytshade said:If I go to Google now and search for hosting, I'm going to find them, not you.'
They have a bad reputation among the web hosting community. That's not underground by any means.Nytshade said:They might have bad reputation in underground forums and small websites, where I will never go to search for hosting.
I'm glad you're happy. I'm not saying they only have unhappy customers.Nytshade said:I use them and I'm happy, that's it! They have bad support? Now that's hilarious D:
I'm not underground by any means - nor do I claim to have the best hosting (if there was such a thing). I do agree the marketing is important though - thanks.Nytshade said:If you underground guys have the best hosting then you should do a better job in marketing your stuff.
This is the exact problem. Most good web hosting providers (including many a hundred times my size) simply can not beat HostGator or other EIG-brands at SEO, as they simply can't back it with funds. A lot of clients don't do valid research before choosing their provider, and so they either end up being contempt with their choice, or they're unhappy - at which point they repeat the process again and go to the next terribly run company and sign up again.Nytshade said:Seriously though, you should work on your marketing (including the other hosting companies you think offer the best hosting). For someone like me, who doesn't know anything about hosting, I'm going to use whatever is on the first top 2 pages in Google.
Once again, nothing I said is untrue. Whether or not your experiences coincide is another thing. In this case, I'm simply trying to guide OP away from making a choice that has a bigger chance of making him unhappy, than happy.Nytshade said:So instead of saying bad things about other companies
That's not the case - I'm sorry you feel that way though.Nytshade said:To me, it seems like you're saying bad things about them just to promote your own stuff.
You do realize that these "Top 10 Recommended"-things are purchased by EIG, right? They buy sites with amazing SEO-work done in these areas. None of these sites are ACTUALLY real.Nytshade said:According to me (understand that, according to me part) if you're the best then you should be on the top 10 most recommended, if not then relax and don't say bad things about other companies.
Learn from EIG? I do intend to be successful, but not at the expense of my reputation.Nytshade said:Don't crash other companies, instead learn from them!
I'm not missing anything. If I were to think like a client, the advice I give to people would be terrible. By thinking like a web host, I know what to avoid and what to look for, and so I can give them educated and sound advice.Nytshade said:You guys are missing the most important thing here. You are thinking like a web host company, take a moment and put yourself in my shoes (think like the customer).
I know that means nothing to you. That's why we're bringing it up. Whether or not you decide to take it as actual advice is up to you, but what I can say, is that if the OP listens to your earlier advice, he's making a mistake. If he listens to mine (or Elixant), he's not.Nytshade said:I'll never go to page 3 of Google searching for hosting, NEVER! You're talking about RAM and EIG, but for someone like me, that means NOTHING. Understand that and stop thinking like a company for a second.
Once again, I can easily place myself in the shoes of an "average customer" - but that doesn't mean I'm going to go around recommending terrible hosting companies, since I know better.Nytshade said:Looking at MightWeb's response and yours ElixantTechnology, you never think about what the "average customer" thinks like, you're only thinking about someone who's a geek in hosting.
That's a bullshit excuse, and a terrible defense. You may be happy with iPage, but there are a whole heap of people who aren't, and it's all down to the fact that they didn't research their provider. You research any other provider before picking them, why would web hosting be different?Nytshade said:As an average customer, I don't have time to do research, I just want to pay the lowest price, that's all.
I'd advice you to read into what has actually happened with the majority (as stated before, ASO and Arvixie so far being the only exceptions) of the companies. In this case, you're defending the devil.Nytshade said:And people lose jobs everyday, that's nothing new, they're thinking about what's best for them. If you were running the company you would do anything to cut cost, that's simple business rules. Nothing wrong with that.
I'd classify what you said as advice. If that's not what you ment, that I guess I misunderstood you.Nytshade said:You have to understand that I never gave OP any advise, I just shared something that will be great for him/her to test the waters.
And yet you speak of their marvellous reputation.Nytshade said:If you read carefully then you would have realized that I just started using iPage for my PBN, I've never used them before so I can't recommend something I don't even know.
There are heaps of budget hosting companies with far better services compared to iPage. What I've been trying to make you understand here is that whilst you may have perceived what I originally said as self-promotion, what it in the end is, is very sound advice to help OP avoid making a mistake when selecting a provider that he intends to rely upon. EIG-brand companies generally have absolutely terrible services, especially when compared alongside good reputation hosting companies (InnoHosting, CrocWeb, StableHost, MDD Hosting, etcetera). The two exceptions to this rule are once again ASO, and Arvixie - so far.Nytshade said:I just thought it's good to share it with them and let them decide whether it's good for them and their budget or not.
I understand how you may feel that way - but then again, as a web hosting provider, I'm rather well versed in the area. That's why I went into this thread to begin with, to give advice based on actual knowledge rather than opinion.Nytshade said:I'm not against your advise, it's good advise but saying other companies are absolute worst hosting companies you could possibly go for while you're offering web host, it just makes me feel like you mean yours and other underground web hosts are the best and these popular companies are offering crap hosting.
So if you were to base your income off web-services (such as e-commerce), you don't find it adequate to do a bit of research before you decide who hosts your website? Even if money is at stake?Nytshade said:I'm not being defensive when I say I don't do research on web host, I don't have time for that. Call that BS, it's fine but I don't see any reason for doing research, maybe you do but I'm just average Joe not a geek so I don't have any reason to do deep research.
What is this term you speak of when you refer to my legally registered, licensed, tax-paying, established and trusted business as being "underground"....If you underground guys have the best hosting then you should do a better job in marketing your stuff.
Seriously though, you should work on your marketing (including the other hosting companies you think offer the best hosting). For someone like me, who doesn't know anything about hosting, I'm going to use whatever is on the first top 2 pages in Google.
That's a big advantage and if you don't see it then too bad for you and other underground hosting sites who think they have the best hosting as compared to the popular companies.
Not only are we thinking a web hosting company, we are also thinking as customers as well. You need to consider that every company is, and has started off as a customer themselves. You don't just suddenly jump into any sort of industry being a leader; you introduce yourself to said industry, as a customer. I've been involved with the Web Hosting / Web Development / Programming industry now since I was 11 years old (14 Years), I've owned my company now for 2 years. The 12 years before I launched Elixant Technology, I was a customer. I've been up and down damn near every company that you can think up, and I can tell you the ups and downs of every single one. It is my job to be well informed and educated.You guys are missing the most important thing here. You are thinking like a web host company, take a moment and put yourself in my shoes (think like the customer).
Jeez, never trust reviews on the first page if you're planning on building a business and establishing your presence on the internet, it's pretty much Business 101. RAM is an important aspect, and huge companies such as EIG and Godaddy have a very small amount of resources that they give their customers access to. What does this mean? A maximum of 15-20 concurrent connections to your website at any given time. What else does this mean? Things can get really slow, really quick. What does this mean for you as a customer? You will need to upgrade much sooner than later to a much more expensive resource as recommended by your current hosting provider (upselling), when with small-medium sized companies (or as you refer to them, Underground) you will have twice as much room to grow your business without having to worry about your services being suspended or terminated for over-consumption. Not only does this save you time, but it will also save you money in the long run.I'll never go to page 3 of Google searching for hosting, NEVER! You're talking about RAM and EIG, but for someone like me, that means NOTHING. Understand that and stop thinking like a company for a second.
* AdviceActually that's some really good advise, if you think about it
The average customer is misinformed, and unfortunately due to this they are directed towards a service that (maybe not right away) eventually they will regret purchasing; at which point they WILL conduct their research (if they are in fact educated on operating a business) and make a properly informed decision. What we are trying to do is simply educate people on circumstances that they may encounter when going with the specific umbrella company, rather than them having to deal with these issues themselves. Whether or not they choose to utilize the discussed service is solely their decision, however, they can be proud knowing that they made the decision, and IF/when something goes wrong, they will know that they had been warned prior.Looking at MightWeb's response and yours ElixantTechnology, you never think about what the "average customer" thinks like, you're only thinking about someone who's a geek in hosting. As an average customer, I don't have time to do research, I just want to pay the lowest price, that's all. Before you start thinking like a company again, I'm not saying these companies offer the lowest prices. I'm just giving you a customers perspective.
Jeez, show some sympathy guy. Just think, hundreds of people lost their full-time jobs. Now, those hundreds of people have families that relied on their paycheck and medical benefits that were provided by their employer. One day, they got told that they were being replaced by [Removed By Moderator] with language barriers that know nothing about the services they company offers just because they are willing to work for half the amount of money. Now, these people have to look for new jobs and during their time unemployed they will will have to live much more frugal; maybe that means their children don't get the packed lunch that they are used to; maybe that means Christmas gets cancelled; maybe a couple of these families lose everything and end up on the streets. Keep in mind also, that is a LOT of money that leaves the local economy, and whether you realize it or not, it has a negative impact on many businesses in the town that said office was located. So, for all you know, even more job losses took place..... Now tell me, wouldn't you be upset if you were in their shoes?And people lose jobs everyday, that's nothing new, they're thinking about what's best for them. If you were running the company you would do anything to cut cost, that's simple business rules. Nothing wrong with that.
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