| Finding the right hosting company is no less | | | | statistics are self-proclaimed. Often, uptime |
| complicated that finding the right realtor or | | | | refers to servers not the connection to the |
| insurance agent. There are so many of them | | | | Internet. It could be possible that your |
| out there that the task can be overwhelming. | | | | server is running while being disconnected |
| The search "hosting company" in Google | | | | from the Internet. Support You will unlikely |
| results 128 million results. Searching for a | | | | find a hosting company where you never run |
| needle in a hay stack seems like child play | | | | into any problems. On occasion you will rely |
| compared to working your way through the | | | | on support to resolve a problem. Therefore, |
| seemingly endless number of results. Asking | | | | support is one of the most important aspects |
| people you know about hosting companies is a | | | | of a hosting company. Never settle for a |
| simple way to narrow your search. Don't | | | | hosting company that doesn't offer 24/7 |
| settle on the first company you run across. | | | | support. It is not enough to have 24/7 |
| Research, do your homework. It can save you a | | | | support. It has to be phone support. Some |
| lot of sleepless nights knowing that a | | | | hosting companies boast about 24/7 support on |
| reliable hosting company is hosting your web | | | | their web pages, but when you read the small |
| site. When you search on the Internet visit | | | | type you'll find that it is only e-mail |
| forums small business owners frequent and ask | | | | support. Don't take their word for it, check |
| for advice. Beware of so called hosting | | | | for yourself. Call tech support, and see if |
| review sites. Many of them are affiliates of | | | | you can get through. If you are on hold, how |
| hosting companies only interested in signing | | | | long is the wait? If you can't get through, |
| up as many people as possible. The value of a | | | | or are treated disrespectfully, you should |
| review on such a site is zero. It is like | | | | look for another hosting company. There are |
| asking a used car sales man for an unbiased | | | | more-and-more hosting companies mushrooming |
| review of a car on the lot. Reliability One | | | | up every day, and you shouldn't settle for |
| of the greatest facts about online business | | | | low quality. Free Web Hosting It is possible |
| is that it is available to your customers | | | | to get free web hosting accounts, but you |
| twenty-four hours a day and seven days a | | | | should avoid them for several reasons. Free |
| week. At least you would hope so. Reliability | | | | hosting is great for individuals or |
| is measured by uptime. Uptime refers to the | | | | hobbyists, but it is a poor choice for a |
| percentage of time your Web site is available | | | | business Web site. Free hosting accounts make |
| to Internet users. 100 percent uptime is | | | | money with advertising. Normally you have to |
| ideal, but it never happens. The closest you | | | | have a banner ad at the top of every page. |
| can get uptime to 100 percent the better. | | | | Avoid free hosting accounts if you are |
| Hosting companies often claim 99.9 percent | | | | serious about succeeding online. |
| uptime. Unfortunately, the real number is | | | | |
| usually lower than 99.9. Actual uptime is | | | | How to succeed online. |
| difficult to determine since most of the | | | | |