How To Choose The Right Web Hosting Provider For Your Business

By Justin Hitt, Strategic Relations Consultant, http://justinhitt.com/

With literally thousands of web hosting services, how do you choose the one that will best help your internet marketing efforts? How do you avoid paying extra for services you should have received for free? How do you business to business host on a budget while testing new products?

The biggest problem with most web hosting providers is that they don't integrate with the rest of your business, they require too much time, and don't allow you to make the most of your site without thousands of dollars in third-party software. Ecommerce hosting shouldn't be difficult.

If you want profitable no-hassle web hosting for your business, here are things you must look for in a web hosting provider:

1. Conversion tracking and commerce tools included. Many providers will let you buy and run conversion tracking tools, they will even let you add-on commerce tools, but as a business these are required not options. What attitude will a hosting provider have about service if they think earning money from your web site is optional?
2. No advertising you can't control 100%. Dump your hosting provider now if they require you to display, or even display by default any advertising. Why pay them to promote their business? Isn't your hosting choice about the success of your business not theirs?
3. Complementary add-on scripts at no extra charge. Demand useful scripts that help you manage content, sell and marketing visitors, track web log statistics, and to for conversion tracking. Many hosting providers will give you these, but you either have to buy them or pay extra.
4. Direct FTP access to your web site Why fight some "user interface" when most designers will not work with you unless they can FTP directly to your web site? Every web site design tool worth using supports FTP, shouldn't your web site Your hosting provider should make it easy to update your content.
5. Single integrated control panel to access your account. Some hosting providers think they are saving you time by providing a mix-match cluster of tools, but often it just makes managing your site more confusing. Choose a provider with a single uniform interface.
6. POP and email accounts included. Don't pay extra for just a few email accounts, at least 5 should be included in your account no charge. Email is required, especially on the domains you performing business to business ecommerce.

Don't have these things? It's okay, you probably didn't know any better, but if you are a business don't screw around with web hosting. Many hosting providers trick clients by providing less service, over complicated interfaces, and lack of meaningful features.

I've hosted hundreds of web sites for clients at all range of hosting providers, including PSI Net, Hostway, Verio, and countless other top name providers. These hosting providers charged me from $49.95 to $150 a month for less than what I get fromThirdSphere PlusandGo Daddycombined.

Yes, this is my personal endorsement forThirdSphere PlusandGo Daddy, it's where I host 9 15 of my own web sites and have recommended to my clients, here's why:

• ChooseThirdSphere Plusfor full-service hosting, including ad tracking, a script library, traffic tracking, full service commerce management, and other features that would cost hundreds to buy separate. Interface with various merchant gateways, or start with Paypal. (From $24.95 a month)
• Want budget hosting? ChooseGo Daddy, it's a great place to host mini-sites, landing pages, and other targeted no-frills web sites. Provides 100 POP email addresses, super fast hosting, and a simple easy to use interface. A great place to host domains. (From $3.95 a month)

**Update** Both of these hosting providers will now let you subhost secondary domains. That means you host one site withThirdSphere PlusorGo Daddy, and you can for the cost of a domain have many web sites today. BetweenGo DaddyandThirdSphere Plus, I have 15 web sites generating leads for my businesses.

I don't know where you get your web hosting right now, but compare the list above against what you get, and if you're even missing one point ... immediately move your hosting toThirdSphere PlusorGo Daddy. You'll be completely satisfied with your decision, and you webmaster (even if it's you) can then start spending more time on profitable web site design rather than managing your business.

Justin Hitt is a publisher, consultant, and freelance copywriter for business-to-business industrial and high-tech organizations. He helps Sales and Marketing professionals turn business relationships into profits. Contact him at http://justinhitt.com/ or call +1 (757) 282-7779

Related Resources

1. Create Your First Business Web Site in 10 Days!
   The easiest way EVER to create your own business web site ... for the technically challenged.