| It can be a challenge for individuals and businesses | | | | each business, paying particular attention to their |
| with limited budgets to find quality small business Web | | | | hardware. This can't be done when merely |
| hosts. Most hosting companies focus either on the | | | | cross-checking Web hosts on the net. If possible, |
| corporate market and high traffic Web sites, or upon | | | | obtain a list of some Web sites hosted by the Web |
| low-traffic personal or informational Web sites. Few | | | | host. Then contact owners of these Web sites and |
| concern themselves with the small and home office | | | | inquire about their experience with the host. |
| sector because the limited scale of operations is low | | | | Also determine which hosts offer the services |
| creates smaller margins. | | | | required, and the costs of those services. Ask |
| This has resulted in the explosion of Web hosts | | | | questions to evaluate the knowledge and expertise of |
| offering shared hosting packages to small and medium | | | | each hosting firm. Ensure, as much as possible, that the |
| companies. While most of these Web hosts do not | | | | host is honest and committed to customers by asking |
| have the technical or financial muscle to provide | | | | them relevant questions. |
| state-of the-art services, the customer base they | | | | A host who is flexible, scalable and who can grow |
| specialize in can't afford those resources anyway. To | | | | with a business is an ideal choice. Any sign of |
| keep costs low, some own only one or two servers | | | | rudeness, impatience and unresponsiveness in a host |
| while others offer reselling solutions. | | | | should be regarded as a major warning flag. The initial |
| Therefore, before deciding to host a Web site with a | | | | contract should be for the shortest period available, to |
| Web host of this kind it is especially important to | | | | allow for evaluation of the host before a major |
| examine their claims and market pitches carefully. It is | | | | commitment is made. If more than one site needs |
| especially important avoid resellers. A reseller may | | | | hosting, consider spreading them among several hosts. |
| make claims of high quality service but this cannot be | | | | Since small hosts are more familiar with the needs of |
| guaranteed, as they do not own the hosting | | | | small businesses they are likely to provide a better fit. |
| companies. Rather, they are only acting as middlemen | | | | Even so, it's important not to get carried away with |
| and can exert no more pressure on the parent host | | | | hosts that offer more than is required while skimping |
| than any similarly sized customer. | | | | on support. The customer is expected to posses the |
| In order to find a reliable host, make a short list of | | | | technical knowledge to select the necessary features |
| potential Web hosts in the appropriate city. It will then | | | | and self-sufficient enough to negotiate an affordable |
| be possible visit the premises and verify the claims of | | | | price for them. |