Choosing the right small business web hosting service

Could your business use more business? Is there a niche you could fill by offering your products and services in a larger-than-local marketplace? If the answer to those questions is “Yes,” then an online presence can greatly increase the profitability of your business. Choosing a small business web hosting service is a key step in getting online, and the choice isn't always easy.

Seven points to consider when choosing a web hosting service for your small business

1. How easy is the web host to use? There are many hosting companies that cater to the needs of small businesses. Choose one that you can navigate quickly and implement the features you need with ease in order to save time and money.
2. Does the web host offer special services? Consider using a hosting service that provides a la carte services such as Web design, auto responder setup, and shopping cart configuration. Can they help you set up streaming audio and video? Podcasts? The more services they can offer you, the less time you’ll waste getting set up.
3. How secure are the servers? Internet security is a major issue today. If you’re going to accept credit card payments, the server hosting your site must have SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). It’s also important to make sure the server includes powerful antiviral software and secure firewalls.
4. Do they offer top-notch customer service? If they don’t answer your initial questions quickly, you can be assured that they’ll be even slower to respond once they have your business. Select a small business web hosting company that offers 24/7 customer service. If your web hosting provider doesn’t offer 24/7 customer service, he’s most likely a small reseller, and cannot be as dedicated to your website as you need him to be.
5. How reliable are the servers? Ask your potential web host provider for a report on the downtime their servers have experienced. You should look for a provider with 99.5% or better uptime to be sure that your website is there when your customers visit.
6. Do they provide enough bandwidth? Make sure your web hosting agreement offers enough capacity to allow for large influxes of traffic, especially if you have audio or video features on your website or you're trying to grow small business into a medium to large business.
7. Does your small business web hosting provider back up your site? Any reliable provider will regularly back up everything on their servers in case something goes wrong. Make sure they do so frequently, and your website will be protected.

By asking these seven simple questions of your provider before you buy, you will be assured that you have chosen the best web hosting service for your small business.