First - it's important to point out that there is no "best" host out there, a better way to look at it is a search for the best host for YOU and your needs. That being said, here are some general things to look for when shopping around for a good host.
Age of the Company
Age is not always the best indicator of quality but it is something to keep in mind. The hosting market is extremely competitive, and if a company manages to survive for a while they're probably doing something right. The other thing about age is that you'll find more customer reviews out there and I don't know about you - but when see a positive customer review that says "I've been with my host for 3-5 years" that adds a little weight.
Number of Customers
The size of a company's customer base can greatly affect their ability to provide reliable hosting and efficient customer service. But if they're able to operate at higher levels and still maintain good standards, it's reasonable to assume that they have a decent sized infrastructure in place. So if a company has over 400,000 customers and still has positive reviews / good uptime - chances are they'll be around for a while.
Room to Grow
If you're planning to grow your site at all, you may want to think about that before you choose a hosting company. So if you go for a Shared Hosting plan, you may want to take a look at the host's upgrade options to avoid having to switch hosts later on. Switching hosts is not the end of the world, but why not avoid it by thinking ahead a bit?
Customer Reviews
Do the research and read some customer reviews and get a feel for what's being said about the web hosting companies. It's normal to have a few negative reviews, but of the majority of reviews are negative - that's not a great sign. Take a look at their listing at the Better Business Bureau for more info.
Uptime Guarantee
Most of the better web hosts offer an uptime guarantee of 99-100%. It has become an industry standard to offer 99-100% uptime, so take a look at their stats and read up on some customer reviews to see if they deliver on that promise.
Money-back Guarantee
Another thing to look for is the money-back guarantee. Most of the top hosts offer 30-45 days to change your mind and get your money back, it indicates confidence in the service and it's always a good option to have as a consumer.
It's always a good idea to do the research ahead of time and save yourself a few headaches down the road.
The GoodHost.org staff have put together a list of top hosts for you to help you make your decision on a web host.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Lajoie
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