10 Tips to Follow When Switching a Web Host

Web Hosting Tips

You are unhappy with your provider and have made up your mind to switch your web host. This is definitely not one of the easiest jobs around. Nevertheless, if you remember a few things, you can almost certainly avoid pitfalls. Here are 10 tips that should ease the transition process:

Back-up: Transfer of a hosting service will have you looking at many things simultaneously. Hence taking a back-up of your web files and pages before you get started can help you in the long run. You don’t want to be worrying about lost files and misplaced pages, when there are other important things that demand attention.

Operating System: It is very important that you check the hosting plan of both your current and new provider. Often, if not paid attention to, this can lead to a broken website. Check and compare the similarities and differences in functionality as far as operating system of the hosts is concerned.
Storage: Assess the storage of your existing website much in advance. This will allow you to choose the correct web host to make the desired switch. Your new plan should have the ability to store not just your current website storage needs, but a little bit more too. The storage plan should typically be your total storage, log files and emails included.

Bandwidth: When you buy hosting, it is inevitable that you check for the amount of bandwidth offered. It should be at least on par with your existing provider. Not knowing about your bandwidth details can see you spend extra money with a new web host.

Shopping Cart: If yours is purely a business website, your new provider must be capable of either accommodating your shopping cart from your previous host or offer a new one that suits your requirements. This feature is essential if your site requires visitors to add their purchases to a shopping cart before proceeding further.

Mail Support: Another often ignored feature is that of email accounts. You must know in advance whether your new hosting provider will offer email accounts in the same quantity as your current provider. You may also want to check for mail forwards and auto responses.

Uploading Content: Hosting a website on a new provider can make you quite hassled, if you didn’t already check for the ease at which you can upload content. The functions and features of different hosts are obviously going to be different. It is important for you to check the know-how of your new provider as far as file uploads to the server is concerned. Most hosts offer to help you transfer your files.

FrontPage support: If your existing website deploys FrontPage, it is only essential that you check whether your new provider does so too. In addition to this, make sure that you check the version of FrontPage supported by both hosts is the same as well.

Email Set-up: Before you transfer your website to a new host, you must have your current email accounts set up on the new server. This ensures that there are no hassles and confusions later.

Script support: Lastly, your new provider must lend a helping hand to all your existing scripts on your website. Hosting a website on a new provider may require you to make relevant changes to your current scripts for smooth functioning.

How to Choose a Web Host in a Sea of Options

Web Host

The online space is crowded with a number of options for web hosting. Making the right choice can hence be a tedious process. Planning and research should however solve most of your dilemma as far as website hosting is concerned. Scour the internet for options, weigh the pros and cons and finally make a choice based on your requirements.

What do web hosts do?

Web hosts are typically designed to add functionality to your website. Depending on the company and the bundle offered, the features can be varied. While some may come packed with storage space and web connectivity, others may have limited email storage space. Categorically, you must be able to identify the hosting services that best suit your need. Whether your website should include shared hosting, committed web hosting or collocation hosting will purely depend on the extent to which you look at expanding your business online. Hosting services are meant to keep at bay the troubles and complexities involved in managing and maintaining your website. So choose wisely.

Tips to keep in mind when choosing website hosting:

Free Hosting: If you go for a hosting service that is free, more often than not, the company will impose adverts on your web page. This may include pop-ups, banners, an advertising frame etc. While banners and frames are still okay, pop-up windows can be really annoying, especially if you are launching a new website. Thus, it is important that you clearly make-up your mind about going with a particular service of this kind that doesn't require you to pay any money.

FTP: FTP or File Transfer Protocol is the commonest way people transfer web pages and files to the server. In most cases, it is important that you enjoy the services of a web host that throws in seamless FTP access for good measure. You must be able to upload and download content without any hassles. Most online website creation tools give you the option of designing webpages online which though useful for starters can be quite troublesome when you look at expanding your website.

Dependability and Speed: While many people are of the opinion that these two factors can be ignored, bear in mind that these are the determining features to help you choose your provider. In the ever-competitive market, the last thing on your mind should be a website that is more down than up and running. Since the web is crowded with options, most users will jump to other businesses if they can’t access your website. The host must thus be reliable. Another important thing is the speed at which your site can be accessed. And this should be the speed, irrelevant of peak and non-peak hours.

Technical Support: You may consider yourself to be a tech whiz, but 24*7 technical support never hurt anyone. Your host must include a staff that is working on all days and at any given time, since inconveniences never announce their arrival. In this respect, it would be foolish to believe someone purely by word of mouth. Ensure that you test their services and competence before taking the plunge.

Shared Web Hosting: Well, the term pretty much speaks for itself. A shared web hosting service is cost-effective for more reasons than one. The price you pay for server maintenance will be shared by other people who may be using its services along with you. Thus, it’s a great option for those who are just starting with their website. What’s more, you can rest assured about security updates and software installations since that too should be taken care of by the providers.

There are many hosting providers in India, who meet the above criteria. With the aforementioned tips at hand, you should be able to make a good choice.