Having a web presence is vitally important to your business. Selecting a hosting company can be difficult and confusing. So, what do you look for? What makes one host better than the next?

What do you look for in a web hosting company?

1. Up or Down Time- I recommend that if the company is also a web design company, call some of the clients in their portfolio. If they use them for hosting, ask about the service.
2. Customer Service - when you contact the company, how fast do they get back with you and were they friendly? Were you put on hold or transferred?
3. Geek Talk - do they talk over your head when you call them?

What to ask a potential web hosting company or their references?

1. How many times has the server been down in the last year?
2. If any, how long was it down?
3. Where is the server located? You do NOT want to use someone whose server is in the room down the hall. :) Don't laugh...it happens.
4. Who maintains the server? It is good to have it in a server farm with full time support staff.
5. Is the server loaded to capacity with other sites? This will slow your site down.
6. Is service 24/7, 365?
   or M-F, 8-5?
7. Is there more than one person to contact if there are issues or questions? If it is a small company, they need to have backup for time off. This is a MUST.