| When running a small business, there are a lot of | | | | If they offer such a guarantee, then you can expect |
| things that demands your attention and searching for | | | | minimal downtime on your website. It is important for |
| a reliable small business web host is one of those | | | | your website to be up, otherwise people will not be |
| things you need to put some time into. But, for most | | | | able to find you on the Internet. You should consider |
| small business owners this could be a challenge | | | | a guarantee of at least 99.8%. But, be wary of |
| because this may be the first website you are | | | | those who promises 100% uptime since it is quite |
| publishing on the Internet. So, how does one go | | | | impossible to have no downtime at all. |
| about looking for an affordable small business web | | | | 4. Does the web hosting provider provide round the |
| hosting solution? | | | | clock technical support? |
| Here are a few questions you can ask before you | | | | It can be quite frustrating when your website is |
| decide on a web host. | | | | down or not functioning properly and there is no one |
| 1. What type of hosting do you need? | | | | to turn to for assistance. The server may be having |
| There are various types of hosting available in the | | | | problems in the middle of the night and you will want |
| marketplace. At one end, there is the shared hosting. | | | | someone to deal with it immediately and be resolved |
| This is the cheapest option as you will be sharing the | | | | as soon as possible so that your website is available |
| resources from same server will be shared among | | | | to people at all times. You could be missing business |
| many other website owners. At the other end is the | | | | opportunities when your website is down, even |
| dedicated server. In this case, the entire web server | | | | during the night. |
| is used only by you and no one else. You have full | | | | 5. Has the web hosting company been operating for |
| access and control over the server's resources. Of | | | | a significant period of time? |
| course, this would be the more expensive option. | | | | You will definitely want to deal with a reliable and |
| 2. Do you need managed hosting services? | | | | stable company. New web hosting companies who |
| Some web hosting companies provided managed | | | | have just started their operations are at a higher risk |
| hosting services as part of the package. If you are | | | | of closing down. They may lack the experience and |
| completely new to this and are technically challenged, | | | | resources to offer reliable solutions. It is better to |
| this option would be very useful to you as you need | | | | trust a more establish company as they have a |
| not have to worry about the technical issues related | | | | proven track record. |
| to hosting your website because all this will be | | | | Choosing a reliable small business web host need not |
| managed by the web host. You just need to let | | | | be a big problem. Just give some serious thoughts to |
| them know what you want done and they will do | | | | your requirements and what is on offer and use |
| the rest for you. | | | | some common sense. You will have your website |
| 3. Does the small business web hosting service offer | | | | running on the Internet in no time. |
| you an uptime guarantee? | | | | |