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Is Your Web Hosting
Service
Holding You Back?
The massive amount of money
being poured into Internet business is pushing development faster
than anyone could ever have expected. Firms that can spend millions
to develop their site and servers raise the bar for all the
others.
The simple web sites that
worked just fine 18 months ago seem like dinosaurs today. Now
customers expect eye-catching design, targeted content,
interactivity, multi-media presentations, even instant
customization. If your web hosting company doesn't offer key
features and reliability, your site will have "yesterday's news"
written all over it. Here are four developments you should look for
when upgrading to a better host.
1.) Insist on first rate
technical support. The days of making customers wait days or
even weeks for tech support answers are long gone. If your hosting
company doesn't answer your email or phone call within a few hours
(minutes if it's urgent), it is time to look for a service that
does. You should expect a guarantee: if you don't get tech answers
within a specified time, your service should be free.
2.) While you're at it, make
sure your new host has the technological upgrades that prevent
down time. We've found servers have far better reliability and
speed when in a climate-controlled environment with back-up power
and fire-suppression systems, bandwidth-on-demand connections, and
server drives with an excellent track record. In order to have the
fastest site possible, find a Web Host with "desertWEB" connections,
which means their Data Center is directly on an Internet backbone
instead of connecting to it from miles away.
3.) Make sure your host allows
audio and video streaming along with popular Shockwave
support. Now that AOL has embraced the Real Audio format, we can
expect millions more to jump on the multimedia bandwagon. If your
site only offers static text, visitors will see you as two steps
behind the times. Plus, you will be missing out on the increase in
sales that audio and video can bring.
4.) Your host should give you
complete control in administering your website and make it
easy for you to do that. Instead of requiring Telnet and programming
knowledge, they should have a user friendly interface for
things such as setting up mailboxes, adding automated newsletters,
adding Front Page extensions, setting up shopping carts, using Web
Forms, viewing your statistics, and other important functions. An
easy web-based interface will save you time and frustration because
you can do all these things yourself instead of relying on a
programmer or waiting for your host's support staff to get around to
it.
Take a long look at not only
what you need to have now, but what your Internet operation will
need in the months to come as you succeed and expand. Plan for
additional pop accounts, email aliases, domains, automated
newsletters, and more. Above all, make sure your hosting service is
HELPING you get your site to the next level.
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Notice: These articles
and tips were compiled by desertWEB publishing to assist clients, site
visitors, and the Internet Community. Please feel free to print out
for your personal use. However, these articles and tips may not be
used in whole or in part without prior written permission. To obtain
permission to use these articles please email sales@desertweb.com
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