Buying domain space is absolutely essential for any aspiring website owner, but the process can be rather tricky for the untrained individual. In fact, if you aren't careful, you might find yourself being left completely unsatisfied with your web hosting company! Here are a few things to consider before you take the plunge:
1. Get The Best Deal Possible By Shopping Around
This first one sounds like a no-brainer, but it is especially important to take this into consideration because many web hosting companies have a number of fees in addition to that "4.95 a year" highlight you keep seeing. In fact, when you're done with the whole transaction, you might find yourself spending over a hundred dollars. It can be very useful to go with a company that offers promo codes or special deals - for instance, a GoDaddy promo code will make the purchase of your domain name considerably cheaper.
2. Ensure Your Web Hosting Company Won't Hinder Your Domains
You might initially think "hey, I only need a few domains, no big deal!" but the simple fact of the matter is that this significantly hinders your flexibility. It's a terrible idea to cut off your ability to expand, because who knows what you plan on doing in the future? Don't hamper your creativity before you even begin - many web hosting customers wish they went with a company that didn't limit them to five domains on a shared server.
3. Make Sure Your Prospective Web Hosting Company Offers Excellent Customer Support
Many people think they can do without customer support, but when your purchase involves a long, drawn out interaction with the product, customer support is absolutely essential. Read plenty of reviews and take your time choosing your ideal web hosting company. Every minute, hour, or even day that your website is down means less leads which means less money for your business. Nip the problem in the bud and do your research before you go with any web hosting company.
4. Find A Hosting Company That Offers Significant Backup Services
Once again, keeping your domain backed up is the last thing many people think about, but let's face it, if you lose your domain, you will be in a whole world of hurt. Forget the minor hundred-dollar fee for getting it started up, if you spent weeks on your website, that's weeks of work down the drain. Treat your domains just like you would treat your hard drive - with care and respect.
5. Pay Attention To Extras And Add-Ons
If you're looking to cut costs, this is a big one to pay attention to. The most worthwhile thing you can do for your wallet is to make sure that the web hosting company isn't sneaking in an email fee or some additional blog fee. Either go with the bare minimum or find a web hosting company that doesn't shove a million add-ons down your throat, or you could end up paying dearly.
Overall, buying hosting space can be rather tricky, so make sure you take every precaution possible when taking the plunge. Even the little details can quickly add up to quite an expense, so take care to read all the fine print. As long as you're particularly cautious, there shouldn't be anything to worry about - so get out there and start crafting your web page!
Josh Kimmel is a twenty-something web developer working for a state university. He enjoys snowboarding, hiking, and spending time with his two German Shepherds - Lacy and Duke.
