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No matter which hosting solution you choose, you should look for certain features from your Webhosting service provider. This list is oriented toward a small business user.
If you are planning on accepting orders or providing access to any databases via your Web site, then you'll want the following additional features:
Can I get some help choosing? This above list looks long, but it is possible to satisfy. You just need to shop around! When you're shopping, you might want to check some of the webhost lists. These sites list the Top 5, 10, or however many sites, using some criteria that they sometimes describe. Make sure that you put your skeptical cap on when looking at these lists. The sites have a lot of paid banners and buttons, and it can be difficult, to separate editorial content from advertising. On any site you use, try to find the criteria that is used for selecting the "Top N" sites. In the end it's your money, so choose well. A good webhost is a wonderful partner. A bad one can be pretty painful. Believe me, because I've had two bad ones! Web Hosting ListsFirst, I'd try CNET's
Web Services page. CNET's editorial standards are pretty high and
they clearly state their selection method for the Top 25 sites. The site includes a
Voting Booth where you can vote for your favorite (or not-so-favorite) webhost or look at
the ranking based on how others have voted. TopHosts has another Top 25 list and a host database. No voting capability. Hostindex bills itself as "the world's largest hosting directory". Maybe that's so, but they're pretty vague on how sites get into their Top 25 list. There's a simple Voting Booth, where you can vote for a webhost, but you can't directly see ratings for companies. Their Web Host Guide was nicely done, and contains helpful information on the process of choosing a webhost.
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