10 Common Misconceptions About Web Hosting
It doesn’t matter if you’re new to the world of web hosting or have some experience in it. What does matter is that you don’t have any misconceptions of the subject. The thing is some folks take Internet rumor as the truth.
As you can imagine, that leads to people making bad choices when selecting a hosting provider. Today we will share with you ten common misconceptions about web hosting.
Misconception #1: You should pay someone to handle your hosting.
If you’re an IT novice, you might assume that it’s best just to pay someone to deal with your hosting needs for you. I’m not talking about the physical hosting, by the way. You still have to pay for that whatever you do.
I’m talking about paying a consultant or IT engineer to deal with the management of your web hosting. These days it’s simple enough for anyone to manage their hosting needs. Most hosting providers offer an easy to use control panel system. You just “log in” to your server and select the option you need.
Misconception #2: All hosting providers offer the same service.
Do all restaurants offer the same service? What about car dealerships and retail stores? Of course, they don’t all offer the same service. Why would hosting providers be any different?
Before selecting a web host, it’s important to learn what level of service you can expect to receive. Examples include reading online reviews from other users.
Misconception #3: Linux hosting is better than Windows.
The truth is they are both as good as each other. Both operating systems achieve the same goal: hosting website content and databases. They just do so in different ways.
Some web applications can only run on an ASP.NET platform, which is what Windows uses. If that’s the case for you, it makes sense to opt for Windows VPS hosting. But, if you only need a host that offers PHP, you can select a Linux OR Windows platform.
Misconception #4: You don’t need to pay for web hosting.
Believe it or not, there are hosting providers out there that charge nothing. But, as you might expect, there are some caveats to such an approach.
First of all, the host won’t offer you practical disk space and bandwidth quotas. Second, there is no guarantee of server uptime. That means your website could go down several times an hour, and there would be nothing you could do about it.
Third, and most important of all, free hosts tend to be vulnerable to malware and security issues.
Misconception #5: It’ll cost a fortune to use a “good” web host.
As with most things in life, it pays to shop around. I am willing to bet that it’ll only take you a few seconds to locate a good but affordable web host for your needs.
Some companies charge their customers a lot of money, but they might not offer a premium service.
Misconception #6: There’s no way a newbie can sort out their hosting.
The wonderful thing about the Internet is that there are plenty of online guides. They cover all kinds of subjects, one of which is web hosting.
If you don’t know how to set up hosting for your website, it won’t take you long to learn the ropes. In fact, even if you’re an IT novice, you’ll find the learning experience a smooth one.
Misconception #7: You must buy your domains and hosting together.
The Internet gives us a lot of freedom when it comes to buying stuff. One such example is when we need to get domain names and arrange hosting. The truth is both items can be bought from different providers.
In fact, it can often make sense to do so if you can get better prices elsewhere. You don’t need to buy your domains and hosting from the same seller.
Misconception #8: Server details aren’t important.
Wrong. When you buy a car, you don’t do so without finding out what features it offers. And when you go grocery shopping, you check the products you buy that meet your needs.
The same things apply to web hosting. It’s important to find out what specifications your chosen host can offer. For example, how much disk space is available for your website files? And if there’s a bandwidth quota per month, what is it?
Does the server offer remote access via Telnet? Can you manage it using a web-based control panel? As you can appreciate, you need to know what you’re paying for.
Misconception #9: You should only choose hosts with positive reviews.
Let’s face it; nobody is perfect. The same rule applies to the companies that offer web hosting services. Yes, they may all strive for 100% customer satisfaction. But, as with any business, there will be times where the customer service offered isn’t always 100%.
For example, some hosts may face difficulties when upgrading to new billing systems. The ensuing problems could cause chaos for their customers. You might find reviews online highlighting such negative issues.
You should only worry if a host is “bad” if all you come across are just bad reviews. It’s normal to see a few bad reviews of hosting companies. But, they should be the exception rather than the rule.
Misconception #10: Technical support isn’t a deal breaker.
Most people assume that they can pay a host to serve their website files and not have any problems. The truth is; there will be times where you need to contact your web host for help.
For instance, your website may stop working and you need to find out if there is a backup of your site on the server. Or you may install a new system like Joomla and need help configuring the server details.
In those situations, you need to know that you can count on your web host for support. Make sure your new host offers 24/7 support. If they don’t, go elsewhere.
