Web Hosting is on my mind this weekend. I’ve been dealing with a few different web hosting companies that clients are already signed up for and I’ve had numerous issues. Big Mistake: Don’t just go with the company that charges the least. Bigger mistake: Don’t assume the companies that charge more know more. Read reviews, ask around. I’m going to give you to examples today, I will hold the name of the hosts, I’m not THAT mean!
Example #1:
This was only a minor thing, but it’s causing an issue. Host #1 has already rolled out WordPress 3.0 in it’s script. Although WP 3.0 hasn’t seemed too troubled, plug ins and themes are just not ready yet. So, the issue, I am testing a theme for a client and the header is not showing. Said theme admin is telling me it’s a WP 3.0 bug that they’re working on. No big deal, hopefully they fix it quick and we can move on. However, Host #1 jumped the gun a bit and others may have bigger issues then I.
Example #2:
This case is a HUGE issue. POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE! I spent 3 days dealing with CSR’s that were clearly guessing when trying to resolve the issue at hand. They were re-doing what I had already done just to confirm what I already knew to be the issue, then they had no solution! A “ticket” was made to a higher level service request with the promise of a response of 24-48 hours… What?! When a site is down you don’t just tell me you’ll get back to me in a day or 2! I will not take that back to my clients and be ok with it! They’re service is cheap and they’re knowledge is cheaper!
Example #3:
Client or Terrorist? One of my clients was hacked by very proud radicals for the SECOND time this year. Apparently, it wasn’t just the client but ALL of the sites hosted by host #3! Instead of family friendly recipes the site proclaimed to be hacked in the name of Allah for a day and a half. For this to happen 2x in one year host #3 is clearly not run on a secure system!
The Solution
There are some affiliate I stand behind 200% and one of them is my hosting company – Host Gator. I have had them over 2 years now. In 2 years, I was hacked once, but HostGator had me up in minutes, we changed a few passwords and set a tracking on my site so they could catch the IP address, should the culprit try to attack again. Knock on wood, I have not had another issue since. Second, their uptime is phenomenal, I have only had the site down 1 time, at 3am for server service and not for long.
Ongoing praises bring me to their Customer Service, 24/7 I know I can call them and get the answers I need by someone that knows what the problem is and how to fix it! They’re not going to pass me down the line for a few days until they may or may not find someone that has a clue.
I did my homework when I was looking for a host. I knew I wanted a green host and HostGator is 130% windpowered, but I knew it had to go beyond just the turbines. I know I picked a top notch company when I picked HostGator and I am glad I shopped around.
Not happy with your current host? Consider moving to HostGator with 99.9% Uptime Guarantee, No Contract with a 45 Day Money Back Guarantee, Free Website & Domain Transfer, you will have a company you can trust!
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One of the main reasons I picked HostGator to begin with is they are 130% windpowered, they compensate not only for their servers, but employees drive time, etc. Check them out. I have no opinion on Dreamhost, I haven't used them. But do your homework.
Any more thoughts on what to look for in green hosting? I've been looking to switch from bluehost recently and am probably going to move forward with dreamhost who says they're carbon neutral…
If you can do the above you're good to go. Be sure to add the All-in-one SEO plug in and use it on all your posts and pages. A far as theme design, if that is not an area you are comfortable with it is beneficial to hire someone like Eco-Office Gals to handle that part. Your site is a very big first impression, you want to make sure it looks good.
Well, I can do simple stuff like creating a post, uploading images and video but design wise, I'm left with my mouth hanging open!
No, you can't I thought of this for a separate subdomain for my reseller hosting. WordPress isn't difficult! What do you have problems with?
Hi Jen-
I have Hostgator now for a site that's being built and I'm about to move my husband's site over to Hostgator from Go Daddy. The reason i'm doing so is you can have unlimited sites hosted for the same price which is a good deal.
My only issue is you can't use their templates on sub-domains which would be good for mini sites I plan to create in the future. Any suggestions? I know there is WordPress but it's sooo difficult in some ways. I'm already going to have to get used to it with my new site.
Glad to have the confirm on that. I didn't want to name names in case I just so happened to get the 3 worst CSR's in the company by chance.
Ugh … I've dealt with Fat Cow – they are terrible 😉
Well, #1 wasn't a biggie, I'll be nice. #3 was a reseller and I'm not sure who the person resells with so I'll let her be. #2 I'm so over with and hope to never deal with again so… avoid the BIG FAT COW!!!!!
I really like hostgator too and recommend them to my clients.
I think you should have named the hosts – if they are crappy then the world should know 😉