June 10, 2011
4 Steps to Vet an E-commerce Hosting Company
SpendingPulse recently released figures for April 2011 reflecting a consecutive six month increase of e-commerce spending, with the latest increase of 19.2% E-commerce retailers such as airlines, apparel, electronics, furniture, hotels, restaurants and big-ticket items are among the categories seeing substantial growth. With the continued increase in online retail sales, e-commerce sites must take proactive measures to ensure the optimal performance of web hosting services, specifically when providing products and services to customers via online storefronts. Along with the increased sales comes the need for increased measures to cultivate an environment favorable to doing business in a global economy. Consider the following suggestions for vetting a potential e-commerce host.
Reputable Establishment
Any legit company vets new employees before hiring. When choosing a web host provider, it’s equally important to do some serious background research before signing a user agreement. Knowing how long the hosting provider has been established is a crucial factor. Web hosts that have been in business for over 5 years are typically considered a reputable and trust-worthy choice. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for small web hosting companies to vanish after being founded for a couple of months.
Downtime Rates
When vetting a web host, it’s imperative to take the server downtime rate into consideration. Ideally, 99% is the optimal rate; however, not all web hosts can guarantee such an uptime rate. Opting for a web host that provides 99% uptime is imperative for doing business online. Downtime means potential huge loss of profits. Read the fine print in the legal terms to discover the downtime rate or uptime guarantee. Along the same lines, redundancy and load-balance servers also play a significant part in delivering optimal performance.
Customer Reviews
Reading customer reviews is also helpful when choosing a legit e-commerce web hosting service. Notice comments on the options for shopping carts, payment methods, control panels and available store fronts. It’s important to keep in mind that not every e-commerce web host offers the same e-commerce services and features. The truth is simply some hosts are more accommodating than others depending on individual hosting needs. Assess your needs when deciding on a final choice to manage your e-commerce venture.
Efficient Pricing
Finally, consider the most efficient web hosting plan to support your e-commerce site. It’s somewhat useless to opt for a hosting package with an array of bells and whistles when all you need is a basic e-commerce plan to launch your endeavor. Also, consider paying for the hosting package on an annual basis. Often it’s cheaper to purchase an annual package or paying for a 5-year hosting package. While it’s usually best to opt for an annual pricing structure, if you’re comfortable with the findings of your vetting process, then a long-term package may be a better choice. If you have any doubts, however, go with a plan with no long-term commitments.
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