The Downside of Down Time in Web Hosting

If you use a web hosting service to store your web files and keep your business site connected, then you have probably stumbled across a few problems here and there (perhaps even often enough to cause you to switch web hosts…maybe more than once).  A few common difficulties that seem to be par for the course are introductory offers (that last a short time and then convert to higher prices), unnecessary fees for tools that you’re bound to need, security issues, plans that are challenging to scale or change as your business grows, and of course, reliability.  In fact, all of these could be considered to have ethical issues at their root.  Overcharging, misrepresenting costs, and providing services that are not as advertised are all bad business practices.  But the worst when it comes to web hosting is too much down time.

There are only two real reasons you would choose to use a web hosting service for your business needs.  The first is that they will store your files for you and the second is that you can use their direct connection to the internet to ensure that your website is always up and running, available to clients across the globe that might want to scroll through your pages.  Although bandwidth issues could be a big problem as you grow, they’re probably not the first thing you’re thinking of when you sign up for an account.  A much larger issue is down time, or the times when your site is offline and cannot be accessed by customers.

Your basic agreement for service is that the web host will provide you with storage and connectivity.  And the most important thing is that customers be able to reach your site.  If down time occurs often and for extended periods of time, several detrimental events could occur.  First, even loyal customers could get fed up with the inconvenience and take their business elsewhere.  Second, potential customers could be put off and fail to return.  And finally, other sites that you are linked to (including search engines) could drop you if they are unable to connect during scheduled crawls.

This could be damaging to your business because it could set you back to square one in terms of traffic, SEO efforts, and agreements with advertisers and affiliates.  In short, it could ruin you.  Although down time once in a blue moon is probably unavoidable, frequent and prolonged lapses in service are a breach of your most basic contract with a service provider, and therefor inexcusable.

So don’t be blinded by a free month of service, low prices up front, hosting bundles, or other incentives meant to draw you into services that are otherwise sub-par.  A good web host may cost you a little more up front, but they won’t nickel and dime you with fees down the road; they’ll provide all the tools you need to make your website successful and account for the growth and changes you’ll experience.  And they won’t bore you with excuses about why their service is constantly out of commission; it will simply work when you need it to (all the time).

Shirley Simpson is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. Evan is a contributing writer for Aplus.net offering personal web hosting and graphic design services.