The Pursuit of Web Hosting Happiness

Perhaps this is a movie that will never be made. Maybe it’s more of a short film?
At any rate, the fact remains that people still ask me this question the most: What web host should I choose? Or less often, I’m not happy with my host, who should I switch to?

Out of habit and experience, I refer them to the TopHosts Top 25 list and they generally find a good host there. To be fair, I sometimes suggest looking at other directories because there are good Web hosts to be found elsewhere, too. Note that these Web hosting shoppers, have already worked out a spending budget and have made a list of services that’s required to operate their website efficiently.

Many will come back and say disk space, bandwidth, price, state-of-the-art data center, bells, whistles are pretty similar, just tell me who’s the best.

I turn the tables and ask: Just how important is your website to you? Are you comfortable with sending an email to tech support and waiting for an answer in two or three hours or do you want a much faster response? Do you require the personal touch and prefer to speak with someone on the phone? Are you willing to spend a few extra dollars for the latter?

Invariably and predictably, it comes down to customer service when you attempt to find a Web host that makes you happy. The providers know this too. Recently we discussed this with DediPower’s CEO, Craig Martin and Brinkster’s CEO, Jared Staufer.

In your quest for the best, you should ask someone in the company to tell you about its customer service policies. You can read testimonials on the company website or better yet speak directly to a satisfied customer if that option is available. By all means, check forums and discussion boards and you’ll be that much closer.

I’d go the whole nine yards and follow the advise of a visitor on WebmasterForums who suggested: send them an email, a support ticket, a phone call, an IM, then call their support line. If they answer the email within a few minutes give them a point; if they answer the support ticket in a few minutes give them a point; if they are online on the IM to answer your query give them a point. If someone actually answers, give them a point.

The host with the most points wins, naturally. And let's not forget about the old reliable 3 A.M test. Phone them up and see if you get someone to pick up. Yes, that still works and personally I'd award bonus points there.

In Web hosting, as in life, some pursue happiness, others create it.