Is it dangeous to use a lesser known web hosting service; what happens if they go out of business?

13 years ago

Use a large registrar for your domain. If you want to try a cheap host, sure, go ahead. Just make sure that you always have a backup of your files so that you can bail out if the host goes under.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2881764].message }}

brianbiv

13 years ago

Originally Posted by James_fin

Use a large registrar for your domain. If you want to try a cheap host, sure, go ahead. Just make sure that you always have a backup of your files so that you can bail out if the host goes under.

Yip! I agree with your suggestion.

-Browse the internet and conduct thorough research about your hosting. But for assurance You need to back up every files that you need.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2881846].message }}

mkpoway

13 years ago

My dreamhost account is $60 for the first year, and I can host unlimited domains. After a year it goes to $120 a year.

[ 1 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2881771].message }}

E. Brian Rose

13 years ago

Why would you want to use a hosting service that you consider small and unknown? How good do you think that the customer service will be? Will they have a 24 hour techie available? Hostgator and some others provide outstanding service and their price is so low. What advantages do you think that you will get from a smaller company?

Normally, I am all for using the mom and pops, but not in this case.

Thanks

Signature

Founder of JVZoo. All around good guy :)

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2881821].message }}

fullmatrix

13 years ago

There are plenty of great less known web host out there, I used to read the reviews from webhostingtalk.com before I buy.

They are pretty accurate, and I'm satisfied with my less known hosting

[ 1 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2881836].message }}

Alexa Smith

Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by BargainBookMole

Is it dangerous? If they fail, what happens to my site?

You can lose it.

The question is: are you going to keep a regular back-up of your site? If you are, that clearly reduces the risk enormously. But you should do this, wherever you host it.

Originally Posted by BargainBookMole

any recommendation for an inexpensive web hoster that has good customer support [under $5 per month]?

I suspect it's going to be hard to find better customer service than Hostgator has. Their entry-level price is $4.95 per month, I think.

The free hosting at Free Hosting, Paid Hosting, Reseller Services & VPS Servers : Byet Internet is pretty highly recommended by some marketers who've been using it for years, though. It seems to be a very reliable one, and has no advertising at all on your site. Worth looking at, perhaps?

[ 1 ] Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2881856].message }}

fullmatrix 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

...
I suspect it's going to be hard to find better customer service than Hostgator has. Their entry-level price is $4.95 per month, I think.

There are a lot of them out there that's been operating for more than 6 years offering better package, like more add-on domains and mysql database. You just have to dig deeper, a web hosting forum would be a good start.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2881896].message }}
DireStraits 13 years ago

HostGator is the one most people seem to recommend around here. I use them myself, and haven't had any problems with them at all.

And yes, if you skimp and choose a lesser-established, cheaper host, there's usually an increased danger of trouble down the line. Believe me, there's a good reason a lot of hosts are so cheap (cheaper than cheap, even): extreme overselling. It generally makes for less reliable servers. More downtime, slower websites, and all the rest. Not to mention overworked staff (due to the sheer number of cheapskate customers they attract), and therefore worse customer service.

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

I suspect it's going to be hard to find better customer service than Hostgator has. Their entry-level price is $4.95 per month, I think.

"and not a penny less, I tell you". Hah, I just saw that ... brilliant. I like your sizzleandsteak domain. I'd be tempted to use that for a personal blog, or something, if I were interesting enough to actually have anything to write on it. Good luck with all that, anyway.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2882470].message }}

R Hagel

13 years ago

Originally Posted by BargainBookMole

any recommendation for an inexpensive web hoster that has good customer support [under $5 per month]?

For just a few dollars more per month you can get your site hosted with a well-known, reliable host. It may cost just a couple extra bucks in the short term... but in the long term, I'd imagine the peace of mind and not having to deal with your site disappearing are more than worth the extra few bucks per month.

Cheers,
Becky

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2881863].message }}

BargainBookMole

13 years ago

thanks for ideas so far. :-) I went to web hosting forum but is overwhelming.
as to few extra bucks. Doesn't sound like much, until you consider you have it for many years. So if costs an extra $50 per year, over 10 years, $500 you didn't have to pay. But I supposed as you can tell from my website, I'm careful with money.
-BBM
Bargain Book Mole: Guaranteed to Find the Lowest Book Prices Online or the Book Is On Us! Guaranteed to find the lowest prices online or the book is on us!

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

http://www.BargainBookMole.com
Guaranteed to Find the Lowest Prices Online or Your Book is On Us!

> Plus unique free instant price-checking tools (Firefox and IE add-ons); check book prices from any website (and only appears when you look at a book).

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2882104].message }}

Diana Lane

13 years ago

Originally Posted by BargainBookMole

thanks for ideas so far. :-) I went to web hosting forum but is overwhelming.
as to few extra bucks. Doesn't sound like much, until you consider you have it for many years. So if costs an extra $50 per year, over 10 years, $500 you didn't have to pay. But I supposed as you can tell from my website, I'm careful with money.
-BBM
Bargain Book Mole: Guaranteed to Find the Lowest Book Prices Online or the Book Is On Us! Guaranteed to find the lowest prices online or the book is on us!

Year on year it could well mean much more than $500 dollars you will have missed out on earning, due to inadequate servers constantly buckling under the pressure of traffic spikes and stuff like not being able to run certain scripts because of scrawny php memory limits etc. There is a huge difference between a cheap deal and a good deal, and the first will often cost you more in the long run.

With regard to hosting, being too careful with the pennies today will often have the pounds biting you on the bum tomorrow.

Thanks

Signature

Fiction Ideas Writing Software: Ignite Your Inspiration: Create Illustrated Plots You Can Even Sell!

Plot short fiction, long fiction, even outline non-fiction * Edit the question prompts to suit your genre * Easily export text and image files for use with your word processor or Scrivener.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2882244].message }}

Ashley Skuse

13 years ago

You can use a cheaper host and perhaps just consider it a temporary solution until you can afford a more reputable service.

Basically, you just need to take precautions:

* Backup all of your files and databases daily.
* Register your domain on GoDaddy so that you can easily switch host at any given time.

That way, if they go out of business, you won't lose the domain and you'll have recent enough backups that you can restore everything on a new host.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2882300].message }}

Lloyd Buchinski

13 years ago

Cheap is a very powerful positive force as far as I'm concerned. You also don't have to go for small or unknown to get it. Namecheap.com has cpanel starter hosting for $2.91 a month. (I was just there a few minutes ago.)

They did get negative comments when they started hosting, but it seems that they have the problems under control and I just checked out their forums. Things seem to be running smoothly. Not all hosts even have an active forum.

Business is basically about math, and it's nice that you did it. There are different ways of looking at the math as someone already pointed out, but you understand more of your approach and what you want to do than anyone else does.

If you are starting out with html sites you almost always have the latest back up on your computer. If anything goes down it really doesn't take much to re point the domain names and ftp up to a new host.

Thanks

Signature

Do something spectacular; be fulfilled. Then you can be your own hero. Prem Rawat

The KimW WSO

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2883100].message }}

rdkelsey

13 years ago

3ix.com is $12 for a year ... a nice cheap host. Most of my domains are hosted at HostGator, although I have quite a few elsewhere.

One point many are missing is some internet marketers have some domains that are very small. We also have a lot of domains that we want on different servers, IPs, different parts of the country. We need to spread it all out so as to not be identified as being on the same server!

Search around, there are a lot of cheap hosting setups out there for those smaller, less important sites some of us have.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

--Robert BK Kelsey
Enroll in the Free SEO Training Course
http://www.ethicalseoservice.com/seo-email-course/?id=WF

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2883123].message }}

mad.hat

13 years ago

You can try out smaller hosts if you like something unique that they are offering. Just make sure to save your files in case they do go under. It is not difficult to switch hosts if this happens.

If its just a cost issue then you can find well-known hosts that have been around for years.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

They All Told Me Making Money Online Was Just A Scam For The Gullible... Even Though I Was Already Pulling In $1k/Day. Now You Say My Resellers Can Not Make $1k/day But...

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2883224].message }}

Jeff Henshaw 13 years ago

If you can afford to pay for a decent low priced host, such as HostGator, then do it. If you have to run with extreme budget hosting, then check out a professional or specialist forum (as already been mentioned), such as Web Hosting Talk (not an affiliate link):

Web Hosting Talk - The largest, most influential web hosting community on the Internet

Read the reviews posted, ask your own questions and make your decision.

Under no circumstances register a domain with the web host that you decide to sign up with - even if they offer a free domain name. Find a separate domain host (some Warriors suggest not using GoDaddy) and point your domain to your web host. Both of your hosts will assist you with this if you are unclear as to what to do.

Finally, keep back ups (again, already mentioned in the thread) of all of your websites (even if your web host backs up your sites). Keep one set of back ups on your hard drive and another copy elsewhere, preferably off site.

If you do the above, then you are reasonably safe - although when you start earning money, invest in a second web host as additional protection. Any business, hosting or otherwise, can go out of business, regardless of how big that they are. Look for examples at some of the now non-existent major financial players that failed in the recent 'credit crunch'.

I wish you the best of luck with your decision(s),

Jeff.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2883530].message }}

BargainBookMole

13 years ago

thanks for all the suggestions! I ended up going with Hostgator, and actually had some problems and was frustrated to see the next day they had a one-day special for $2.5 a month. But they seemed like a good combo of low price, customer service, and size for likelihood of survival. I will investigate the backing up thing, as I don't know how to do that myself--I assume any web developer knows how?

Thanks

Signature

http://www.BargainBookMole.com
Guaranteed to Find the Lowest Prices Online or Your Book is On Us!

> Plus unique free instant price-checking tools (Firefox and IE add-ons); check book prices from any website (and only appears when you look at a book).

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2931425].message }}

liquidice04

13 years ago

I think it is all the same in reality, but huge brand names are more stable(won't screw things up) because they have to worry about their name.

Thanks

Signature

Buy Cheap YouTube Views

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2932149].message }}

Headfirst

13 years ago

You get exactly what you pay for. Amateur hosting is for amateurs. Why risk your business over a few bucks a month?

Thanks

Signature

Golf Outing Sponsor Signs, Banners and Flags||Plymouth, MI Marketing || Plymouth Dentist

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2932159].message }}

Ntech25

13 years ago

I agree stick to the providers that have a good reputation. I recommend hostgator. Pricing is decent and my sites have also been online. I also use hostnine for my reseller and I think I pay 250 for a year and i host a lot of sites on there also. Hostgator is better than hostnine to me but I am happy with both. Support is quick

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Done For You Services - Custom Amazon Stores - Wordpress Blog - Unique Content and Design - My Reviews http://dfyservices.com/reviews or Skype = NTech52 - Examples - http://90dayfitnessworkout.com/ http://bmxbikeaccessories.com/ http://ps4store.com/

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2932177].message }}

chrisscott 13 years ago

I don't recommend you to go for an unknown cheap web host, also when HostGator and GoDaddy like reputable hosts are offering great hosting plans ranging from $4.95 to $6.99 / month then why should go for less reputable host.

There are many sites that publish these big hosts promo codes on daily basis, you can use them and the price comes down more.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2932303].message }}

Is it dangeous to use a lesser known web hosting service; what happens if they go out of business?

Trending Topics

Some interesting stats about brand comms

Fixing a massive traffic drop after rebranding

Meta AI now has Google Search results

Looking at the average screen time and socmed usage

What's the Best IM-Related Skill to Learn Today That Can Help in the Future?