How to choose a hosting provider

Presented by Al Davis

Shared Hosting Product Manager for more than 12 yearsMore than 100,000 websites currently reside on packages I’ve createdMajor international wholesale provider (hosts more than 500,000 sites) asks

me to weigh-in on applications routinelyHave spoken to numerous groups on how to get small businesses online

What’s with the bald guy at the front of the room?

What is Shared Hosting? I promise just a quick definition

Why Shared Hosting? Cost: hosting in-house vs. outsourcingTime and effort: run your business or site, not a serverTechnical expertise

Pure Play providersInternet Service Providers (ISP’s)Telco’s

Types of providers

WordPress minimum requirements - from the codexPHP version 4.3 or greaterMYSQL version 4.1.2 or greaterOptional: required for multi-site Apache_mod_rewrite module

What to look for in a shared hosting package

Key items in the matrix:

• Storage (aka space)• Email storage - the same, but different• Bandwidth

Extra goodies - PHPMyAdmin

Welcome to the Matrix - the feature matrix that is

Storage and bandwidth - you’re never going to use it allText is cheap, but pictures and videos will kill youFTP access - no reason for a cap Email storage - don’t get all bundled up

Things you should know but we never tell you

Support, Support, Support

Types of support vary by type of provider. So, who offers what?

So what’s the secret to choosing?

Call support. How long does it take to get an answer? What’s the experience like?

Call when you are most likely to be working on your site. Ask to be transferred to sales.Don’t overpay.Don’t get locked in. 12 months max.

Things to look for from a provider

Providers all sell the same thing; customer experience is the differentiator.

The last word

Questions?

www.aldavis.org@adavis3105aldavis@aldavis.org