Web Hosting Pitfalls: How to Tell if You're Being Scammed

By B.E. Conrad

There are many ways to make money on the internet, from affiliate sales and Google AdSense revenue to selling a variety of products and services online. Before you can make your first online dollar, however, it is important to find a web hosting company you can trust. Without a trustworthy and reliable way to get your website online, it will be impossible to succeed in the highly competitive world of online business.

There are a number of things all internet entrepreneurs and business owners need to be aware of when looking for a quality web hosting service. There are unfortunately a number of web hosting scams and schemes out there, and falling prey to one of them could be damaging to your business, and your wallet.

When you look at a potential web hosting company, it is essential to look for real world contact information. A reputable company will prominently display its contact information, including telephone, email and regular mail options, on its web page, while a fly by night operation may provide no contact information as well. If contact information is listed, be sure to send a test email, or make a test phone call, to make sure that the contact information is accurate and up to date. The speed at which your email or phone inquiry is answered will also be a good indication of the level of service you can expect if you become a customer.

Another thing to be on the lookout when searching for a web hosting service is the number of contract options. Be wary about those companies that offer only long term contracts, as they may be trying to trap unwary website owners into expensive hosting plans with little or no customer service. While most web hosting companies will provide a cheaper fee for long term contracts, the legitimate companies should offer short term contracts, or even trial periods, during which new customers can test the waters and make sure the service is worth the cost.

How the web hosting company handles domain name registrations is an important consideration as well. Some unethical companies will register the domain name in their own name, making it very difficult for you to get your site back in the event of a dispute. If domain name registration is included in the web hosting service, be sure to check to ensure the website is properly registered.

As you review the terms of service in the web hosting plan, it is important to look for a prominently displayed money back guarantee. The presence of such a guarantee is a good indication that you have found a reputable company.

Also look carefully at the uptime warranty provided by the company. A quality, reputable web hosting company should be happy to provide a straightforward guarantee of uptime. If the guarantee provided seems vague or incomplete, be very wary.

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