Reliability is one of the most important criteria in choosing a web hosting provider. Ecommerce storefronts with unreliable hosting run the risk of losing customers when the website is inaccessible or suffers frequent downtime.
Hosting in-house can be expensive; many small online businesses simply cannot afford the hardware, software licenses, and backup systems required to host their own website. Because web hosting is a fiercely competitive industry, ecommerce entrepreneurs have their choice of a variety of reliable, affordable hosting plans.
Small Internet Business Website Requirements
While the needs of small internet businesses vary, there are several common qualities in a reliable, affordable ecommerce hosting solution:
- Sufficient bandwidth for the company's data transfer needs.
- Guaranteed uptime.
- A money-back guarantee, indicating the company stands behind their service.
- 24/7 technical support to quickly resolve issues.
The following web hosting companies are Netcraft Ltd.'s three most reliable solutions available for the month of July, 2009. Each month, Netcraft releases their Top 10 Most Reliable Web Hosts based on measurements of the response times and failed requests of the fifty leading web hosting companies.
Web.com Takes Top Honor for Most Reliable Web Hosting
Web.com offers ecommerce hosting packages, and is unique in that it is the only hosting company in the top ten served by Microsoft IIS/5.0. They also offer web design and publishing, search engine optimization, online advertising, and lead generation.
Web.com is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: WWWW) and includes the brands 1ShoppingCart.com, Leads.com, and Solid Cactus. Ecommerce entrepreneurs can visit Web.com or call toll free at 1-800-GET-SITE to learn about current hosting package pricing and features.
New York Internet Offers Affordable ECommerce Hosting
New York Internet, a veteran in online business since 1996, grabbed the number two position after five months at the top of Netcraft's list. Their website features a quote generator, 24/7 help desk, an upgrade center for existing customers, and more.
On their Company Information page, New York Internet notes that their services are less expensive than many of their competitors, and online quotes are provided free of obligation for maximum convenience. Their top priority is not pricing, they state but "increasing the quality, reliability, and performance of our network." Judging by the amount of time they've spent as Most Reliable Web Host, they seem to be on the right track.
Virtual Internet Takes #3 Spot for Outstanding Reliable Web Hosting
VI.NET (Virtual Internet), a pan-European hosting provider based in the UK, offers a variety of secure hosting packages with a specialization in small internet business needs. They offer managed or cloud hosting, among other internet services.
Visit the website or call 0800 11 77 44 for information and a hosting package quote. Qualified Linux and Windows Support Engineers staff the center 24 hours a day to assist ecommerce entrepreneurs with their hosting needs.
How to Find the Most Reliable and Affordable ECommerce Web Hosting Package
Research several ecommerce hosting packages online using the criteria above. Compare plans and contact customer support to answer any questions or provide additional information.
Weigh the cost and benefits of each plan carefully. Switching to a new host can cause downtime and unnecessary expense; it's worth the time spent comparing plans to find the right fit.
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