Web Host Blog

Switching web hosting services can be a long and troubling process. That is why it is critical to make sure to have the best possible web hosting service from the very beginning. But, mistakes can happen, and many web hosting services do not deliver on their promises, or simply deliver shoddy services that can cause any small business significant harm.

For example: downtime. Many companies promise 99% uptime and may even be keeping that promise, yet it might be fooling many. After all there are 365 days in a year, and 1% of that would be 3.6 days, or roughly 87 hours. That’s more than 7 hours a month of downtime, an average of an hour or two per week. That can really hurt the bottom line of a business. Worse yet, many of those companies  may deliver only 95% uptime, but if the majority of the downtime occurs in the early hours of the morning, many customers simply don’t notice.

Above all, customer service. If a web hosting service’s support lines take hours before anyone responds and the customer finds themselves talking to an outsourced staffer from overseas, there may be a significant problem with that company, and customers should jump ship in as orderly a fashion as possible. Response times are always a good indication of how concerned the company is with customers, though there are off days and the rare exceptions to that rule.

Next, features and the staff’s level of knowledge. These walk hand in hand. Many web hosting services offer “unlimited” disk space or bandwidth, only to punish those users who use a significant portion of resources. Other companies may not have desired features, or worse may have a staff unfamiliar or unable to provide true support on their own services. Depending on the company, the tech support may not be properly trained to handle the more advanced problems. In many cases they have a team that handles only the most basic of problems and forward on the big problems to their one or two knowledgeable employees to handle later on. This can make waiting times extremely long.

In conclusion, it is important to evaluate each web hosting service, and be prepared to cut ties if necessary. Above all, make sure to research complaints about each service and verify that it is easy to cut ties. Paying in smaller billing cycles also gives customers more freedom to cut ties, in the event a web hosting service does not offer a full refund, or in some cases does not even offer a prorated refund.

With all of the craziness over being a “green” company or not, it’s almost like the term was designed simply for the marketability to be used by corporations. And now, that craze has spilled over into the web hosting industry. Web hosts are going green right and left. Here’s a look at a few that have crossed over into green web hosting.

Hostgator was pretty quick to join the “green” fight, along with redesigning their frontpage to help market their effort. Hostgator encouraged users to then use links and images on their Hostgator hosted websites that lead to their website. DreamHost also hopped on the bandwagon, adopting a similar marketing measure, and promoting their services with new green logos.

It leads one to wonder whether all of this was merely a marketing ploy. Truth is, it was. Hostgator’s entire article about the switch to green hosting was written by Matthew Collins at Integrated Ecosystem Market Services, or IEMS, a carbon consulting firm. This is a for profit firm that runs around making thousands consulting and convicing many businesses how to go green and profit from it. On their about us page, they state their mission is to “provide clients with comprehensive carbon solutions that yield high rates of return and global environmental benefits”. The key there is “high rates of return”. On what? Rates of return is a term applied to investments. So IEMS is essentially an investment company: invest in invisible “carbon credits” and earn “high rates of return”. The appalling nature of it, is the word “high” supposing that their mission is not to convert people to the virtues of “saving the environment” but rather to help companies turn a large profit, or rate of return, from investing with them and the marketing gains that follow the switch to being a “green” company.

DreamHost follows a similar pattern, though is less straightforward in admitting whoever convinced them to make the switch, as they were a late-comer and wanted their conversion to seem genuine. DreamHost mentions working with “The Green Office”, “Green-E”, and “The Gold Standard”, but it is possible they worked with the same Integrated Ecosystem Market Services consulting firm, as some of the images used with their “green” promotion’s marketing efforts are almost identical to Hostgator’s with only the color and name changed.

However, don’t be discouraged from these two fine web hosting services. Both of these web hosting companies are well-rated and have great customer reviews, and should be seriously considered for other reasons. They have simply fallen victim to effective and profitable marketing methods that exploit America’s carbon obsession. Yet carbon credits are not completely without their merit, if one ignores the profiteers and pundits. Funding renewable energies is a good thing for the environment, CO2 aside. For example, replacing coal with wind energy can remove harmful pollutants. The carbon credit scheme has merely exploited the corporate atmosphere, in a method similar to Papal “indulgences” when one would pay a fee for forgiveness from the Pope, to feel guilt free. It allows these companies to profit from the global warming hype, while not actually switching to a renewable energy source directly.

In the end, global warming has become yet another tool. For politicians to gain votes, and businesses to turn a profit. Sometimes both, in the case of politician turned businessman Al Gore, who is profiting handsomely while running a carbon offset company which could generate himself billions of dollars if the craze catches on and the company takes off. In web hosting, it has turned into yet another example of how companies can turn a profit from the CO2 panic. Perhaps the politicians and consulting firms should stop running their mouths off trying to profit from this craze and focus on real stewardship of our environment. After all, the hot air blowing out of their mouths is CO2.

Web hosting companies are going “green” left or right. The entire business world for that matter is going “green”. The truth is, this is often nothing more than a simple business decision aimed at winning new customer. While it may have positive effects for the environment, it is a cold hard business decision that is being predicted to increase profits.

For ThinkHost, it’s more than a simple business decision. It’s a way of life. At ThinkHost every aspect of the company is dedicated to helping the environment or other social change projects.

At the epitome of this, is the ThinkHost tree planting program, where they promise to go out and physically plant a tree for every single one of their new clients. A bold plan, which no other “green” web hosting company comes close to matching. Rather than just claim to be green by funding renewable energy, like so many other web hosting companies, ThinkHost has chosen a truly proactive approach to helping the environment.

Other aspects of the ThinkHost business are also more environmentally friendly. ThinkHost points out that there is no corporate fat cat, bank, or venture capitalist leeching off of their profits. The significance of this is twofold. First, it probably holds some sentimental value for clients who don’t want to see their hard earned cash being constantly handed out to the “fat cats” who don’t really work for their pay. Second, most of those companies are not green!

What’s the point in paying for a green web hosting company, when the profits they earn are being handed out to a bank or venture capitalist that flies around in gas guzzling private jets or other blatantly polluting methods?

Yet that is precisely the type of hypocrisy prevalent with many “green web hosting” companies. Many of them pay the tiny amount buy “Renewable Energy Credits” which does not mean they changed to a renewable energy source. Renewable Energy Credits, RECs for short, are purchased to help “offset” their “carbon footprint” by helping introduce more renewable energy into the market. The proposal to buy RECs and market their web hosting as being “green”, is pitched by consulting firms, one of which has been making rounds at many web hosting services. These consulting firms promise and explain to the executives at the web hosting companies on how marketing their service as “green” can gain customers at a rate enough to not only cover the cost, but to actually increase the profits experienced at the company.

Not so with ThinkHost, who was green long before all of the other web hosts started jumping on the bandwagon. ThinkHost is also actively environmental, planting trees, and most of their profits are either given to the employees, or else donated to charitable or environmental efforts instead of to “corporate fat cats”. ThinkHost doesn’t just wear the “Green Mantra”, ThinkHost lives it.

Hostgator came on the scene with a splash. Brent Oxley, the CEO, got hands on with the company, one might say it was a one man mission at first. Molding a corporate policy focused on customer satisfaction, Brent has managed to turn his company into one of the most highly rated web hosts on the net.

On most web hosting forums and blogs, Hostgator recieves perhaps the most praise of any one of the major web hosting companies. This is no small task, as the webmaster crowd is intelligent, picky, and quick to judge. It can really be no time at all for a web host to ruin their reputation, should they mismanage it for even a week or two.

Hostgator has focused on customer satisfaction in a number of ways beyond price and features. Hostgator has some of the most knowledgeable staff around, and online 24/7, with methods of communication such as 24/7 chat support, telephone and e-mail support, and an online ticket system. The Hostgator staff responses are some of the speediest and most informed in the industry.

To top it all off, the Hostgator staff is actually paid based on how well customers rate their responses. This ingenious method has helped ensure that the staff does their best effort to assist customers, rather than the automated and unhelpful responses so many other web hosts give to questions that need better answers. Hostgator’s system has ensured that their staff stays on their toes and does their best to help their customers.

Next up, features: Hostgator has some of the most generous shared hosting around. First off, it offers “unlimited” bandwidth and disk space, like so many other web hosts. Many other web hosts offer it, but then cancel or ban your hosting package if you exceed “reasonable” amounts. Not with Hostgator. Hostgator sets basically up to a fourth of a dedicated server as their limit, which is ridiculously high for shared hosting. Hostgator also offers unlimited MYSQL databases, as well as unlimited MYSQL database size, which is a rarity in shared hosting. Then Hostgator has support for many advanced scripts, as well as offering Fantastico and other conveniences. In addition, for those looking for dedicated hosting, there is none better rated among the larger web hosting services.

Finally, Hostgator prices are very competitive as well. It may seem to be too good to be true, but Hostgator has been stable, reliable, and never disappointed the webmaster community.

Both Hostgator and DreamHost are highly rated web hosting service. It can be hard to compare the two, but that is especially why it is so important to do so. As far as features, both companies offer comparable and reliable services with ample bandwidth and disk space for the casual webmaster as well as support for more advanced users. Thus it becomes especially important to compare them on the basis of customer service, rather than individual features.

Hostgator and DreamHost take similar and yet very different approaches. DreamHost claims to follow a personable environment, running a blog and trying to seem like it is run by well, human beings. This may have been personified by when DreamHost accidentally billed millions of dollars from their users by a typo and saying “Do’h” and refunding the money. Realizing many users were offended, suffered draft fees, and other inconveniences, DreamHost retracted the next day and made a more professional and serious apology. Aside from that little incident, DreamHost’s customer reviews are overall quite positive. A few negatives here and there, but overall most customers walk away pleased with their hosting services.

Hostgator takes what feels to be a similar policy, but the personable nature of the business is revealed not by a lax or casual attitude towards customers. Instead, it is displayed by an overwhelmingly professional and at the same time courteous support staff, led by a CEO who gets hands on with the service making sure every single customer is pleased. Hostgator’s customer service is rarely ever impugned on the internet, and for good reason, their CEO Brent Oxley’s implemented many policies, such as paying support staff based on how well customers rate them, to ensure the maximum customer satisfaction. In what seems at most a one in a million customer who still does not find a resolution to their situation, Brent despite running a multi-million dollar enterprise, frequents forums and other places to discover such situations, and to remedy the problem.

The two web hosting companies have been both very highly rated, but in the end it appears Hostgator is dominant. On web hosting forums, as well as on hosting review sites that allow user input,  Hostgator is consistently ranked as one of the best, if not best hosting service. The forums are almost unanimous in praise of Hostgator, but the same cannot be said for DreamHost. Round one goes to Hostgator!

While it may seem like a no-brainer, it is a far more dreadful and complicated subject than most in the industry would like to admit. Complaints have been filed against almost every web hosting service out there, as during the cancellation process mishaps and feuds are quite commonplace.

Many web hosting services, even reputable ones, have resorted to drastic measures at times to try and help out their bottom line. The biggest losses that they figure they can cut out on, are related to those leaving their service. So some web hosting companies may have come to the conclusion that it is in their best interest to make the cancellation process as difficult as possible.

Rumours and complaints have been flooding the net. For example even with the largest of the web hosting services, 1&1 hosting, we can see that cancellation is a serious issue for the industry. Were it only one complaint it might seem odd or out of place, but numerous former customers of 1&1 hosting have complained of extra billing charges they suffered and refused to pay, only for 1&1 hosting to actually call a collection agency on them despite the small size of the claim.

Arguments can be made on both side as to the truth, but that type of situation is really not very far-fetched in this industry. Billing errors do occur. DreamHost for example, accidentilly billed millions from their customers, only to quickly refund and apologize for the incident.

Another issue with cancellation is regarding domains. Many companies claim the right to true ownership of your domains, even if you pay for the domain yourself. Upon cancelling your web hosting package, they may seize the domains. Complaints regarding this were filed against GoDaddy, claiming they stole the domains. Other web hosts, such as Network Solutions may seize upon the expiration date of a domain, to auction it out to the highest bidder, if automatic billing was not already set ahead in advanced.

Due to the nature of the internet, fraudulent companies and fraudulent customers run rampant, creating increased tensions that may lead to some harsher situations even between the more legitimate companies and customers. Keep in mind that some of the smaller, lesser known web hosting services may be nothing more than a sham or a poorly staffed cash cow they are bleeding dry.

Perhaps all of this is why it’s important to find a highly rated web host that you can be comfortable staying with for a long time, and avoid the typically uncomfortable and time consuming process of cancelling and transferring to another web host.

Cheap web hosting is a bit of a conundrum. As with anything, you get what you pay for. Web hosting is no exception. However, in web hosting, many of the best services are still quite cheap, and some of the worst ones can be more pricey. For those who want to find the best web hosting service, this can make things complicated.

One of the best sources of information on the subject would be your peers then. Fellow webmasters and web hosting customers alike have most likely used one of the services you are considering, and in some cases, they might of used all of the ones you are thinking of using. However, it can be difficult to determine the truth of their answers, as from time to time you may run into employees of the web hosting companies who are often caught writing fake reviews or impersonating the average joe customers and spreading positive information about their company, or in more nefarious cases, negative information about their competitors.

A good place to look is on the webmaster and web hosting forums, preferably the more populated ones, as those paid shills are often easily exposed there, and a larger body of users may give their advice, helping you understand what the consensus may be. However, many of the users simply don’t know many of the web hosting services as they might of only used one or two and might give false information based on whatever impression of the service they made based on what others have told them.

The next, and most common sense decision next, would be to go directly to the web hosts themselves. Taking it a step further, you could make a list of the prices and features you like from each web host and compare them. This allows you to make an easy choice.

Lastly, as with most things on the internet, fraud is something to be taken seriously. If you have any lingering suspicions about a web hosting service you are about to purchase, it’s best to search for clues on google, Rip Off Report, or the Better Business Bureau’s complaint reports. Keep in mind that a good Better Business Bureau simply means they respond properly to the complaints, they don’t necessarily have to have solved them. Also consider that due to the thousands of customers each web host typically has, there are bound to be a few angry customers even with the best of web hosts, just as any popular person is bound to make a few enemies even if they do nothing wrong.

It’s important to get a feel for how the internet as a whole percieves any service for that matter, hosting aside. It should be a relatively simple task to notice the trends on various forums, in google, and in the fraud reports, and to make an informed decision about your future web hosting service.