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I develop web sites for friends and small businesses. I dont provide hosting but I am always asked how to identify a good web hosting company. There are 5 must have features in quality web hosting. They are:

1. 24/7 live support. Phone support is the best option but it is a bonus to find a web hosting company that provides 24/7 live chat support along with phone support. Many times things you think are big issues can be resolved in a matter of minutes and its nice not to be on hold.

2. 30 day money back guarantee. If a company believes in its service and products, they will not be reluctant to offer a full money back guarantee. In fact, I would be skeptical of a company that doesnt offer some kind of guarantee. Make sure that you read the details of the guarantee.

3. Windows and Linux hosting at comparable prices. Some hosting companies will offer both Linux and Windows web hosting but some will charge much more for one or the other. A good hosting company will rarely have more than a few dollars difference in the price of these options.

4. Shared SSL. This is absolutely necessary if you want any e-commerce capabilities. SSL is what provides your customers with a secure connection to enter credit card information, etc. Some hosting companies will charge for this but the good ones will always have shared SSL free of charge.

5. Free setup. Some companies will charge for setup. This charge is anywhere from $20-$50. This is such a bogus charge because most web hosting companies have this process completely automated and in many cases nothing manual has to be done. So in reality you are paying this charge for absolutely nothing!

Of course, there are many other important things to look for in web hosting but many of them really depend on your needs. It should be very easy to find a reputable web hosting company that offers these 5 things. Web hosting is a very saturated market which is great for the consumer. The key is to take your time. Dont forget that many of these companies will register your domain name for free if you sign up for a hosting account with them.

Aaron Davis

Aaron Davis is a freelance web/application developer. He has been a web/application developer for more than 12 years. His specialty is .NET development with C# and SQL Server. Many of those years have been spent with major corporations such as:

A.G. Edwards Enterprise Rent-A-Car U.S. Bank Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.

Aaron has also spent a significant part of his career working as a consultant with various consulting firms as well as working as an independent consultant.

Prior to entering the software development field, Aaron served in the United States Marine Corps as both a Field Radio Operator and a Small Systems Computer Specialist.