What do web designer look for in a hosting company?

[SteveSant]

Hi,

I run **removed**, and I'm trying to build up my client base around customers who need personal support and a more pro-active approach than you get from the normal dime-a-dozen hosting companies.

If you are a single handed or small web design practice in the West Midlands, and you want to support local businesses (as I do), I'd be keen to know what you look for in a web hosting company, and what kinds of help you commonly need, and don't get from the big boys.

Thanks for any feedback.

Steve

 

[nickjlucey]

I have loads of problems with my cheap hosting packages, just because there are loads of limitations, think I expect to work like url re-writing and things like that don't work as I would expect them to. I find I have to trouble shoot the hosting provider as well as trouble shooting the technical problems itself.

less limitations on what I can control within affordable hosting would essentially be my key want.

 

[Experienced IT guy]

Often limitations are to "persuade" you to move to a more expensive package which cost the host the same to provide. There are certain hosts that will offer a low cost package and a years contract, and you find you are locked into a useless product - even though their advertising suggests it should work. Unfortunately these limitations are sometimes designed to limit support issues. It is a problem.

 

[5wire]

Price & Reliability, as well as value for money.

Same industry as yourself, we're just in the process of expanding our backup strategy further to reduce probable downtime.

Your packages in comparison to ours do differ in value for money totally.

A web designer, as one myself, looks for cheap but reliable solutions, if they're providing 10 client websites they'll want some form of guarantee for the uptime as liability is likely to be held with themselves for any loss of email/service.

How regularly do you backup?