So you’re looking for a web hosting company to host your great new site? You really need to be wary in order to avoid web hosting scams. Review our 4 tips for avoiding web hosting scams. Here are the 4 tips:

Scarce Customer Service

Customer service is a very important aspect when looking for a new webhost. Anytime you have questions or problems, your web host should really just be a phone call away. You can test this out by calling in and asking a few questions before you buy. You may also try to contact their online support and make sure the host actually handles their client questions quickly and professionally. In this day and age, there really is no reason for a reputable host not to have excellent support.

Limitless Features

Although it may sound like a fantastic deal, limitless features are not a good sign. No host is going to offer you unlimited space or especially bandwidth for an ultra low price. It just isn’t going to happen. There will likely be a catch.

Although it is possible for a webhost to run a special unlimited offer for a short period of time (to get you to sign up), you can be sure they will either increase your fees later on, or cut down on bandwidth and storage space. The last thing you want is to have your site shut down because you went over your bandwidth quota for the month. This will cost you in customers and frustration. So remember that there will be a finite cap on your space … and that’s a good thing (otherwise they’re not being honest with you).

Long-Term Contracts

Don’t sign a contract for your hosting. At least not initially. You need to try them out and see if they meet your expectations first. For this reason, you should not choose a host that forces you to pay yearly.

You can always purchase hosting a month and then transfer your plan over to a yearly plan if you’re satisfied. If you are happy with the service, go ahead and sign up for a year if there is a discount.

Check for Uptime

Unfortunately, no host can guarantee 100% uptime of your site as no one is perfect. Webhosting companies generally express their uptime as a percent. You want a host that will make sure your site is online nearly all of the time.

A host that claims they have 100% uptime is probably not being truthful. Problems will arise, it’s the nature of the internet and servers. 100% uptime really is too good to be true. Look for a host that is going to be honest with you, even if that means they claim you will get 99% uptime.

Ask the support what the uptime is if it isn’t listed right on the site. A host’s uptime is a very important aspect when deciding which web hosting company to use. Learn more about uptime and web hosting reviews at http://top-5-web-hosting-charts.com/

Make sure take the time to find a reputable company who will ensure that your site will be online as much of the time as possible. Your site could potentially bring you money so you need to ensure it is online as much as possible.

We’ve given you 4 major criteria to look for to steer clear of bad hosting companies and hosting scams.