Few things are more frustrating to a website owner then server downtime that he or she has no control over. Downtime represents lost traffic, frustrated visitors, and possibly lost revenue. How frustrating is it? Just ask me. My former host was less then reliable for some time, yet I was reluctant to move. Why? Fear of the unknown. I had never switched hosts before, and I wasn’t very sure of what I was doing. I doubt I’m the only one who’s had these reservations.

But aside from poor quality hosts, you can also outgrow your host. Whatever the case maybe, switching web hosts can be a daunting thought. Hopefully my experiences can make it a little simpler for you. This article is part one of a two part series. Here we’ll learn how to recognize signs that suggest it’s time to switch hosts and things to look for when selecting a new host. In part two we’ll discuss ways to make sure you get a great host, and how to transfer your files and databases safely to their new home.

Signs That It’s Time for a New Host

There are two main reasons for switching hosts: stability issues and site growth (the good and bad kind).

Stability

Occasional server downtime is inevitable regardless of where you host. So how do you decide when “occasional server downtime” has become out of control? Here are some questions to ask your self.

1. Does the downtime often interfere with your regular site maintenance. In other words, do you constantly find your self unable to update your site because it is either not to be found or takes an extraordinarily long time to load? Not only are outages frustrating, but they wastes a valuable resource: time. Often I have a limited amount of time to spend writing an article or updating some aspect of this site. Downtime can seriously mess up my schedule.

2. Are you regularly sending in support tickets or using their technical support only to not have the problem resolved? A high number of support tickets is a clear sign that you are spending too much time getting your site to work and not enough time working on your site. Remember, speedy technical support doesn’t always equal good technical support.

Outgrowing Your Host

The fact that you can outgrow your host may not be immediately obvious, but it is possible to need features for your site that you may not have looked for or required when you initially signed on with your current provider.

Lets start with positive site growth. Signs you may need to upgrade you host could be things such as needing more bandwidth, needing more databases or larger databases, needing a higher CPU load limit (for shared servers). Many hosts provide upgraded accounts that can increase your limits. If you are happy with your host, try that first. Otherwise this may be the excuse you need to jump ship.

Another way you may outgrow your host is in the negative direction. You may be loosing traffic, or never have gotten the traffic you were hoping for in the first place. Or you may just realize you don’t have the funds to pay for your host anymore. These are ideal situations to look for new hosts that can offer what you need at the price you are looking for.

Finding the host you need

Finding a host, whether for a new domain or to transfer your existing site, is often the worst part. How do you know if a host is good? How do you make sure they fit your needs? What have others said about them? All these questions are ones you may be feeling.

Your Website Requirements

The first thing you should consider when looking for a new host are your hosting needs and requirements. Below is a list of possible things you will need to consider.

Price. What is your budget? By setting an initial, yet somewhat flexible price limit you can exclude some hosting providers right off the bat.

Shared or Private Server. For most hosting needs, a shared server is fine. A shared server means that your site is hosted on a server will several, usually many, other websites. This means you must share CPU power and service with others. Private means you are on your own. A private server is much more expensive then a shared plan. Unless you know you’ll have tons of traffic, start with the shared.

Storage space and bandwidth. A major consideration is how much hard disk space will you be able to use. Run out of space and no more updating your site. Bandwidth refers to how much data your visitors can download from your hosts server. This is usually a monthly allowance. A site that streams videos, music, or hosts a large number of images will use much more bandwidth then, say, a text heavy blog like mine.

Databases. Is your website going to need a database to store information? If so what kind of database will your site require and how much space will it require? Most sites require a database of some sort. If you aren’t sure, mySQL is probably what you’ll need. Keep in mind that some hosts will limit the number of databases you can have and/or the size allocated to each database. Find one that will meet your needs.

Others. Other things you should consider are the number of email account you can create, script installer (such as Elephante or Fantastico), and Cpanel access. And for more advanced users: .htaccess allowance, local php.ini support, PHP version, and others.

Now that you’ve determined what services you’ll need in a host, how do you actually chose your new host? Stay tuned for part two of this series, where we’ll discuss the best resources for find your new host and how to transfer your files and databases easily. Wanna make sure you don’t miss the next installment? Subscribe to the RSS feed!