How to choose the right web hosting provider

Organisations considering choosing a new and reliable web hosting provider should ensure they do the proper research before signing a contract.

This is according to Steve Abel, president of the Abilene Better Business Bureau, who advised businesses to look at their requirements and only pay for a web hosting service that meets these needs.

Asking the web hosting company questions about specifics such as server space for email, log files, system programs and graphics is also advisable, he said in his column for AbileneBiz Magazine.

"How many email addresses are you allowed? Inquire about the availability of mailing list management programs, such as Majordomo for newsletters and autoresponders for automatic responses to email messages sent to certain addresses," Mr Abel recommended.

The European market for managed services such as web hosting will reach a value of €6.2 billion (£5.75 billion) by 2011, according to a report released by consultancy firm BroadGroup in 2006.