Businesses 'should re-assess' hosting provider

Many businesses are "overpaying significantly" for their web hosting services, according to an E-consultancy blogger.

Patricio Robles wrote businesses struggling amid the economic downturn are looking to make cutbacks and suggested that hosting is one area to consider.

He suggested firms happy with their current provider should not "jump ship", but added there are often savings to be made if a business is overpaying for its hosting account.

Firms should assess their hosting provider to ensure the service they are paying for meets their specific needs, rather than an account that offers much more than what is actually needed, Mr Robles asserted.

He added there are a number of other ways companies can cut costs during the recession, including cutting down on the amount of money they pay for domain names, looking for more bargains when it comes to paid search ads and opting to use free open-source software instead of more expensive versions.

Google recently launched a new channel on YouTube in collaboration with the London Business School and the Daily Telegraph to offer advice to businesses weathering the recession.

Entitled Survival of the Fastest, the channel features streaming videos from a number of high-profile business and political leaders, including London mayor Boris Johnson.

Written by Debra Hastings-Henry