Guard Against the Downsides of a Cheap Web Hosting Reseller; Be Alert to the Advantages (John Lesonel)
Feb 1, 2010
When you have a website you want to get online, but a very small budget to work with, you may feel it will be okay to go with a cheap web hosting reseller. This is especially true if it is the only way you can be sure to get the web hosting space you need.
There are many web hosting companies available. However, just as when shopping for anything else, be cautious about choosing your web hosting company and read the fine print. Here is some advice to guide you when selecting a cheap web hosting reseller with whom to do business.
Hosting Reseller: What is it?
A hosting reseller is one who purchases web hosting hard drive space and bandwidth at one price and then simply resells it to others to make a profit. The space they sell (or rent) could have been purchased in bulk for the soul purpose of reselling, or it could be space that had been purchased for a different reason.
As these resellers usually buy in bulk their cost is lower and so they can pass on that lower price to you as a third party. If your website is going to be handling e-commerce or other expensive applications you may find that cheap web hosting reseller is a more economical choice.
As with any person who buys bulk for the purpose of reselling, those who purchase space in bulk can sell the space at a very cheap price. For anyone who needs to purchase web hosting without a lot of money to work with find this type of service to be a great deal.
Maintaining Infrastructure
Sustaining network infrastructure is traditionally not part of the contract with the reseller. They are not in business with the intent of site maintenance. The data center operator maintains network infrastructure. This is the service supplier from whom the cheap web hosting reseller originally bought their space and bandwidth.
When you are having issues with quality, you may have to deal with a slower response rate, because the reseller has to take the issues to the main web hosting service provider or data center operator. As a matter of fact, any maintenance issues need to be taken to the data center operator, who will only then be able to deal with your issue. In the end this can mean added downtime for you.
This can cause you issues, so it is important that you are aware of this disadvantage. Many web hosting resellers focus on spending their funds on advertising, to maintain and grow their business. They fail to put any money into maintenance, because it is not usually their problem to fix.
Always weigh the advantages and disadvantages when deliberating on contracting for services. Going live with your website for an amount you can pay is important. But maintaining your site's capability is an issue that will impact your bottom line. Many beginners launch into business looking only at the initial cost to go live and never think about the disadvantages of buying from a reseller.
Always acquaint yourself with the fine print and the worst case scenario. Otherwise, you may find yourself yanking out your contract to verify that the person you bought space from really isn't responsible for your maintenance. A simple internet search will help clarify the issues. Make sure you get the level of assistance you'll need and make the web hosting provider decision that works best for your business needs.
About the AuthorLearn more about Jodo Host. Stop by John Lesonel's site where you can find out all about Resellers Panel and what it can do for you..