Over the last decade I’ve had my fair share of web hosting experiences. I’ve been with bad web hosts who have taken away time and added stress on weekends. And, I’ve had good web hosts who deliver a fantastic product and offer exceptional service.

Here are six tips on how to choose a web hosting company.

1. Determine what kind of hosting service you need.

Knowing what kind of hosting plan you need to purchase will narrow down your search, and enable you to compare apples to apples.

For example, if you need an unmetered dedicated server, then you can begin to search for companies with rave reviews for this product. Or, if you operate a WordPress website and you are looking for a company that specializes in WordPress hosting, then you can begin to research web hosting providers that specialize in WordPress.

To determine the best hosting plan, try chatting with or calling a few different sales departments at web hosting companies. See what they would recommend for your hosting needs. Then, start your search.

2. Read customer reviews.

Don’t believe what you read on a web hosting website. Instead, read up on customer reviews to learn about what other customers have experienced. This could save you from having the same negative experiences as other customers. It’s a great cross check to ensure each company you are considering actually offers a reliable service.

Just Google search the company name + “reviews” and see what kind of reviews appear.

3. Determine server location.

A hosting server location impacts your page load speed. Since “site speed” is a SEO ranking determinant in Google’s algorithm, the location of your hosting company server can have an impact on your overall business operations.

Find out where your server is located. If your customers are primarily based in the United States, then selecting a web hosting company with servers in the U.S. makes sense. However, if you operate a IPTV streaming service with customers in Europe, perhaps selecting a Netherlands based hosting company would make sense.

4. Read the contract terms.

Some hosting company contracts are nasty. They’ll aim to lock you in for a long time and hit you with hefty cancellation fees if you decide to move hosts.

Try to avoid these types of companies. While contracts are a necessity when it comes to hosting, you shouldn’t be penalized if choose to change providers if the service does not match expectations.

5. Determine the final price.

Learn about how contract terms impact pricing. Many hosting companies lure in customers with low rates, but consumers quickly find out that the rate is only valid for a year. Then, when renewal time comes, customers sometimes find themselves paying double the price for the same service.

Hosting providers prey on consumers who get complacent with hosting. Factor in your long-term goals with the cost of hosting. If your goal is to get rid of your hosting plan within 12 months, then fine. But if your goal is to find a long-term partner, then finding a hosting provider with consistent pricing is a nice way to forecast your expenses.

6. Test out technical support.

A bonus tip is to find a company with great technical and customer support. At a minimum, you should be able to chat through a website for technical support 24/7. The responsiveness and helpfulness of this support should be exceptional. You’ll most likely experience a few hosting headaches along the way, and you want a partner there to help guide you.

Test out their technical support by chatting with them through the website. If their technical support simply copy and pastes answers to your questions from resources around the web, that’s a sign that their support is shoddy. But, if you have a customer support team that truly walks you through to a solution, that’s a good indicator you’ve found a valuable web hosting provider.

These six tips on how to find a hosting company should help you along in your search for the right partner. Read the details, test out their support as much as possible, and find a company that is truly an extension of your own team. You’ll value all of the flexibility and adaptability in the long run.