When choosing a web hosting company for your business there are some key things you should be aware of...

Service vs. Commodity

Contrary to what some other host companies might want you to believe, hosting should always be treated as a service, never as a commodity. Selecting Host/Atomic as your host company means getting the highest quality service from a company that cares about its client's needs.

In any technology-driven environment the risk of service interruptions and/or complications can be a real and viable concern. No hosting company can guarantee 100% up-time. But how does the company you are considering handle issues when they arise? Are they there for you? Do they answer your questions accurately and promptly? Are they pro-active? As part of our commitment to service, Host/Atomic offers our clients convenient support contact methods and times. Above all we do our best to ensure that you get the answers you need, when you need them.

Our service desk is available via

1. Toll Free Phone Support
   1-877-286-6426
   Hours are 9AM - 5PM EST, Monday to Friday. If our lines are already busy then please leave a message and someone will return your call promptly.
2. Email Support
   support@hostatomic.com
   Hours are 9AM - 9PM, 7 days per week. Often the fastest way to receive support, email always provides a trackable accounting of any requests and their times.
3. Website Support
   support.hostatomic.com
   Our online support desk is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and contains the answers to many of your questions, user guides and more.

If it sounds too good...

When it comes to selecting your host company remember the old adage "If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is." If the company you are considering is offering unlimited bandwidth and a ridiculously large amount of server space at rock bottom prices then you have to stop and ask yourself how. Bandwidth and server space cost everyone (including your host company) but what some companies bank on is that most of their customers will never use more than a minimum amount of what they sell per month. The problems arise when their customer base grows too large or uses more resources than the company has readily available. This is not to say that every company that offers incredible deals is disreputable but as always the result can be "buyer beware".

Things to consider when selecting your next web host company...

• Resource Usage
  The amount of CPU and RAM a website uses on a regular basis is labelled "Resource Usage". If your website causes interruptions to the service of others on the server because it exceeds acceptable Resource Usage then the host company may suspend your service. This can be a valid response if the excessive usage is caused by resource-intensive programming in your website code. However, in some cases, the actual reason is not so straight-forward and can be a disservice to unknowing customers. If a company's Terms of Service states that they may shut down your website due to excessive CPU and RAM usage but do not outline specific causes (such as a result of website code) it may be a prime example of a "scapegoat clause". Customers whose websites experience a large amount of visitor traffic can in turn use a large amount of bandwidth and a large amount of bandwidth can in turn use a large amount of CPU and RAM resources. By this logic a company who offers "unlimited bandwidth" but refuses to provide a clear guideline for their Resource Usage policy can then suspend your account citing excessive server resource usage and not excessive bandwidth usage.
• Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
  Companies who offer rock-bottom prices for sky-high plans can accumulate a large customer base yet not accumulate enough profit to properly manage their resources. Such limitations may mean spreading themselves too thin (not having an adequate number of servers, etc.) and as a result they will need to squeeze their many customers onto too few servers sharing limited resources. In most cases this will cause service degredation which will ripple through their system and affect all their customers at one time or another, causing slow-downs, poor response times and more. If the effort of maintaining such a system becomes too much it is not unusual for the company to fold or be sold and either scenario can cause additional problems for their customers.

Another possible scenario for companies offering powerful plans for very low prices is that they are actively trying to gain a large number of customers for the express purpose of selling their business for a quick profit. When this happens quite often the new company will need to raise their hosting prices in order to remain profitable and what once seemed like an unbelievable deal disappears literally overnight. With any luck the new company will provide a level of service that will equal their new rates but if they don't any unsatisfied customers may find themselves once again looking for suitable hosting elsewhere.

• Is Anybody There?
  Two important components of any host company's offerings have to be their network operations and their customer support. The best technology properly employed means 99.9% network availability and a dedicated customer support system means the customer never needs to be left in the dark. Unfortunately, although quality service and technology does not need to cost an arm and a leg, it can't be free either. A responsible host company offers plans at a fair price and ensures that it has the infrastructure to back it up. A host company who offers too much for too little... well, just remember - you get what you pay for.

The important thing to keep in mind when deciding on any host for your website is that there is always more at stake than just server space and bandwidth. Each company can offer many plans and services and the task of selecting one can be daunting but if you're in doubt contact them. What better way to test their service than by using it? Friendly and helpful support staff can mean the difference between making your hosting experience a chore or a pleasure.

At Host/Atomic we strive to exceed our customers expectations through quality service and reliable technology all at realistic and affordable prices. If you have any further questions about selecting a host company please do not hesitate to contact us by any of the methods available on our contact page.