Website Hosting Review Sites - Are they Useful?
A web search will display many pages of website hosting review sites to the point where you still need help to know where to start. You have to ask how independent these sites are - are they influenced by payments from the hosting companies? Given the vast number of hosting companies how do these sites decide which services to review?
A bit of research shows that the same hosting companies do keep appearing on hosting review websites but it is quite possible to see a service topping the list in one review and not appearing at all in the next. Some sites include user feedback but you can never be sure if this is carefully selected or, indeed, if it is genuine.
Some sites make it clear that they are affiliates for some or all of the website hosting providers reviewed on their site and therefore receive a commission if they refer someone who buys the service. This is not mentioned on other sites.
Despite claims that customer satisfaction is their top priority I believe it is inevitable that hosting review are influenced by potential earnings.
At this point I should say that suppliers paying commissions to affiliates is perfectly normal. In fact this is a common form of marketing it is just that it must compromise neutrality, so should be clearly declared.
The end result of all this is that having looked at dozens of review sites you are still wondering what is the best hosting service. The only good thing is that you will begin to recognize the names of some of the major companies involved.
I feel that hosting review sites are too numerous and can confuse rather than help. Whilst there are good examples there are also many that are of doubtful worth but how can a user tell the difference?
There is no substitute for doing your own research. Once you know the major companies in the market place, you can seek out independent user feedback and balance this against the price they charge. You can also look at forums such as webhostingtalk.com where you can also seek advice if you have specific requirements.
My own experience is that no website hosting review will tell you everything you need to know. By looking at these sites you will see which companies regularly appear near the top. Look for a company offering a good money back guarantee and try their service. If you do find it doesn't fully deliver what you need, you can at least get your money back and try again.
Andy Nataghi is an enthusiast and writer about all things technical and has a particular interest in Website Hosting Review. To see more information on the criteria for assessing hosting providers please visit our site http://website-hosting-plans.com
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com
