Host Directories

The Value

Due to the needs expressed by those who are in search of a host a new breed of Web sites has emerged. The Web Host Directories. These directories work toward collecting as much general information about various web hosts as they can and then list them in a searchable database in an effort to help you, the site owner, find a host that best suits your web site.

As has been noted in various articles throughout Host Help, the best way to find a great host is to ask others that you know and trust who they use and then research the host yourself. This method is not always possible though, and as such moving toward the numerous host directories around the Internet may be your next best option in the search for a host.

Many directories not only offer you a large list of hosts, the host's features, price ranges, and the ability to compare hosts against each other, but also more articles, message forums, chat rooms, testing tools, and even promotional coupons that will help save you money! Knowing how to utilize the directories correctly can save you a great deal of time, money, and stress.

The most important thing you can do before you begin your search for a host is to decide what you will need for your web site. Once you have an idea of what features will work best for your site you can then visit the various directories to begin your search.

Below is a list of resources you can expect to find within the directories, along with some ideas of what to look for when utilizing them.

• Searchable Database

  Just about all of the host directories contain a collection of anywhere from ten to thousands of Web hosts. These collections allow you to search for hosts that match your criteria in one simple location. The types of searches available vary from one directory to the next. One thing to note when you begin your search is that there is usually an "advanced search" option. If you see this option, use it! The more detailed you are able to be when beginning your search the less time you will need to spend weeding out the hosts that do not offer what you are looking for.

  In order to remain informed about the value the database will have concerning your own needs, you will also want to be aware of how the list is compiled, updated, and by what criteria. Some directories will only allow paid advertisers to be in their lists. This could prevent the perfect host for your needs from being in the list. Other directories do not verify that the information placed in the list is accurate which can allow the host to put in false info to grab your attention only to disappoint you when you visit the host itself. Another problem is how the lists are kept updated. It's not uncommon for a host's features and rates to change, but it is common for the directory to not reflect these changes in a timely fashion.

  Though the directories do seem to try, in many ways, to keep the information they offer accurate, it will remain important for the consumer to make it a point to visit the host itself and verify the information is correct. Those who find the host via a directory, without actually visiting the host's web site to verify the information, may find themselves stuck with an inaccurate list of choices when it comes time to place the order. The directory is not obligated to assure all of the information is correct, but the site owner obviously needs to be responsible to take on this task if they intend to have a suitable host for their web site.

• Awards, Kudos, & Recognition

  Many directories have special sections where they list the "Top 10 Hosts", "Best Hosts", "Recommended Hosts", etc. To the common eye it seems to make the choice simple. After all, why should someone spend the time searching through hundreds of other hosts when a directory that must know what they are talking about has narrowed the search down to ten or twenty of the best hosts for you?! This depends on how the directory decides who should be listed and who should not be listed.

  It is too often the case that the directory actually sells the listing to various hosts who are willing to pay for the 'award'. Advertising is an expected and acceptable practice of any business, it is no surprise that a host would pay for this type of advertising. To be singled out of the masses in an area designated to help consumers find a web host is an excellent way to raise revenue, but for the site owner it is equally something to be aware of. Via a small amount of research you should be able to easily decide if the space in these "Top Rated Host" areas is given to a host in return for money or is earned by the host in return for offering a great service to their clients.

  Try looking for links that are geared toward the hosts themselves while at the directory. A link titled "advertising" is usually a good place to start. If needed, you may even want to inquire with the directory and ask them if a "mention" here or there is for sale. If the directory is selling the 'awards' and ratings then, as a consumer, you should be able to view those areas with a grain of salt, the same as you would view any banner ad. The host for you may or may not be advertising and the information given may or may not be useful to you, but knowing how it is achieved is a valuable piece of knowledge to have.

  Not all of the awards and recognition are purchased advertisements by any means. When the kudos are not purchased then you need only inquire as to what type of criteria the directory that gave the award has for such an acknowledgement. This can usually be assumed by the contents of the rest of the web site and/or by what they have to say when explaining what that particular area is about.

• Tech Tools

  Some nice tools are being added to the directories now. The most common of them being tools that ping and trace route any number of hosts and even compare the results to other hosts. Some are set up in competitive ways making one host the challenger (usually a host that pays for that privilege) and the host of your choice the competitor. Once you press the button, the race begins. The directory then tells you who returned the faster response with the least amount of errors. These sections can be fun as well as informative... but only if you understand the concept behind what they can and can not tell you. To receive the true value of tests like these you really should have knowledge about what they are testing and how those tests work.

  For example: Let's look at a simple PING. If you were to PING your dial up provider from your own computer and PING another provider that you are not connected to, then obviously your dial up provider will show as the one who responded faster. After all you are pinging from them to them. The same applies with the tests being run from the directories. If the directory is hosted via a UUnet connection, then it is quite possible for a host that shares some of the same connections to appear faster then a host that is utilizing a Sprintlink connection, even if the Sprintlink host is in fact the better host!

  To make use of these types of tests and find the true value within them, you will need to keep track of the results and run similar tests from various locations. Once you have tabulated a number of results you can then review the averages and make an education decision. Click Here for a list of links that will provide you with the tools to be able to do this with.

• News, Articles, Press Releases

  When visiting a directory you will likely find further information and guides that are there to help you find a host and know what to look for. These are certainly worth browsing through as you will most likely find more information within them then you may have bargained for! Sometimes the articles are straightforward and offer information worth keeping. Other times they offer you some incite into the directory's true knowledge of the businesses they are advertising as well as the technology of it in general. Yet other times these articles and press releases are just another way for the directory to pay for itself and you realize they are nothing more then large advertisements.

• Message Forums & Chat Rooms

  One of the best and worst parts of various directories is the area where they allow the visitors and hosts to converse publicly with each other. These areas can prove to be the most valuable resource any directory can offer, they also can prove to be one of the more difficult things to administrate. Via the forums you will be able to ask questions and seek out the opinions about the hosting industry from real users just like yourself. Each forum seems to have a number of users and hosts alike that enjoy offering advice and information in an effort to help those still searching. At the same time within these forums you will find people who may have a personal problem with a host that remain only to try to flame the host and ruin their reputation whether the host deserves it or not.

  If you plan on using forums such as these to help with your search, be sure you have a week or two before actually utilizing the information you receive. This will allow you to take a small amount of time each day to review any new discussions on the forums and decide if those that offered you information were really educated and sincere enough for you to trust what they have told you. It will also allow you some time to gain an idea of how well the directory owners themselves moderate the forums and care for their contents. Overall, public discussions are a fantastic way to receive help and feedback!

• Reviews & Client Feedback

  If the directory you are visiting offers an area for the customers of a host to post feedback, definitely visit it! This is an awesome way to see how those who actually use the host feel about them. As always, real client feedback is a great way to know how a host is doing!

• Money Saving Coupons

  If you visit a directory of hosts for no other reason, visit them for this one! Even if you already have your host all picked out and you have completed your search, do not make the purchase until you have browsed the various directories! Many times the host that you have selected may have a special offer listed in one of the directories. These offers include things like waiving the setup fees, a number of months free, extra space at no charge, and more, just for mentioning the directories name when you place your order. For a little bit of your time, you could save a great deal of money!

As you can see from the list above, visiting a directory of hosts can offer you a great deal of information and resources to help you with your search. As long as you know what you are looking for from a directory and understand how the directory operates then they can offer you a great start. By keeping your eyes open and your mind alert you will be able to find a fantastic host at a great price and possibly even get a discount to go with it!