Choosing a web hosting service can seem a daunting task, especially if you are someone who is new to websites, but rest assured it is not as difficult as it might seem at first. In fact, if you apply the same due diligence and common sense to choosing a website host as you would when choosing any other type of service, you should be able to make the right choice. As part of that due diligence, you will want to research each hosting company and within that research, seek to ascertain a hosting provider’s credentials and performance in relation to a few key factors. Many of these will be available online and may appear on the hosting provider’s website. If a hosting provider is able to tick the box with regards to meeting each of the seven hosting parameters that follow, then they are definitely worthy of your consideration. Positive Reviews Any web hosting company which has provided the promised levels of service and performance to its existing customers will undoubtedly have positive reviews which will attest to that. Look for reviews on their website, but also do searches online especially on review websites where you may find more detailed reviews, and where customers may leave the hosting company a score out of 5 or 10. Proven Performance As well as knowing that the hosting company has satisfied customers, you will also want to know that it meets all the necessary levels of performance that your website will require, especially if you are running a business that your own potential and current customers will visit. You want to know specific functions: bandwidth allowance, load speeds, disc space, and uptime. A Choice Of Hosting Plans If a hosting company is offering at least 3 different hosting plans, then it shows that it has considered for its potential clients in the sense that it knows not every business needs the exact same features when it comes to hosting its website. Any hosting company which has just one plan should be avoided, for the simple reason that if your business and, subsequently, your website grows, it may will likely not be able to meet your future hosting requirements on its single plan.