Cheap, fast, and reliable... - geek/talk: Signature-free discourse for serious web publishers

Questy · 02-27-1999, 08:39 PM

I thought I'd take the time to share some business wisdom here. I keep looking at the words "cheap, fast, and reliable" used in some one's search for a web host. While I admit there are some decent low cost web host's out there, I think we all need to think about the difference between cost, and value.

The best example of defining value I have ever heard is based on buying a parachute. If you knew you had to jump out of an airplane, would you buy your parachute at a flea market, a cut rate department store, or a parachute specialist? While some people refuse to admit it, and others are just too price conscience to budge, the majority of people will see the meaning of value if the question involves something that their life would depend on. Value, or quality, is the area where most good business people win out, even when they know they are not the cheapest price.

Time is hard to sell. Every one thinks their time is important. Learn the normal and customary items involved in the services you desire, and expect to pay more for better service. We can definitely apply the golden rule to this subject. For a good working relationship with the professionals around you, respect their time as you would have them respect yours.

FREE, is still the most powerful word in marketing. With web sites today, FREE, generates a ton of traffic. My point is simply, if your living, or reputation, depends on your web site, do you really want to trust it to a free service?

------------------
The small business and technology guru,
It's not just a job, it's an addiction!
http://www.computerguru.net

DianeV · 02-28-1999, 09:40 PM

I couldn't agree more. I'm not sure why everything has to be free. I think it's a matter of courtesy and valuing others' services.

And professionalism as well ... it would be difficult to maintain that you are a viable, reliable, successful business while hosting your site on a subdomain of someone else's on a slow server. And it's not free anyway ... you're paying for "free" hosting by allowing "free" advertising on your site and settling for lesser services. And by making yourself look unsuccessful in your potential customers' eyes. Pretty expensive, I'd say.

[This message has been edited by DianeV (edited 02-28-99).]

Terrahab · 03-07-1999, 08:48 PM

I second that emotion.

You think I'd learn after all these years. I fall into the trap of buying the low cost, or relying on free advice, only to have someone rub it it, you get what you pay for!

Edwin · 03-08-1999, 12:40 PM

I agree with all the above, but the opposite is not necessarily true... You don't always get what you pay for, on the Web anyway. Case in point: I am paying $900 a month to host one of my sites, and the service has been infinitely worse than any other hosting service I have ever used. Needless to say I am in the process of changing, but still I am out of pocket several $K in setup and hosting fees.

TIP: Since your site IS your life, online, if you use it to do business do not compromise on hosting. If you have problems and your site is always going down, swap! The lost revenue and more importantly the lost sleep is just not worth it!

Edwin

------------------
Free Email Address Directory: 550+ free email services. http://www.emailaddresses.com/

Questy · 03-08-1999, 02:25 PM

Good point!

Equally important is knowing when to cut your losses, especially when your paying for quality service, and not getting it!

http://www.very-cool-stuff.com/ubb/wink.gif

------------------
Regards,
Questy

The small business and technology guru,
It's not just a job, it's an addiction!
www.computerguru.net

[This message has been edited by Questy (edited 03-08-99).]

Steve_S · 03-08-1999, 02:28 PM

<....more importantly the lost sleep is just not worth it!>

Naturally I agree. The following service comes highly recomended to me but I have no first hand experience. The issue is Domain Name Resolution Services as you move from server to server and surfers can no longer "see" your site as each of the zillons of ISP must update there respective DNS records. Some are quick and some are slow. Edwin has a huge job and mine still makes me nervous on a much smaller scale.

Here it is:

http://www.alphaone.net/home.html

------------------
Best Regards,
Steve_S
www.very-cool-stuff.com
Your Administrator

Questy · 03-10-1999, 05:32 PM

They, (AlphaOne) claim: we can force every server in the world to check in with our server more frequently for updated information

Sounds good, so how?
And Why couldn't a large web host do the same thing???

Steve_S · 03-11-1999, 10:47 AM

Questy,

Here is the extract:

One of the biggest pains about moving your domain from ISP to ISP is the transfer process. It generally takes 2-3 days to get all of the Internic paperwork to go through, and sometimes even longer for all of the world to see the change (most dialup ISPs keep DNS records in cache for weeks). Consider 3rd party DNS Hosting. The principle advantage to using a 3rd party DNS
service is that since they host your DNS records, you NEVER have to put in a transfer with the Internic. Once the DNS Host has your records, all you need to do is call them, tell them the new IP Number
assigned by your new ISP, and THE SAME DAY, your website is up and actively pointing at your new host/ISP. Very simple. All you'd need to do is order your new account, and tell the new ISP that you do your own DNS, and have them set you up with an IP Number, then call the DNS Host, have them switch your DNS to the new number, and start copying files over. By the time you're finished, the DNS is reactivated. No dealing with Internic, no waiting. It's a beautiful thing. If you're really on the ball, you can expedite the whole thing by alerting the DNS host in advance of a move, and have them change your "Time to live" setting to force the DNS Backbones to constantly re-read your records, so that when the change of IP Numbers happens, the world sees
the change instantly.

A guess, hosting companies aren't in this business and in some cases they are loosing a customer.

HTH

------------------
Best Regards,
Steve_S
www.very-cool-stuff.com
Your Administrator

[This message has been edited by Steve_S (edited 03-11-99).]

Questy · 03-12-1999, 03:56 AM

Steve,

The part of the equation that I can speak from my own observations of switching hosts is the 12 to 24 hours it takes for the DNS cache all over the world to catch up to a change.

Without getting too techie, every router has a set of instructions telling it where to route the information.I was wondering how they could support the claim:" we can force every server in the world to check in with our server more frequently for updated information"

It appears to me, part of their service is that. So why hasn't anyone else figured out this "secret?"

Meditating minds need to know!

------------------
Regards,
Questy

The small business and technology guru,
It's not just a job, it's an addiction!
www.computerguru.net

02-27-1999, 08:39 PM	#1
Questy Registered User Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Slower Lower Delaware, USA Posts: 868	Cheap, fast, and reliable... I thought I'd take the time to share some business wisdom here. I keep looking at the words "cheap, fast, and reliable" used in some one's search for a web host. While I admit there are some decent low cost web host's out there, I think we all need to think about the difference between cost, and value. The best example of defining value I have ever heard is based on buying a parachute. If you knew you had to jump out of an airplane, would you buy your parachute at a flea market, a cut rate department store, or a parachute specialist? While some people refuse to admit it, and others are just too price conscience to budge, the majority of people will see the meaning of value if the question involves something that their life would depend on. Value, or quality, is the area where most good business people win out, even when they know they are not the cheapest price. Time is hard to sell. Every one thinks their time is important. Learn the normal and customary items involved in the services you desire, and expect to pay more for better service. We can definitely apply the golden rule to this subject. For a good working relationship with the professionals around you, respect their time as you would have them respect yours. FREE, is still the most powerful word in marketing. With web sites today, FREE, generates a ton of traffic. My point is simply, if your living, or reputation, depends on your web site, do you really want to trust it to a free service? ------------------ The small business and technology guru, It's not just a job, it's an addiction! http://www.computerguru.net

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Reliable Fast Hosting	greg	Web Design and Webmaster Issues	10	05-31-2000 03:44 PM
cheap & reliable hosting?	notibrian	Web Design and Webmaster Issues	9	04-19-2000 02:10 PM
I Need A Web Host Fast	WebFan	Web Design and Webmaster Issues	14	12-19-1999 09:36 AM
Is my host being unfair? Opinions needed urgently!	Monkey	Web Design and Webmaster Issues	22	10-22-1999 05:07 PM
Where can I find a cheap, fast and reliable domain hosting service?	Ericy	Making Money with CPC and/or CPM Programs	24	09-02-1999 05:15 PM

02-28-1999, 09:40 PM	#2
DianeV Registered User Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 23	I couldn't agree more. I'm not sure why everything has to be free. I think it's a matter of courtesy and valuing others' services. And professionalism as well ... it would be difficult to maintain that you are a viable, reliable, successful business while hosting your site on a subdomain of someone else's on a slow server. And it's not free anyway ... you're paying for "free" hosting by allowing "free" advertising on your site and settling for lesser services. And by making yourself look unsuccessful in your potential customers' eyes. Pretty expensive, I'd say. [This message has been edited by DianeV (edited 02-28-99).]

03-07-1999, 08:48 PM	#3
Terrahab Registered User Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: PA Posts: 49	I second that emotion. You think I'd learn after all these years. I fall into the trap of buying the low cost, or relying on free advice, only to have someone rub it it, you get what you pay for!

03-08-1999, 12:40 PM	#4
Edwin Registered User Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 670	I agree with all the above, but the opposite is not necessarily true... You don't always get what you pay for, on the Web anyway. Case in point: I am paying $900 a month to host one of my sites, and the service has been infinitely worse than any other hosting service I have ever used. Needless to say I am in the process of changing, but still I am out of pocket several $K in setup and hosting fees. TIP: Since your site IS your life, online, if you use it to do business do not compromise on hosting. If you have problems and your site is always going down, swap! The lost revenue and more importantly the lost sleep is just not worth it! Edwin ------------------ Free Email Address Directory: 550+ free email services. http://www.emailaddresses.com/

03-08-1999, 02:25 PM	#5
Questy Registered User Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Slower Lower Delaware, USA Posts: 868	Good point! Equally important is knowing when to cut your losses, especially when your paying for quality service, and not getting it! http://www.very-cool-stuff.com/ubb/wink.gif ------------------ Regards, Questy The small business and technology guru, It's not just a job, it's an addiction! www.computerguru.net [This message has been edited by Questy (edited 03-08-99).]

03-08-1999, 02:28 PM	#6
Steve_S Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Posts: 5,223	<....more importantly the lost sleep is just not worth it!> Naturally I agree. The following service comes highly recomended to me but I have no first hand experience. The issue is Domain Name Resolution Services as you move from server to server and surfers can no longer "see" your site as each of the zillons of ISP must update there respective DNS records. Some are quick and some are slow. Edwin has a huge job and mine still makes me nervous on a much smaller scale. Here it is: http://www.alphaone.net/home.html ------------------ Best Regards, Steve_S www.very-cool-stuff.com Your Administrator

03-10-1999, 05:32 PM	#7
Questy Registered User Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Slower Lower Delaware, USA Posts: 868	They, (AlphaOne) claim: we can force every server in the world to check in with our server more frequently for updated information Sounds good, so how? And Why couldn't a large web host do the same thing???

03-11-1999, 10:47 AM	#8
Steve_S Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Posts: 5,223	Questy, Here is the extract: One of the biggest pains about moving your domain from ISP to ISP is the transfer process. It generally takes 2-3 days to get all of the Internic paperwork to go through, and sometimes even longer for all of the world to see the change (most dialup ISPs keep DNS records in cache for weeks). Consider 3rd party DNS Hosting. The principle advantage to using a 3rd party DNS service is that since they host your DNS records, you NEVER have to put in a transfer with the Internic. Once the DNS Host has your records, all you need to do is call them, tell them the new IP Number assigned by your new ISP, and THE SAME DAY, your website is up and actively pointing at your new host/ISP. Very simple. All you'd need to do is order your new account, and tell the new ISP that you do your own DNS, and have them set you up with an IP Number, then call the DNS Host, have them switch your DNS to the new number, and start copying files over. By the time you're finished, the DNS is reactivated. No dealing with Internic, no waiting. It's a beautiful thing. If you're really on the ball, you can expedite the whole thing by alerting the DNS host in advance of a move, and have them change your "Time to live" setting to force the DNS Backbones to constantly re-read your records, so that when the change of IP Numbers happens, the world sees the change instantly. A guess, hosting companies aren't in this business and in some cases they are loosing a customer. HTH ------------------ Best Regards, Steve_S www.very-cool-stuff.com Your Administrator [This message has been edited by Steve_S (edited 03-11-99).]

03-12-1999, 03:56 AM	#9
Questy Registered User Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Slower Lower Delaware, USA Posts: 868	Steve, The part of the equation that I can speak from my own observations of switching hosts is the 12 to 24 hours it takes for the DNS cache all over the world to catch up to a change. Without getting too techie, every router has a set of instructions telling it where to route the information.I was wondering how they could support the claim:" we can force every server in the world to check in with our server more frequently for updated information" It appears to me, part of their service is that. So why hasn't anyone else figured out this "secret?" Meditating minds need to know! ------------------ Regards, Questy The small business and technology guru, It's not just a job, it's an addiction! www.computerguru.net