Need to host own website - where can we buy space?

usignuolo

My OH runs a small business which gets a lot of leads via his website. At present this is hosted on an ISP but it is increasingly falling foul of the latest anti spam security and other sofware being installed by businesses. Access to his website is being blocked because it is designated a personal not a business site.

The way round this seems to be to set up a website which would be recognised as a business website and we should like to do this by renting our own space direct on a large server somewhere as we have the expertise to maintain it once set up. Can anyone suggest providers of server space in this way and the potential costs?

isofa

Depends on many factors, do you just want space to host, or more facilities?

Hundreds of hosts, if you want the best and have a good budget, www.zen.co.uk are unbeatable, but there are much cheaper places just for some space, we use small pots of space at www.123-reg.co.uk as well...

kevrod79

tsohost -> http://www.tsohost.co.uk
I use them for all mu business needs and they are brilliant. Support is second to none.

Kev

HTML200

1&1 are very good, more expensive than TSO for most things but you get higher bandwidth, unlimited transfer quotas and much more room for expansion in terms of number of email addresses, subdomains etc.

As with everything, choose based on your requirements. For example, TSO would be a good choice if you don't expect large amounts of traffic, want to keep costs down while supporting a UK company. And I've seen them recommended more than once.

There is something else to consider, though - this issue of your site being blocked... Is your site hosted on an ISP homepage, e.g. something like homepage.ntlworld.com - web hosting that you get free as part of your cable access or something?

It might be possible to get the block removed by searching round the net for the companies that create the block lists and simply submitting your site's address for reconsideration to removed from their blocks.

isofa

As an IT business customer I couldn't recommend 1&1 less, their billing and direct contacts are a mess. They mis-sold a server product to us, we had a huge issue getting a refund and then they tried to continue to chase payment.

They are fine for amateurs but professionals wouldn't use them.

Another I'd not recommend is WebFusion, search the forum here for horror stories about both companies.

Anyone who doesn't give direct support lines and direct e-mails should be avoided.

As with everything in life, you get what you pay for.

usignuolo

OH has website at present on space which comes with his pipex account so it is an indirect URL. I have a 1-2-3 website which is fine so long as you do not require any support - if you do forget it.

Also I had a Virgin Media based website which in a previous life was telewest and then blueyonder. After it was bought up by Virgin I lost the will to live. The user instructions for access and updating are unintelligble and the only support is from a call centre in the far east where they just squawk a script at you. It was so much better when it was telewest. Sigh.

So we are really looking for company able to host small business with a call centre and decent tech support in the UK where you can talk to someone on the phone or at least native English speakers who understand technical issues.

Paulos77

I have used www.godaddy.com in the past, Prices seem reasonable and I found them very reliable.

verbyl.belch

I'm currently using 34sp.com and have found their service to be fantastic. They're based in the UK,( Manchester I think) non premium phone number and have a live chat help section - great for asking questions.

Or, I recently suggested 000webhost, which offer a free hosting service with enough options in the package to suit most people's needs.

HTH

Novocaine

I can highly recommend Surpass Hosting.
I hardly have any downtime at all, and we're e-mailed a week in advance if they're updating servers and told when and for how long the sites will be down.
[I've had 2 e-mails in 4 years, both downtimes lasting 10-12 hours each]

Farway

I use Vida host after seeing it on MSE, no problems at all, free phone and response back in no time, servers in Maidenhead http://www.vidahost.com/

Snip from web site

"You'll always speak to someone who can help, and who speaks plain English!"

Reggie_Rebel

No problems with 1&1 for over three years here