11 Jun
Web Designer != Web Host
I know a lot of web designers offer hosting, but the truth is that most of them don’t treat their hosting with the same TLC that a ‘real’ web host does. In many cases web designers simply use reseller accounts or purchase a shared web hosting account with someone they know. There are a few problems with that.
- If something goes wrong with the server and your site is offline, you will need to contact your designer, who will contact the hosting company, who will respond to the designer, who will respond to you. Wouldn’t you rather be able to ring your web host direct and say ‘Hey, what’s up with my site, friendly hosting dude’?
- Have you ever heard the saying – ‘don’t keep all your eggs in one basket’? We think it’s a good saying.
- What if your web designer goes on a vacation and there’s a problem with your website? You can’t contact him, you don’t know who the web host is and your web designer will be sunning himself on the beach for the next 2 weeks – another good reason to know your web host.
We’re not saying that web designers are bad – most of the ones we have met have been really nice people and we’d hate to hurt their feelings and all – but they have their areas of expertise and us web hosts have ours. Just saying. For what it’s worth, most web hosts can build web sites too… we just don’t do it anywhere near as well as a ‘real’ web designer.
I disagree.
As Manager of CPK Web Services I think that fully managed web services are vital for small businesses and non profit organisations.
I have been providing fully managed web services for non profit organisations for just over two years now.
The main advantage of fully managed web services, is that you can get all your email web design and hosting needs in one place, without having to go through two, or in some cases three or four different providers.
The tricky part is finding someone who knows what they are doing and is not just out to take your money.
Wnen choosing a fully managed service provider, ask them what their desaster recovery stratergy is, if they do not have one or they don’t know what that means run away quickly.