When it comes to choosing a Web hosting provider for your Web site, many believe that a larger host is better for business because its scale and buying power might enable it to offer better hardware and software, as well as cheaper hosting services.
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However, smaller Web hosting providers and resellers can offer advantages some would consider more valuable than what a larger host can provide. It all depends on what you're looking for as a customer.
One of the main benefits to working with a reseller or small Web host is the style of support you'll receive. Larger companies have thousands of customers, with many calling in each day. You'll almost definitely receive the support you need, but you may never speak to the same support person twice. If you're hoping for anything more like a relationship and rapport with your hosting provider, you probably won't find it.
Smaller Web hosts have been known to establish relationships on a first-name basis with their customers, enabling an on-going dialogue between the two parties and a more responsive and accommodating level of support. These companies may charge a bit more for the services they offer, but you may feel more like a valued customer.
Another advantage of smaller Web hosts or resellers is they're more likely to focus on a niche. If you're a family genealogy Web site or a gaming site, you're more likely to find a smaller host with specialized tools targeted for your niche market as well as a level of understanding and expertise in your particular industry that a larger host may not possess.
Laughing Squid Web Hosting (laughingsquid.com) provides Web hosting services targeted towards artists, bloggers and non-profits and its plans start at $8.00 per month for 200MB of disk space and 10GB of bandwidth. Branzone (branzone.com) offers Web hosting for gamers with plans starting at $2.95 per month for 512MB of disk space and 10GB of bandwidth. And FamilyWebHost (familywebhost.com) offers Web hosting for genealogy sites starting at $15 per month for 100MB of disk space and 2GB of bandwidth.
If you're still not convinced about signing up with a smaller Web hosting provider, do some research and see what kind of testimonials the Web host in question has. Smaller hosts and resellers often rely on their reputations more than larger Web hosts, so take a look at what current customers have to say about their services.
