Looking for a perfect web host is kind of like looking for a perfect partner. We want to believe they exist, everyone else seems to have found one, but the search is long and it’s easy to get discouraged.

By now I’m sure you realize that, just as their is no perfect mate, there is also no perfect web host. Just like people, web hosts are subject to mishap and seem all too often to let us down just when we need them most. Given these shortcomings, finding a web host we can feel comfortable with should follow some of the same rules for finding a mate.

So, where to start? Start with yourself and your needs; self evaluation is critical before starting any long-term relationship. What needs are you trying to fill? Do you want to start a personal blog? An e-commerce web site? A family web site? A forum to discuss urban landscaping?

The list of web hosting services can be narrowed by determining what kind of site you have in mind. Do you plan on a full-blown e-commerce site with dynamically generated pages, shopping carts, and lots of database activity? You should consider going straight to a dedicated server. Just want a site to share pictures of your favorite felines with your cat club? A shared host will be more your cup of tea.

Is this your first time? Look for a host that gets good reviews for customer service. Don’t be fooled by friendly and eager responses during those heady days leading up to a commitment. Be sure to test their support after you sign up but before you put a whole lot of effort into building your site. Pick various times of day and use all of their available forms of contact and make sure you get helpful answers in a reasonable amount of time. If you don’t get support from them now when it’s easy, you’re not going to get it later when it’s hard, either.

Make sure the software you want to run is compatible with the host you select. Will you need MySQL or POP3 support? Do they support all the PHP modules your application requires? Do they have installers for the blogging software or the image management package you want to run? Whether you already know exactly what you want to run or you’re not really sure and just want to know what’s available, ask. It’s better to find out early on in the relationship that the two of you aren’t really compatible.

If you’ve experienced the hosting scene before, think about your prior affairs and what you liked and didn’t like about them. It sounds obvious, but try to find hosts that offer the features and services you liked and avoid those you did not. So often we tend to repeat the same mistakes we made in the past both in choosing patners and in choosing web hosts. Just because they promise us a terabyte of bandwidth doesn’t mean we’ll really get it. Read the fine print.

Undertand yourself and your current situation first, then seek out a web hosting provider that meets your needs. Research thoroughly before you dive in, remember to read the fine print, and don’t be afraid to end a relationship that isn’t working.

So, there’s no such thing as a perfect web host. If you’re careful in defining your objectives and do some conscientious research you can find one that you will be happy with for the long term.