Today everyone is promising affordable web hosting. But did you know that recent studies have shown that the number of web hosting providers operating today is upwards of 40,000?

These companies all proclaim to offer affordable web hosting and they range from the biggest global names, Fortune 100 companies, to tiny Mom & Pop entrepreneurs who are trying to take advantage of the ever-decreasing costs of starting an internet business.

Pop Quiz

How many of the 40,000+ web hosts do you think were in business 5 years ago?

There are many factors contributing to the relative youthfulness of the industry, not the least of which is the low cost of entry which makes it possible for just about anyone to set up shop as a cheap web host.

It is also one of the most highly competitive industries in existence today. Consequently, the weaker players, those who lack any combination of financial strength, personal commitment, or the vision and creativity to lead the industry rather than follow, are doomed to failure before they even begin.

Fight your own battles

Its going to be hard enough to make your own business succeed on the internet. The last thing you should have to worry about is whether you will outlive your so-called affordable web hosting company.

Web hosting on demand - not quite yet

Think of a web hosting provider as you would a public utility such as the telephone company. While its simple to switch telephone service providers swiftly and with virtually no disruption to your business, its not yet so easy to move your web site to a new service provider without risking significant disruption to your online business.

Cheap insurance

A simple way to safeguard your online business against web host churn while still achieving your goal of affordable web hosting to choose one who is a recognized leader in the industry and who has been in business for a substantial amount of time. In net years, that means at least 3 to 5 years, preferably more.

Surprise

The good news is that, most of the time, you wont even have to pay a premium for going with a veteran web host. In fact, the ones who have been around the longest usually have the most going for them in terms of price performance.

This includes all the things you should be evaluating when making your hosting decision, such as the amount of storage and bandwidth, technical support capabilities, and the additional free services and tools that create significant added value for your online business.

Thats what affordable web hosting is all about!

What else?

A web hosting relationship is a marriage of sorts, one that should not be entered into lightly if you intend to run a successful online business. So along with longevity, another great trait shared by the very best web hosting companies is: reliability.