Category Archives: Guides

10 Things to Check Before Choosing a Hosting Provider

Looking for a reliable web hosting provider? Here are 10 essential things to check before choosing one to ensure performance, security, and value for your website.

Introduction

Choosing the right hosting provider is one of the most critical decisions when setting up a website. Your hosting provider determines how fast, secure, and reliable your site is, directly impacting user experience and SEO rankings. With so many options available, it’s essential to evaluate key factors before deciding.

This guide’ll walk you through the top 10 crucial things to check before selecting a web hosting provider. Whether you’re launching a blog, an eCommerce store, or a business website, these factors will help you make an informed choice.

1. Uptime Guarantee

Uptime refers to the amount of time your website is accessible to visitors. If your website experiences frequent downtime, you risk losing potential customers and harming your search engine rankings. A reliable hosting provider should offer at least a 99.9% uptime guarantee, meaning that your website will only experience a few minutes of downtime per month.

Why It’s Important:

Websites that go offline often appear unprofessional and unreliable.
Downtime leads to lost traffic and revenue, especially for eCommerce sites.
Google penalizes sites with frequent downtime, affecting SEO rankings.

How to Check:

Look for an uptime guarantee on the hosting provider’s website.
Read genuine customer reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, G2, or ShopperApproved.
Use uptime monitoring tools like UptimeRobot to track a hosting provider’s performance.

A good hosting provider will have backup servers in place to prevent downtime and keep your website accessible at all times.

2. Website Speed and Performance

Website speed is crucial for user experience and search engine optimization (SEO). If your site takes more than 3 seconds to load, visitors may leave before it even fully appears. A slow website can frustrate users, lower your rankings on Google, and reduce sales.

What Affects Website Speed?

Server response time – A good hosting provider should have high-performance servers.
SSD storage – SSDs (Solid-State Drives) load data faster than traditional HDDs.
Content Delivery Network (CDN) – A CDN distributes your site’s content across global data centers, speeding up load times.
Server locations – Hosting providers with servers close to your target audience provide faster access.

How to Test Speed:

Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, or Pingdom to analyze page speed.
Choose a provider with LiteSpeed or NGINX servers for better performance.

3. Customer Support Quality

Even if you’re tech-savvy, you’ll need support at some point—whether for technical issues, billing questions, or website troubleshooting. Good customer support can save you time, money, and stress.

What to Look For:

24/7 support through live chat, phone, and email.
Fast response times – You shouldn’t have to wait hours for help.
Knowledgeable support team – The support staff should be experienced and capable of solving technical issues.

How to Test Customer Support:

Before purchasing a hosting plan, contact their support team with a few questions and see how quickly they respond.
Check customer reviews to see if users complain about poor support experiences.

A hosting provider with fast and friendly support ensures that any problems you face will be resolved quickly.

4. Security Features

Cyberattacks are becoming more common, and websites are a frequent target. A good hosting provider should prioritize security to protect your site and user data.

Essential Security Features:

Free SSL Certificate – Encrypts data and secures user information.
DDoS Protection – Prevents cyberattacks that can take down your website.
Firewall and Malware Scanning – Blocks harmful threats before they reach your site.
Regular Software Updates – Keeps your website safe from vulnerabilities.

How to Check:

See if the hosting provider offers security monitoring and automatic backups.
Ask about firewall protection and malware scanning.

A secure hosting provider prevents hackers, viruses, and data loss, ensuring your website stays safe.

5. Pricing and Value for Money

Web hosting prices vary, and it’s easy to be tempted by cheap plans that seem too good to be true. However, some hosting companies advertise low prices only to charge high renewal rates or hidden fees later.

What to Watch For:

Introductory vs. Renewal Prices – Check how much you’ll pay after the first term.
Hidden Fees – Some hosts charge extra for backups, security, or email services.
Refund Policy – Look for a money-back guarantee in case you’re unsatisfied.

How to Choose a Good Plan:

Compare different hosting plans and consider long-term costs.
Look for providers offering transparent pricing with no hidden costs.

6. Scalability and Upgrade Options

If your website grows and attracts more visitors, you may need more powerful hosting. A scalable hosting provider allows you to upgrade your plan easily without downtime.

What Scalability Means:

Easy upgrades from shared hosting to VPS or dedicated hosting.
Cloud hosting options that automatically adjust to traffic spikes.
Support for multiple websites if you plan to expand your online presence.

How to Check:

Ask if upgrading to a higher plan is quick and seamless.
See if the provider offers cloud hosting for automatic scalability.

7. Backup and Data Recovery

Your website’s data is valuable; accidental deletion or hacking can wipe it out. A good hosting provider should offer automatic backups.

What to Look For:

Daily or weekly automatic backups.
One-click restore options for quick data recovery.
Offsite backups for extra security.

How to Check:

See if backups are included in your plan or require an extra fee.
Ask if they offer easy restore options in case of emergencies.

8. Ease of Use and Control Panel

Not everyone is a tech expert, so a user-friendly control panel is important.

What to Look For:

cPanel or Plesk for easy management.
One-click installers for WordPress and other CMS platforms.
A clean interface for managing emails, domains, and databases.

How to Check:

Look for a demo version of the control panel before signing up.

9. Technology and Server Infrastructure

A good hosting provider should use the latest technology to keep your site fast, secure, and stable.

What to Look For:

Latest PHP and MySQL versions.
LiteSpeed or NGINX servers (faster than Apache).
Cloud-based hosting options.

Why It Matters:

Outdated technology slows down your website and creates security risks.

10. Customer Reviews and Reputation

Real customer feedback can give you a clear picture of a hosting provider’s reliability.

Where to Find Reviews:

– G2, Trustpilot, and ShopperApproved for unbiased customer experiences.

– Web hosting forums where users discuss their experiences.

Pro Tip: Look for consistent complaints about downtime, support, or security issues.

How to Choose the Best Hosting Provider

Now that you know what to look for, here are some actionable steps to make the best choice:

Define your needs – Do you need shared hosting, VPS, or dedicated hosting?

Compare multiple providers – Make a list of 3-5 top contenders.

Check trial periods or refund policies – Many hosts offer money-back guarantees.

Test customer support – Ask pre-sales questions to assess responsiveness.

Read the fine print – Look for hidden fees or contract lock-ins.

By following these steps, you can confidently choose a hosting provider that suits your needs.

Why VeeroTech Web Hosting is a Great Choice

Choosing a web hosting provider isn’t just about finding the cheapest plan or the flashiest features—it’s about reliability, transparency, and long-term value. VeeroTech Web Hosting isn’t just another hosting provider; they’ve built their business around a simple yet powerful principle: Treat customers the way you’d want to be treated.

Many hosting companies lure customers with low introductory prices, only to drastically increase renewal rates, hide essential features behind paywalls, and bombard users with upsells. VeeroTech Web Hosting takes a different approach: no hidden fees, no pricing tricks, and no last-minute surprises at renewal. From the moment you sign up, you get a clear, upfront understanding of what you’re paying for—and that price remains the same year after year.

If you’re looking for a reliable, secure, and high-performance hosting provider, VeeroTech Web Hosting is an excellent choice.

99.9% Uptime Guarantee – Ensuring your website is always online.
Fast Loading Speeds – NVMe storage, LiteSpeed servers, and a global CDN.
24/7 Expert Support – Friendly and knowledgeable team available anytime.
Robust Security Features – Free SSL, malware protection, and DDoS defense.
Affordable Pricing – Transparent plans with no hidden costs.
Easy Scalability – Upgrade as your business grows with one click.

With VeeroTech Web Hosting, you get the best combination of speed, security, and support at an affordable price.

Choosing the right hosting provider is crucial for your website’s success. By evaluating factors like uptime, speed, security, pricing, and support, you can avoid common pitfalls and select a hosting solution that meets your needs.

Signup Deals vs. Renewal Prices: How to Make an Informed Choice

Luring Deals and Their Long-Term Impact

Imagine You’re scrolling through your inbox, and an email catches your eye. “Get 80% off your first year!” or “Lock in $2/month for 12 months—today only!” The offer may seem too good to pass up. You click, sign up, and feel like you’ve won the frugality lottery. After a year, suddenly, your bill triples. The “deal” now feels like a bait-and-switch. Sound familiar?

From site hosting and software subscriptions to streaming services and gym memberships, signup offers are everywhere. Businesses use these promos to attract customers, encourage prompt decisions, and expand their clientele.

The problem is not the discount itself but rather the lack of transparency about what happens after the promotional period ends. Many businesses rely on this cycle: Hook customers with a low upfront cost, then rely on inertia, contract terms, or hidden fees to keep them paying higher rates later. This creates a dilemma for buyers.

Is the short-term savings worth the long-term cost?

In this article, we’ll explore how to navigate signup deals wisely, why VeeroTech’s honest pricing model stands out in a sea of gimmicks, and how to save money over the long term by making informed choices.

How to Evaluate Deals: Looking Beyond First-Year Pricing

Before clicking “Subscribe,” pausing and dissecting the offer is essential. Here’s a step-by-step framework to evaluate whether a signup deal is truly a bargain—or a financial trap in disguise.

1. Calculate the Total Cost of Ownership

Most deals focus on the first year’s price, but savvy shoppers think about total cost over time. For example:

Scenario A: A web hosting plan costs $2/ month for the first year and then renews at $10/month.

Scenario B: A competitor charges $8/month with no promotional discounts.

Initially, Scenario A may seem cheaper. But over three years, the math tells a different story:

– Scenario A: ($2 x 12) + ($10 x 24) = $264

– Scenario B: $8 x 36 = $288

In this case, the “discounted” plan saves $24 over three years. But what if you only need the service for two years? The savings will drop to $8. If the renewal price were $12/month, Scenario A would become more expensive than Scenario B in the second year.

Takeaway: Always calculate costs for your expected usage period. Use a spreadsheet or calculator to compare total expenses, not just introductory rates.

2. Read the Fine Print on Renewal Terms

Companies often bury critical details in terms of service agreements. Key questions to ask before purchasing are the following:

– Is the renewal price clearly stated?

– Does the contract auto-renew? Can you cancel easily?

– Are there hidden fees (e.g., setup charges, overage costs)?

For instance, some web hosts advertise “unlimited bandwidth” but throttle speeds after a certain threshold. Others lock customers into multi-year contracts with steep early termination fees. If the terms are vague or hard to find, consider them a red flag.

3. Assess the Company’s Pricing History

Does the provider have a reputation for sudden price hikes? Check online reviews or forums to see if existing customers report “bill shock” after their initial term. A pattern of aggressive renewal pricing suggests that the company prioritizes short-term gains over customer retention.

4.Consider Your Flexibility Needs

Are you signing up for a service you might outgrow? For example, a startup might choose a discounted basic hosting plan but later need more resources. The initial deal could backfire if upgrading mid-term resets your rate or incurs penalties.

5.Factor In the Value of Peace of Mind

A slightly higher upfront price with stable renewal rates often beats a roller coaster of discounts and surprises. Predictable pricing lets you budget effectively and reduces decision fatigue when renewal time comes.

VeeroTech’s Honest Pricing Model: No Renewal Gimmicks

In a market where pricing games is very common, VeeroTech has developed a reputation for transparency. Unlike competitors relying on loss-leading promotions, VeeroTech’s pricing model is straightforward: **What you see is what you get.**

How It Works

VeeroTech offers the same monthly or annual rate from Day 1. Even with promotional discounts, there are no secret renewal hikes or contracts locking customers into unfavourable terms. For example:

– Competitor:** $2.95/month for Year 1, $17.99/month thereafter.

– VeeroTech: $6.95/month consistently.

Over three years, the competitor’s plan totals $467.64, while VeeroTech costs $250.20. The “cheap” option ends up being 86.7% more expensive.

Why This Approach Wins Trust

VeeroTech’s model reflects a customer-first philosophy. Here’s why it resonates:

No Surprises: Customers aren’t penalized for staying loyal.
Very Simplified Budgeting: Businesses and individuals can accurately forecast expenses.
Alignment of Incentives: VeeroTech earns trust by prioritizing long-term relationships over quick signups.

The Hidden Cost of “Cheap”

Low introductory prices often signal that a company is willing to undervalue its service to attract customers. This can lead to:

– Underinvesting in infrastructure (e.g., slow servers, outdated software).

– Poor customer support due to high churn rates.

– Aggressive upselling to offset revenue lost from discounts.

VeeroTech avoids these pitfalls by pricing its services sustainably from the start. This allows consistent investment in performance, security, and support—benefits that compound over time.

Conclusion: Saving Money Over the Long Term

In a world of flashy promotions and psychological pricing tactics, saving money isn’t about chasing the lowest upfront cost—it’s about understanding the total cost of trust. Here’s how to make empowered decisions:

Play the Long Game: Calculate costs over 2–5 years, not just the first 12 months.
Prioritize Transparency: Support companies that disclose renewal terms upfront.
Value Stability Over Short-Term Wins: A slightly higher consistent rate often saves money (and stress) in the long run.
Vote with Your Wallet: Reward businesses like VeeroTech that reject manipulative pricing.

The next time you see a “90% off!” deal, pause and ask: What happens when the honeymoon phase ends? By focusing on value, transparency, and sustainability, you’ll save money and build relationships with companies that respect your intelligence and your budget.

Check this price comparison with leading hosting providers

Feature	Veerotech	Hostinger	A2 Hosting	SiteGround	Bluehost	GoDaddy
Starting Price (1 Yr. Plan)	$6.95/mo	$2.99/mo	$4.95/mo	$2.99/mo	$2.95/mo	$2.95/mo
Renewal Price (After 1st Yr.)	$6.95/mo	$10.99/mo	$11.99/mo	$17.99/mo	$11.99/mo	$4.99/mo
Approx. Running Cost for 3 Yr.	$250.20 ($6.95/mo)	$299.64 ($8.32/mo)	$347.16 ($9.64/mo)	$467.64 ($12.99/mo)	$807.24 ($22.42/mo)	$1333.26 ($37.03/mo)
Approx. % Saving Over 3 Yr.	81%	77%	73%	65%	39%	–
Storage (Basic Plan)	25GB NVMe	100GB SSD	10GB SSD	10GB SSD	10GB NVMe	10GB NVMe
Speed (Basic Plan)	1vCPU / 2GB RAM	1vCPU / 1GB RAM	2vCPU / 1GB RAM	NA	NA	NA
Domains	Unlimited	100	1	Unlimited	10	1
Websites/Apps	Unlimited	100	1	1	10	10
Free Email Accounts	Unlimited	100	Unlimited	Unlimited	$2.49/mailbox/mo	$5.99/mailbox/mo
Free Daily Backup	Yes	Weekly	Yes	Yes	$2.99/mo	Yes
Free SSL Certificates	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	$99.99/yr

Disclaimer: This comparison is based on publicly available information as of Nov 2024. Prices, features, and specifications may change. Visit provider websites for the latest details. This table is not an endorsement of any brand. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Final Thought

Informed choices aren’t just about money but peace of mind. Whether you’re choosing a web host, a fitness app, or a streaming service, remember: The best deal isn’t the one that looks good today. It’s the one that still feels fair a year from now.

Getting Started with Publii – A Desktop-Based Static Site Generator

In this article, we will take a closer look at Publli, a desktop-based static site generator. Static website generators have been around for a long time. However, they have not been as popular as dynamic websites with database back-end web applications, most likely because dynamically rich websites easily modify, maintain, and administer content through a beautiful dashboard, such as WordPress and Joomla. Continue reading →

Creating an email address in cPanel

You’ve put it off long enough. It’s time to create a custom email address using cPanel to go along with your sparkly new personalized domain name.

See, your brand new website is done. Ready. A sense of pride washes over you. Everything you have to offer this world is now instantly available at the fingertips of the internet. But what if your visitors should wish to contact you? You thought you had that covered. All they had to do, according to your site, is email you at… tlee2817@hotmail.com?! (To be honest, the “2817” has no real significance; you kind of just settled on it after you found the year you were born was taken, not to mention the dozen or so other combinations you tried.)

It doesn’t have to be that way.

Among the great benefits of a personalized domain name is the ability to employ email addresses that correspond with it. Besides giving your web presence a more polished and professional look, email addresses that use your own domain also tend to instill added trust in the minds of your visitors.

Fortunately, VeeroTech has your back, making email address creation a cinch via the incredible power and ease of cPanel.

Creating the email address in cPanel

Your first step is telling the server to watch for mail and store it for you. Sound daunting? Nah, cPanel will do all the heavy lifting.

1. On your cPanel homepage, look for the Email Accounts icon and click it.

You’ll find yourself viewing a list of email addresses associated with your domain. Yes, an address is already there and waiting. Just ignore it. It’s generated by VeeroTech when you first signed up for web hosting.

2. Click the Create button.

The panel that opens contains all the settings needed to bring your custom email address to glorious life.

3. Enter the Username. This is simply the part of your email address that precedes the @ sign and your domain name.

You might just opt to go with your first name (tim). Or maybe you have a team and each member will require his or her own address, and you want to include a last name, too (timlee). In addition to letters and numbers, you can also include periods, hyphens, and underscores (tim.lee, tim-lee, tim_lee). It’s not case-sensitive, so no matter how you enter it, upper or lowercase letters will work all the same.

(You can find some additional tips on picking the best name format for your address over on the very helpful Budding Geek blog.)

4. For Security, leave it at Set password now and enter the desired Password.

cPanel will gauge the strength of your password and let you know if you should make a change. Alternatively, you can click the Generate button to have a suggestion filled in for you. This is a great way to ensure you’ve met an adequate security threshold.

Handy tip: As shown above, you can easily alter the “recipe” for auto-generated passwords by clicking the little triangle at the far right.

5. Choose the amount of Storage Space for incoming and outgoing emails.

You can raise or lower the value, or choose Unlimited if you don’t want a ceiling. To start, the default of 1GB (1,024MB) should be just fine.

6. Leave the remaining settings at their defaults, and click Create.

There it is — you’ve created your new email address in cPanel. Try not to be blinded by its ethereal glow!

This list offers a bird’s-eye view of all your created addresses, including how much storage space each is using versus how much you’ve allocated for it.

You’re halfway done. Can you believe it?

A quick word about managing email addresses

If you ever need to change the settings of an email address you’ve already created, this is where you’ll do it. There’s also a Manage button, which takes you back into the account settings, allowing you to change the password and storage space, among other things.

Automatically configuring your device to access your email address

Your second (and final!) step is to configure your device, or devices, to access the email address now resting comfortably on the server. Yes, this can seem overwhelming. But take a relieved breath, because again, cPanel is there to carry the burden.

On the Email Accounts screen in cPanel, click the Connect Devices button next to the email address you just created.

Your first (and, quite possibly, only) stop is the top section, Mail Client Automatic Configuration Scripts. If you see your mail client listed, then great — all you’re going to have to do is click a link, and cPanel will run a quick script that sets up your email account on the device you’re presently using.

So, if you want to share the account on, say, a desktop computer and your iPhone, you would log into cPanel separately on each, then choose the appropriate script.

You’ll notice under Protocols some fun-sounding options that are pure computerese. In a nutshell, here are the only two options you really need to consider:

IMAP over SSL/TLS. Email messages are stored on the server, synced, and accessible on any device you configure. This is the suggested configuration option for most devices.

POP3 over SSL/TLS. Email messages are downloaded to the device upon retrieval, and in most cases, deleted from the server. This might be okay if you only ever intend to use one device, and don’t care to have your messages archived and synced elsewhere.

(As an aside, SSL/TLS simply stands for two common cryptographic protocols designed to provide secure communication from one device to another.)

Once you’ve chosen the appropriate link, clicked it, and permitted cPanel to set up your device, it’s entirely possible you’re good to go! If so, congratulations — you can stop reading now and do something decidedly un-techie like jumping jacks or flossing.

Manually configuring your device to access your email address

But, uh-oh… what if there’s no corresponding configuration script for your device in the list? That’s okay, because cPanel gives you everything you need in order to do a little manual jiggering.

Every mail client has a way to set up an account. In most cases, you’ll find the process broken up into a series of steps, requiring you to simply provide some key info. cPanel lists that info out, and once you understand a couple basics, there’s no bite.

First off, you’ll want to use the settings in the Secure SSL/TLS Settings (Recommended) section. (Please remember: Don’t use the info in the above screenshot example. Refer to your own cPanel for your specific settings.)

Your mail client is, of course, going to want your account’s username (the full email address in this case) and password. That’s what you created in the steps up above. Just plug those in exactly as cPanel displays.

Then, you’re going to specify an incoming server. This is the server responsible for receiving messages. Once you’ve determined whether you’re going with IMAP or POP3 (see the brief explanation above), you’ll know which port to use. You’ll very likely opt for IMAP.

Lastly, you need to provide an outgoing server and its port number. This is the server responsible for sending your messages.

That’s it, seriously, you’re done

Now you can really get down to business. Or send out some links to funny cat videos. Or, maybe sending out links to funny cat videos is your business, in which case we applaud your entrepreneurial spirit. Regardless, your recipients will notice the difference — and you can finally stop cringing every time somebody asks you what that “2817” means.

WooCommerce Optimization Guide For Beginners

WooCommerce is one of the most popular solutions for setting up an online eCommerce store. It is simple, easy to use and relies on WordPress which happens to be the world’s most popular Content Management System. Naturally, WooCommerce optimization is something that cannot be neglected or left to chance.

While optimizing WordPress is a different story altogether, WooCommerce optimization has its own requirements and measures that you can undertake. In this article, we will be discussing steps and measures you can take to conduct better WooCommerce optimization and get the most out of this amazing eCommerce solution. Continue reading →