Whether you’re a new online business just getting started, or you’re a well-established brand, it’s a universal truth that finding the right web hosting service can be a tortuous ordeal. If you run a search for “best web hosting service” online, an overwhelming amount of choices will populate, and you run the risk of being in a more clueless position than when you first started.

Even once you’ve found a web hosting service that you like, you still need to remain vigilant that at some point the service may no longer be right for you. It won’t be an easy decision to make once you’ve realised you need to move on but addressing these issues as soon as you can will save you a lot of time, money and headache in the future. But I’m confident there won’t be many arguments against changing to a better service if it’s going to boost the success of your website and your business.

Thankfully, here at Stratagem Hosting we have compiled a list of indicators that let you know when it’s time to start looking for a new hosting service.

Unhelpful Technical Support

Nothing makes using a poor service worse than having an unhelpful customer service team be the only thing between failure and success to your business.

When something is going wrong with your website and you can’t immediately fix it, the next option is to drop a line to a support team who can assist you in getting things up and running again.

According to the CallMiner Churn Index 2020, 75% of consumers stated they would switch providers after having a poor experience with customer service, and this is across all industries.

If you aren’t able to get quick assistance when you need it, then heavily consider changing to a different provider that can. If there’s an issue on the server-side, you want to make sure you have a reliable team to support you getting everything back online, and quickly.

Hidden Web hosting prices and Diminishing Service

When it comes to Web Hosting services, you get what you pay for. Free web hosting services are fine, but don’t expect to have a customer service team that you can reach 24/7, or a generous amount of server space as your website demands increase. You should always go for the best provider for your needs, and if you have to pay a fair amount for your web hosting then at least you can be confident in knowing you’re getting a decent service.

Things can get murky however, when hidden prices begin cropping up for services that you weren’t told you were using or asked for in the first place. If you begin to notice you’re being charged for things you shouldn’t be then reach out to your provider and ask for an explanation. If you don’t get a clear answer or any answer at all, then it is definitely time to consider changing services.

Constant Technical Issues and Intermittent Server Speed

As we’ve covered, you pay for what you get when it comes to web hosting services, but at a bare minimum the service should be functional. If your users are expressing that they’re having constant issues with accessing your website, chances are they won’t blame the servers or your web hosting provider. They’ll blame you and your brand, eventually resulting in the customer taking their time and money elsewhere.

Your brand and the CUX (customer experience) are the two most affected aspects when your website is down. If your website is constantly having issues then users may get the impression that this is a recurring issue and begin to think of your brand as being unreliable which is terrible for brand identity.

Not only this, but even Google will turn on your website. Well, not exactly, but Google’s algorithm for identifying “bad” websites will activate and punish these “bad” websites by pushing them down in Google rankings. All of a sudden, your ranking on Google has gone down significantly, and a good SEO campaign can take upwards of three months to improve Google rankings which is valuable lost time and resources.

At the end of the day, websites go down. That said, if they are going down frequently, and there’s no justification or sense of urgency to resolve the issue from the web hosting side then start looking to get out of there ASAP.

Things Are Getting A Little Expensive

Any decision that involves the spending of money is one hopefully done with great consideration. So it isn’t always a great experience when the service that's charging a fee begins to increase its pricing without improving its service.

For web hosting services, introducing a higher price may be acceptable if other subsequent benefits are provided such a larger server space, or a VIP contact within the support team.

However, if you’re having frequent issues with the service, regular down time, support teams that are impossible to get in touch with, and then they increase your bill, show them how you feel and take your business elsewhere as soon as you can.

Cyber Security Not Being A Priority

In today’s world of cyber attacks, hacks, data theft, and the ongoing voyage into the cyber age, the protection of your website and customer’s data has to be a top priority for hosting providers.

Everyone conducts their security checks in their own way when it comes to cyber security, but some security measures on the hosting provider's side may not be to your specification or standard. Hackers have a plethora of tools and knowledge to exploit servers and devices to gain access to people’s data and personal information so cyber security is not something to be scrimped and saved on.

Where possible, try to figure out what kind of security systems your hosting provider is using and crosscheck those against your own due diligence. If the web host's security measures or priorities don’t align with yours, it may be best to think about making the switch.

Final Thoughts

Before making any quick decisions to leave your current web hosting provider, run through the key indicators we have listed here once more. If you’re concerned about even one of them, it’s at least worth exploring other options and see if you can’t find a better provider.

If you’re itching to get away from your current web host, then take a look at Stratagem Hosting. We can deliver several, ultra-reliable, fast and secure hosting options with varying prices to suit every type of customer. Our Excellent rating on TrustPilot is a true reflection of our outstanding service and total customer satisfaction. Take a look at our plans and make the switch today.