I got an e-mail from a Web Hosting Show listener last week who wanted to know if I had any points or tips for web hosts as far as their web site content and layout goes? Looking out there at the market today from web host to web host a lot of the web sites are starting to look the same.

To keep things simple, I thought I’d break this up into two topics. There are the things that web hosts need to do and then you have the things I’d like to see web hosts do as far as their web site layouts go.

Layout Tips Web Hosts Must Do

• Comparison Between Web Hosting Plans
• A History of Your Company and Details About Your Server Locations
• Reviews of Your Web Hosting from Your Clients

Layout Tips Web Hosts Could Do

• Better Support Pages (Maybe Use a CMS like Joomla or WordPress)
• Notifications (via RSS) of Recent Changes, Downtime or Upgrades
• Easy Way to Access Support from the Front Page

All in all hopefully once a web host is done with their web site they can say it stands out from the rest and doesn’t look like “just another template”. Web hosts, if your looking for something different you can do - just try mixing things up a little ‘bit. Look at the competition and don’t do what they are doing. Individuality is an important key to running a web hosting business because without that your just another generic choice to the consumer.

Related Podcast Link: Listen to Episode 115!

It is time for the masses to look ahead in PHP support and development and move towards using PHP 5. Now I am not alone in my opinion - it seems that is the growing opinion of the masses out there. So what is the hold up all about then? Well, there is some PHP 4 support dropped with PHP 5.

Since it might break some PHP 4 web applications out there, not everybody is in a hurry to upgrade from PHP 4 to PHP 5. That much is understandable. I think if we really want to see a change we are going to have to push the web application developers to think ahead - and not the web hosts.

One good place to check out to read more about “fighting the good fight” for PHP 5 is GoPHP5.org.

Here is a ‘bit of information from their mission statement on the front page.

PHP 4 has served the web developer community for seven years now, and served it well. However, it also shows its age. Most of PHP 4’s shortcomings have been addressed by PHP 5, released three years ago, but the transition from PHP 4 to PHP 5 has been slow for a number of reasons.

If you want to learn more about the debate, I would suggest checking out GoPHP5.org for yourself. While your there, if you are looking for a web host that supports PHP 5.2 or greater - check out their ever growing list of choices you have out there.

Now when it comes to any customer relations in any business out there, you always have the sour apples that think they are more important than everybody else out there in the world. What they don’t realize though is their snarky remarks and bad social skills are not just alienating other people from wanting to talk to them, it is also making the Web host hate them as well.

1. Don’t threaten the Web host with taking your business elsewhere. If you do so, don’t be surprised when the Web host gives you other hosting suggestions. If you are a jerk, they will be more than happy to get rid of you.

2. Don’t try to reach the Web host via every method that they provide. Putting in different support requests to all these different departments is just going to slow down the overall process.

3. Don’t put in 200 help desk ticket on the same subject. Also don’t reply to the same ticket over and over again saying, “Is it fixed yet?”. You’ll have your Web host wanting to reach back behind the seat to slap you around a little ‘bit.

4. Don’t go around to threads on the Web host’s forums and say things like, “Yeah, I remember when that happened - it took them three weeks to get that fixed for me” or other annoying remarks. If your not helping to fix the problem you are only adding to the problem.

5. Don’t contact guys from other departments of the Web hosting company asking for special side offers or deals. If you talk to the guy working in sales, and he says he can’t help you, it is not a secret government conspiracy or plot against you.

Now I know every Web host is suppose to help their clients no matter how much of a jerk they are. It is human nature though to feel hatred towards the people who do these things though, so my best suggestion is to just try to be nice. Treat your Web host the way you would want to be treated.

+ Check Out the Podcast This Was From! Listen to the Web Hosting Show, Podcast 85!

It is time yet again for me to empty my inbox and answer some of your questions about the Web hosting world. I have questions from every end of the Web hosting industry. From Web hosts to Web hosting clients, everybody has had something to ask.

I’ll answer as many as I can before I loose my voice and my fingers go numb right here on the 84th edition of the Web Hosting Show.

Download the Web Hosting Show, Podcast 84!
Running Time: 13 minutes | File Size: 6.20 MB

Hello I am the media maven of the Web hosting industry Mitch Keeler, and I want to welcome you to the most fun and entertaining podcast you will ever listen to on or about the Web hosting industry, the Web Hosting Show.

For those of you who might be new listeners, each week I try to go over the best of the best inside of the Web hosting industry. We tackle news, tips, thoughts and links to make your experience with all this hosting jargon just a little better. Read more »

Working any sort of customer support job is hard, but working customer support for a Web host is even harder. Oh you think sitting around and answering people’s questions is an easy job? I would beg to differ and I’ll let you know why on this edition of the Web Hosting Show.

Download the Web Hosting Show, Podcast 79!
Running Time: 20 minutes | File Size: 8.83 MB

Welcome to the number one Web hosting podcast out there today, the Web Hosting Show. I am you head hosting guru, Mitch Keeler and we are back yet again to talk about the trials and tribulations we all have to face inside and out of the Web hosting industry. Read more »

Four Questions for Your Future Web Host

Web hosting is a difficult and confusing business to get yourself into, but sooner or later just about everybody thinks about starting a Web site for themselves. No mater if you are starting up a Web site for your child’s baseball team or for your own corporate business, the things you need to look for to succeed are them same for all.

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Running Time: 6 minutes | File Size: 1.42 MB

Here are a few things to consider asking any Web hosting company you feel is worthy of having you as a client. Read more »

Web hosting deals too good to be true, building your Online reputation, and my hidden hatred for one of cPanel’s themes, this is the Web Hosting Show, podcast number thirty, and it is on the air.

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Running Time: 25 minutes | File Size: 5.81 MB

Hello and welcome yet again to another edition of the Web Hosting Show, the one and only voice of the Web hosting world. This show is supported each and every week by the fine folks over at Web Hosting Chat. Web Hosting Chat is your number one place for Web hosting discussions. Taking you through a joyride of the Web hosting world, I am Mitch Keeler. Read more »