This weekend I made some major changes to meganauman.com. With a little help from Tara, I’d done all the design and coding on a backup site. So last night, I sat down to move everything over to my main site.
And that’s when I realized that my web hosting sucks.
I’ve had the same web host for meganauman.com since around 2004 or 2005. At the time, it made sense to me. There were a lot of cheaper options, but I made my decision based on the guess that this provider would be around for a long time. (Which, they were.)
But over the years, I’ve come to realize that maybe they aren’t the best. They’re overpriced for the amount of traffic I have. They have some weird domain restrictions. And site updates can take forever to show up.
So why have I stayed with them this long?
Simple, human nature.
It’s the way I’ve always done it, and changing seemed like such a hassle.
But last night I realized that mentality can really hurt your bottom line.
By not switching to a better priced service, I’m wasting money. And having to deal with weird restrictions is costing me time and frustration.
But I’m sure I’m not the only one that this syndrome affects. We stay with the bank that charges a monthly fee because it’s the one we’ve always used. We use the same credit card processing service as everyone else, rather than find the best option. We pay too much for supplies because it’s easier than researching new sources or negotiating a better price.
And while it might not seem like such a big deal, that kind of thinking can cost you big time in the long run.
Monthly fees and overpaying can add up to hundreds of dollars (if not more) wasted in a year. Overpaying on supplies can drive up the price you need to charge just to break even. And all of this can have an incredibly negative impact on your bottom line.
So today, while I’m switching my web hosting to something better, I’d encourage you to think about the service providers and suppliers you use for your business. Are they really the best option for your business? Or are you using them just because it’s what you’ve always done?
New site design looks sharp!
So glad that all the ornaments didn’t break, and it is fibaxle, plenty of time before next Christmas. Maybe use a cup hook instead of regular screw.Hope to see it back up in about 350 more days.
I agree with Meredith, the redesign looks great!
Is bluehost a pretty reliable hosting company?
Rachel –
I use bluehost for crafting an mba, and I’ve been very happy with them so far. They have good phone support as well.
Love the new website!
Yes, I do the same. I pay $25 a month where I host my free downloads. My original plan was to use more of the service, but it turns out I’m not using it as much as I’d hoped. Now, I hesitate to switch the files over from pure laziness! I have an option I can use that is free……I just need to get off my tushy and do it.
I just did the exact same thing! I’d been with one host for 2 years and then suddenly when I wanted to switch to a WordPress site for my online portfolio, I learned that they didn’t support it at my package level. I’m now using a local host that costs half the price, answers my questions within an hour, and walks me through things without making me feel like an idiot. Isn’t it funny how long it takes us to realize the things that are dragging us down? I LOVE the clean look of your new site. White is never overrated.
This is the kick in the pants I needed. I am contemplating a switch in my credit card merchant account. My current account uses a phone instead of a terminal, but the discount % is very high. And it can take an hour to process charges after a big show. The new account requires a terminal ($499 yikes), but the discount % is much lower, and it would take so much less time. Logically, I know the lower discount and time savings would pay for the terminal within a year, and beyond that the savings will be gravy. I should go for it!