A client, Steve Moore of Moore Appliance Service, asked me a great question last month ...

What makes my web hosting service different than some of the larger volume hosts, such as GoDaddy.com? 

I knew the answer in my head, and hopefully provided a decent response, but it made me realize that this is a good question to address with all of my wonderful clients...

Web hosting is a specialized skill, and with every month that passes, more complex. The range of services provided by web hosts varies greatly (hence, "apples and oranges" ... they aren't the same thing!).  Specifically, let me tell you about the team behind my web server (and for my clients who host with RF Web Design, your web server).

• Your server is managed by a team of Red Hat and Cisco certified engineers, available 24/7 (literally). Not a hobbyist, not someone with technical expertise and a server in their spare bedroom.  And when I submit a request for support, I get immediate response from an engineer.  Some of my clients use other web hosts, and I can confirm that my engineers provide much better, faster support.
• These engineers proactively monitor the server.  They provide all software updates as they are available from the source (not waiting for me to request it).  They dig through the server logs to understand why and when things happened (when needed). I get automatic notifications when your email space or bandwidth is about to be exceeded, so that I can notify you and we can prevent a problem.
• The server is located in Dallas, Texas, along a T1 backbone (that means FAST access to the world wide web infrastructure).  The building is very secure, with state of the art features to protect your data.
• The company is completely debt free with a positive net cash flow.  I love that – they are going to be around for a while!
• They provide twice-daily, offsite backups.  A couple of you have already benefited from this!  If you accidentally delete files that break your forum or otherwise disable your web site, just give me a call or email!  Within minutes of a support ticket request, they'll have the files restored.
• Their servers are heavily performance-tuned for hosting virtually any PHP / MySQL powered application. As a result, your site site loads reliably and at lightening speed.
• They provide Green Hosting: They purchase carbon credits from Green Mountain Energy to offset the emissions of their hosting operations, who in turn invest in renewable energy sources like wind and solar power as well as biomass facilities. In addition, they have implemented steps to actually reduce emissions on a per client basis.  BTW, if your web site is hosted with RF Web Design, you can place a Green Hosting Seal on your web site to show your site visitors that you take environmental issues seriously.

I met the owner and two of the engineers recently at the 2010 CMS Expo.  They confirmed my long-distance impression that these folks are professionals and excel at their business.