Hi guys,
I was wondering, how effective do you find web hosting directories? Do the new users really trust the rating of WHD for web hosting companies?.

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I haven't looked for a new host in a while, but I wouldn't really trust the "reviews" at most web hosting directories. Most only "review" the usual suspects (Ipowerweb, Aplus, Powweb, etc) anyways. I prefer checking out forums (of the company and general hosting ones) instead.

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Just like Div, I also prefer 'stalking' potential web hosts on popular forums if I am out looking for a web host.

Having said that, I can see how a web hosting directory can be useful as well. I don't know about the 'reviews', I usually use these directories to see who's doing what

On the other hand, I think it will be quite an interesting task to develop a web hosting directory (site) myself, which is what I intend to do someday soon.

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J de Silva
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Just find forums and ask peoples opinion.
ozzu.com has a lot of webmasters there and this section is a web hosting section.
www.ozzu.com

... and so do we, what's your point actually?

The key is to seperate the real reviews from the fake reviews. Whether you get those real reviews from websites, forums, blogs, newsgroups...it doesn't matter.

If I just wanted to get a list of potential webhosts to check out, then I would use a directory like Yahoo, DMOZ or GIDWebhosts.

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OH! When I say I refer to forums, I don't mean I look at general comments and "reviews" left by other webmasters about web hosts. I mean I look at how the web hosts themselves post on these forums. What they say, how they interact and help others; those kinds of things.

Sometimes I read (ridiculous) posts made by web hosts here at GIDForums™ and at places like WHT and I think to myself, "Sure... spammy, useless messages like that is definitely going to get you a lot of customers ...NOT!".

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J de Silva
Learning Journal | GIDForums™ | GIDNetwork™ | GIDWebhosts™ | GIDSearch™

Sure web hosting directories are helpful. Even when you can not find a review or comment for a particular host there. As J has already mentioned all you need to do then is to ask for review in the forums.

But it is always useful to find companies categorized and to compare them.

Regards
Dimitar

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