Having worked for a web hosting company for a while as a Systems Administrator (think fancy tech support) I kind of know my way around web servers. When it came time to find my own servers, I knew what I was looking for. A dedicated server, where I was responsible for everything except hitting the power button. Luckily I found what I was looking for and its been a good move. If I’m ever in a situation where I need the server rebooted, I just submit a ticket and generally its back up with in 15 minutes or so. The average webmaster may not be so lucky and truth be told its often hard to find the best web hosting when everyone and their mother seems to offer hosting.

Luckily, there’s a place you can turn to. I’ve talked briefly about Webhostrating.com before and after a more in depth visit to their site, I feel good recommending them to almost any one looking for information on hosts. Aside from having one of the best rating systems on the web for hosts, they’ve also got a good slew of informative articles for potential webmasters (and mistresses) that will help guide your selection process.

For example, maybe you want to put up a website for your daughter’s world of warcraft Guild (ok, lets be honest here, *YOUR* WoW guild). However, “mean-bitches-who-kill-everyone-and-eat-their-eyeballs.com” is not really a practical url. Why not? Well, I’ll let you figure that one out, but WHR’s article on Tips For Choosing A Domain will help you select one a little better for your guild your daughter’s guild.

It doesn’t stop there! You can create accounts and rate your hosts as well. All in all, Web Hosting Rating is a tool every webmaster should have bookmarked.