Ok, I’ve got to go geek.

A few months ago, I decided it was time to find a new host for my blog. It’s not that I was having real issues; I just wanted to stretch my legs and find the *best* place out there. So I did some research. And then I researched some more. And every time I thought I found something better, I found the catch. There was always a catch. (It took me a full day to discover that one host that really looked especially good doesn’t offer additional domains or subdomains *at all* without buying a completely separate package, which would cost me thousands a year).

In short, I found out that I was already using the best host out there, ASmall Orange.  

Why is it the best? Lots of reasons: they offer unlimited amounts of the right things (eg domains and subdomains) while putting limits in rational places (hardddrive space and bandwidth, for example). Many, many hosts advertise unlimited everything for practically nothing but then limit your cpu cycles (incredibly arbitrary) leaving you with a locked up account whenever you blink (or try to make use of the unlimited promises they make). Like I said, ASO sets reasonable limits and tells you what they are ahead of time or when you’re getting close to them.

But that’s not what really sets ASO apart from its competitors. When I researching, I went to the ASO forums and asked a question. First off, if you find a host that doesn’t have public forums or that deletes comments, run away. You will know if they don’t delete comments, because you can search for “delete” and find people saying “you can delete this rant now” with the response “we don’t delete.”

Anyway, I went to the forum and I got a quick response from an actual, paid employee – they pay employees to read and respond in the user forums. But that’s not the best part. When I asked a question he couldn’t answer, the owner – who runs the business out of Atlanta – chimed in with the answer.

How many hosting companies give you access to the guy in charge?

Like I said, after a ton of research, I found out I was already using the best host. And if you want to use them, too, sign up and put “traveling” in the coupon box for 15% off your order or “godspeed” for $5 off.

They really are worth it.