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Getting someone on the 'phone when your site goes down will instantly make you feel better and get you the answers you need as quickly as you need them. A lot of bigger web hosting companies offer free support and often are available out of hours too. Phone support is a great benefit for any web hosting client.
2. What sort of history does the company have? How long has this company been in business?
Web hosting companies that have been in existence for less than a year may not be the best choice for you or your website. A hosting company with a proven track record and many happy clients is certainly a good sign and might work well for you. A lot of the larger hosting businesses will post customer testimonials on their site to reinforce the message.
3. What software does the company offer?
This varies widely between web hosting companies. Now that I have used Cpanel I wouldn't want to be without it, mainly because I am used to it and now know what features it has and how to use most of them. It's a lot easier to stick with something you know than have to try switching to a new User Interface.
Are you designing your site with Frontpage? . If so, check your host supports this, as not all do.
Another area you may want to research is the supplied statistics. What sort of web statistics software is included with your web hosting account? Is, for example, Awstats included?
4. Fees.
I'd rather pay a little more for a full feature set and reliabilty than get the cheapest deal and have problems with server downtime, bandwith issues, etc. With hosting deals you usually get a level of service that is relative to the price you have paid.
Check that your prospective hosting company offers a refund service before signing up. Most quality ones do as they know they can deliver what they promise.
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