Web hosting has become something of a commodity thanks to the abundance of service providers on the market. In some ways, this is good for business owners because it forces hosting services to provide good service at a fair price. However, not all service providers are created equal and there are some warning signs that suggest it may be time to find another solution.

Here are 3 Signs That It Is Time to Find a New Web Hosting Provider:

• Talking to a Live Person Is Not An Option. Although most web hosting providers talk about their great customer support, they don't all have the same idea of what this means. If you have concerns about your bill or a question about a technical issue, can you easily reach the customer service or technical support departments? When things are going well, this might not seem like a big deal. However, if you experience problems with your web site or it goes offline altogether, would you rather have a phone number that is answered by a live person 24/7 - or an email address that forces you to wait for someone to get back to you?

• When "Free" Is Not Really Free. As the old saying goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch. However, perhaps you couldn't quite pass up that "free" web hosting service when you first launched your web site. After all, why would you pay good money for something that you could get elsewhere for nothing? Unfortunately, that form of "free" usually ends up costing you a lot more in the end thanks to banner ads that siphon your visitors (and potential customers) away from your site. Those ads can translate into a lot of missed opportunity and lost business for you. What's worse, you are stuck with a long, unwieldy domain name that looks unprofessional and doesn't rank well in the search engines. When it comes to "free" web hosting services, you get what you pay for in most cases.

• You've Grown (and They Haven't). Planning for future growth and potential market changes is important to your online business. The Internet is a rapidly changing environment and you will need to adapt and evolve over time to remain competitive. In addition, most successful entrepreneurs find that their business needs also change over time. Therefore, the online presence you establish during the start-up phase of your business will not continue to meet your business objectives indefinitely. If your current hosting provider isn't able to support the growth of your business over the long run, it is definitely time to sever ties and find a service that can.

Although web hosting may appear to be a one-size-fits-all service, there are many important factors to keep in mind before selecting a provider for your business. After all, whether your business operates primarily in the online world or off, your web site will play a critical role in your long-term success.

Salli Berman of Western Reserve Internet Services is a Documentation Specialist. Along with web design and development, WRIS is a Clevland web hosting and marketing company.