What is a webhosting directory? It is a similar directory just like your normal telephone directory with Yellow Pages. Many beginners and newbies who are in search of a reliable web host come across web hosting directories while searching for webhosts on search engines like Google.
But a question that can be of concern is: Are these web hosting directories really trustworthy sources for novices and newbies?
To find an answer it’s very important to understand the working of webhost directories (WHDs).

Web-hosting directories are of two types: paid WHDs and free WHDs. For paid directories, either web hosts pay a set amount for placing their banners on the site, or they pay commission if they get customers via that medium. An example of such type of directory is www.thewhir.com

On the other hand, free WHDs like www.thehostdir.com and www.hostbyte.com etc. web hosts list their services without paying any fees.

Some people believe that paid WHDs are very easy to manipulate as the ranking of web hosts can be changed in unfair ways. Others have the view that WHDs that are actually free reflect the true ranking of web hosts companies. Whatever the case may be, paid or free, people should believe the web hosts rankings only if they are based completely on votes of customers who have actually given their remarks and have left their website address as well.

It is not possible for any web hosting company to have 100% positive reviews. It is also observed that at times customers who are satisfied with their web host forget to express their opinion about that host. However, a biased customer who is not satisfied with their web host does not forget to mention their opinion of that web host. This implies that a negative review doesn’t always reflect the true picture of a web host company.

No doubt web hosting directories are very useful if the newbies wish to compare prices and features of different companies. But, when it comes to choosing a web host he/she should make an intelligent choice by referring to other resource sites (forums etc.) as well.

Reviews on forums can be good tool to judge on choosing a webhost after one has shortlisted the hosting providers from web-host directories. Forums may contain good or bad reviews, but both can be helpful to find the reputation of that particular hosting company.