Consider how much downtime the web host will have when looking for one.
These downtimes vary from 10% to .000001%. This means that there could be hours of downtime per week or as little as seconds.

Do any of the hosts you're choosing between offer your money back if you're not satisfied?
If you are not happy with the service you receive during the first 30 days, you should be able to cancel the service and receive a refund.

Avoid choosing the cheapest web-hosting service out there, and certainly think long and hard before you go with a free one.

If you are running a business online, your reputation can be severely damaged if you choose an unreliable hosting service.

The best web hosts offer you many different tools to help you improve your website.
Some services allow you to build your site from scratch on an easy to use click and drag software or to use one of their templates, for instance.