How do you define the 'best' when it comes to looking for a new broadband package? It can be difficult to give a single answer because just like most things in life, there's a wide range of choice and what could be a great broadband package for someone else may not be right for you. After all, with over 2000 different packages available in the UK alone, consumers certainly shouldn't be quick to jump on a single package or provider without taking a look at exactly what the market can offer them at the time.

But all that choice also makes it difficult where to start. The best way to choose a new broadband provider is to think about what you haven't liked about your old provider? Was the speed too slow? Was it too expensive? Was the technical support poor? Most people switch broadband because it can save them money, but there's almost always at least one other reason why they are unsatisfied with their current provider, and if you can figure out what that might be you can look for a different provider that offers something better.

While some broadband offers are incredibly cheap, it's a simple fact that the best broadband and phone deals aren't normally the very cheapest if you take a look at a list on a broadband comparison site. Price is certainly a factor that people need to consider, but unless you're looking for completely no-frills broadband package you need to look at more than just the money. The cheapest packages can work out well for light users or single people, but if you've got a family or you use the internet a lot you'll need to look at something a bit heftier.

That doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune though. One of the great things about being a new customer of a broadband provider is that you're almost always eligible for their offers. If you're lucky you can save a large amount on a providers monthly charges, pick up extras for no cost or even get months free from a twelve month contract, which can bring the overall annual cost for your broadband down very quickly.

To find these offers checking out a broadband blog for a few weeks and taking a look at what various companies offer will net you a great deal. If you don't have to time to keep up with the blogs though, most comparison sites will also show you all of the special offers that are valid during the time you'll be signing up. The bonus of using a comparison site rather than going to sites individually means you'll get only relevant deals displayed to you for broadband that's available within your postcode, which cuts down a lot of the irrelevant deals.

It's always best to find an all round package rather than focusing on a single quality you want. After all, broadband works best when all the parts are functioning well; having a high speed connection is no good if you don't have the reliability you need to enjoy it, or the support to fix things quickly when things go wrong. Obviously when looking at list of features its impossible to tell if some things - like support - are going to be top notch, but you can fill the gap in your knowledge from looking at consumer and user reviews of different providers.