Building a website for your business is mandatory to showcase your products and services to potential clients. However, building a website is not all about its design and aesthetics. The website must be easy to use, seamlessly navigable, responsive, and have quick loading times.
When you build a website, you need to host it on the internet which means you will contact a web hosting company to be able to publish your website. Hosting your company’s website costs money either on a monthly or yearly basis, so it is an investment you should consider before committing to a web hosting provider. Read on to know how to choose the best web hosting service for your business.
Know Your Website’s Needs
To choose the right web hosting, you have to first identify your website’s needs. Start with listing the needs of your business and what to show on your website. Each website requires different types of plug-ins and features to suit the business’s needs. If you want a website with minimal demands and limited traffic, shared hosting is suitable for it as it is budget-friendly.
Virtual Private Server hosting (VPS) is an upgraded version of shared hosting as it gives your website a unique IP address and virtual server. WordPress is the most popular web hosting method that various providers work with, and it offers a variety of features tailored to your needs. Other web hosting types include dedicated hosting, which is expensive, and cloud hosting.
Start With the Reviews
This is a foolproof way to narrow down the options from the beginning of your search. Check reviews on different web hosting providers and compare them to each other. Previous customers will share their experiences with providers, whether good or bad, which will tell you what to expect if you decide to do business with them. Some websites offer a professional comparison among web hosting providers which can tell you more about the features and drawbacks of each provider. Make sure not to check biased reviews as they don’t tell the complete truth.
Domain, Server, and Storage Space
These are the three things you can expect from web hosting. The domain name is the name of your website on the internet. Most web hosting providers allow you to choose and maintain your domain name on the internet. If the provider is using WordPress Toolkit cPanel hosting, you will be able to manage your domain easily through this tool. The server is the most important consideration when you pick a web hosting provider as it is responsible for serving your website to users. You must check the server uptime, as low uptime rates mean your website will be inaccessible regularly.
Your website will save its data on the server and the amount of data saved will dictate how much storage space you need. If you will be using a lot of media such as videos and high-quality photographs, then you will need considerable storage space.
Subscription Period
Web hosting providers offer a variety of subscription options that you can choose from. They range from one month, a year, or multiple years. Contracting for several years will save you money in the long run, but you must be 100% sure of the long-term commitment. The monthly subscription options are a great way to try the web hosting provider and have a better understanding of how the whole thing works. Some providers impose fees or penalties if you change subscription plans, so make sure you understand what they are beforehand.
Security Features
What is the point of a website full of features but lacking in security? Cybercrime is dangerous and devastating for many industries, and you must make sure your website will stay safe on the internet. Your web hosting provider must have a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to ensure that your sensitive information like your clients’ private data is secured. Check all the security features as some providers offer additional security measures.
Add-On Products and Services
As your business grows, your website will grow along with it. You will need web hosting services that will allow your website to expand on features. Check what kind of extra products or services your host can provide. Having limited options will force you to change web hosting providers which is both hassling and costly.
Knowing what to look for in web hosting solutions will save you money and time. There are hundreds of providers offering a wide range of features and capabilities. You must list the objectives of your business to accurately know what your website needs. Take your time researching different web hosting providers as this is a long-term relationship that you must be sure of.
Read Also: Reasons To Start A Reseller Hosting
