Choosing the right hosting server for your website
Do you have a website but are unsure of the correct hosting server to choose? Whether your site is simple or complex, many factors can affect how it performs.
Choosing the right hosting server for your website isn’t as simple as picking one from a Google search. First, you need to carefully consider what type of site you’re building and what features you’ll need. You also want to compare prices between different hosts – often, there are great deals that might save you money over time!
What do web hosting providers do?
A web hosting service provider’s primary responsibility is to make your website accessible via the internet. A web hosting provider can provide you with these three things:
- Domain: The domain is the address of your website that users type in their browser to visit. It’s like a street address. A hosting provider will help you pick a domain name for your website and let you know if it has already been taken.
- Server: A server host your website live on the internet. The server also handles the traffic coming to your website. Your hosting provider will place your website on one of their servers for people to view.
- Storage capacity: Your website will contain images, videos, and other media files as well as the code. It’s like a room for your website files. Your hosting provider will give you a dedicated space to store all the code and media files for your website.
8 things to consider when choosing the best web hosting service
- Loading speed: It’s no secret that Google favors pages that load faster to provide its users with the best experience. Therefore, make sure the hosting service you hire has a fast loading speed. In theory, the difference may seem insignificant. However, remember that, in practice, a slight delay may mean that a user will remain engaged in your content, or they will be annoyed by the delay and leave your page.
- Uptime: There is nothing more frustrating on the internet than clicking a link and not reaching the target site. Not only does this inconvenience the user, but it also annoys Google, which begins to give less value to organic search results for that address. So, make sure that your website hosting service offers the best quality of availability.
An uptime number can be used to measure this factor. An uptime number that is close to 100% is the best. Choose a website hosting provider whose uptime is at least 99%.
- Available storage: The amount of space your website needs will depend on the type of files it contains. It’s best to choose the service which best fits your needs.
When choosing a web host, ensure that it offers the amount of space you need to avoid running out of memory. If you need little space, choose a cheaper plan instead of paying for unnecessary space.
- Data security: Being able to trust someone to host your website and content is not easy. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure that your provider can protect its customer, offering a backup and information redundancy system. In this way, your website stays online and fully functional in case of an unforeseen problem.
- Monthly traffic: Some website hosting companies have a monthly traffic limit that you might not be aware of. Basically, this means that after a set amount of access, the server charges extra for “extra visitors” or stops displaying your website on the web.
So be aware of which companies provide unlimited data traffic to avoid the risk of your website going down.
- Subscription period: There are many web hosting companies that offer flexible contract lengths. You might find monthly and yearly options, along with discounts for multi-year contracts. You may want to think about how long you are willing to commit to upfront. It’s a good idea to try out a new host for a few months to learn how it works. However, if you choose a longer-term plan, you can save a great deal of money.
Before signing up for a plan, you should also double-check its terms. It is possible to change contract lengths and plans anytime with some hosts, but be sure to ask about any fees and penalties involved.
- Host’s primary feature: There are many types of hosting. Some hosts provide very basic services, while others may have features that can make life easier for you. A quick look through the hosting company’s website will tell you if what you need is among its offerings. Unless you have to dig for that information, the host is probably not focused on the features you want.
Similarly, reviews can help you determine if a particular web host can meet your site’s needs. Online reviews are generally very honest, so you should look for comments that address the essential features.
- Customer support: A website hosting service must offer more than just the conditions for your page’s success; it must also assist you. Support is a critical factor for many users, and the provider’s responsiveness can make the difference between resolving a crisis quickly or having your website go down for several hours. See what channels the service offers you to contact them and ask for help and how the support works.
The right hosting server for your website is very important. It can make or break your website and its success. Hosting companies will offer different services that they say are best for you, but it’s up to you to determine the best plan. If you are not sure which one to choose, research the company’s options and ask questions before signing up for a plan that might end up being too expensive or not fit what you need.