How do you choose a web hosting company?
Choosing a web hosting company depends on your needs, budget, and technical expertise, but it also involves choosing the right hosting plan. At first glance, some hosting plans seem affordable, but too often, customers arrive at the checkout only to be prompted to take on additional services, resulting in extra costs.
There are many web hosting service providers out there, so how do you choose the right one for your business? This guide will explain what to consider when choosing a web hosting company and which services should be included in the fees.
Understanding your needs depends on the type of website you are launching, so it is helpful to list essential requirements. These questions should help prompt your thinking:
- Are you a student or hobbyist planning to publish creative blogs?
- Are you a business website requiring an eCommerce store or web application?
- How many emails will you require for staff and extras such as info@ or sales@?
- What customer traffic do you expect during peak and off-peak hours?
Some providers offer unlimited email accounts or MariaDB databases. They may appear free, but you may be charged for these as part of the monthly or annual fees. If you don’t need these unlimited options, consider alternative cheaper packages requiring less storage and save some cash.
Remember to check your hosting provider’s optimal performance speed and server uptime guarantees, as these can save business owners time and money. Choose a provider with at least 99.9% uptime.
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What is shared web hosting?
Shared web hosting is a service where multiple websites share the same server and its resources. It is one of the most affordable and beginner-friendly hosting options, making it ideal for small websites, blogs, and startups. Shared hosting is often user-friendly and usually comes with a control panel like cPanel or Plesk for easy management.
If the hosting provider manages the shared web hosting, then server maintenance, security, and updates are all handled for you. This means:
- The customer requires no technical knowledge
- The system has pre-installed server management tools
- The provider will manage regular maintenance and security updates.
Managed vs. unmanaged hosting
Deciding on whether you choose a managed provider or not depends on your technical skills and experience. Managed hosting providers are the most straightforward option as they manage the servers, maintenance, and scheduled security updates. However, if you are more technically skilled, you may prefer handling the server administration functions yourself.
How much does web hosting cost?
Help.com recommends customers compare price plans, introductory offers, and potential savings between monthly and annual payments.
If you pay monthly, it is wiser to pay your bills automatically via direct debit. If you pay annually, remember you will have annual web hosting renewal costs. It is worth determining when your domain registration renewal fees are due, and reputable web hosting providers should also send you automated renewal reminders.
You can lose domain registration ownership if you forget to pay your renewal fee or update your credit card details, and your monthly payment lapses. In the United States, you generally have a 30-day redemption grace period (after expiration) to reclaim your domain. Still, you will also need to pay a redemption fee to restore the registration.
Always check for add-ons or hidden fees when you reach the checkout!
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What is the difference between web hosting and WordPress hosting?
The main difference between web hosting and WordPress hosting lies in the level of optimization and support for WordPress.
General hosting services support a variety of websites, whether they are built with HTML, PHP, Joomla, Drupal, or WordPress. Using this web host means the user is responsible for setting up and managing WordPress updates and plug-ins.
WordPress hosting is specifically optimized for WordPress sites and includes performance enhancements such as caching, automatic updates, security-tailored software, and pre-configured settings.
If you’re running a WordPress site, WordPress hosting can be a better choice for speed, security, and ease of management. However, general web hosting is the better option if you need flexibility for different types of websites.
What web hosting services should be included in your package?
When deciding what web hosting services should be included in your package, Help.com believes there are a few important services that should be included in the price—not added at the end to your shopping cart.
1. Free hosting migration
Before migrating a hosting service to another provider, you must purchase a new hosting plan, so that part is not free! However, the migration process should be. Simply contact your new provider’s support team, and they can provide migration instructions.
2. Free auto Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificates
When it comes to web hosting, security, and reliability, SSL certificates are necessary and essential for Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This digital certificate authenticates a website’s identity. It enables an encrypted connection between a web server and a browser, ensuring the safe transmission of messages and building trust with site users.
3. Free WHOIS Domain Privacy
WHOIS is a public domain directory providing the public with domain owners’ personal contact details, like an address book for websites. This directory allows people to find out who owns domains so they can be contacted to negotiate potentially buying or selling their domains.
WHOIS domain privacy protects domain owners from having their contact details listed publicly. This protects their identity and prevents potential online sabotage from spammers.
Expertise and customer support
It is important to choose a good web hosting provider that guarantees solid website uptime and reliability. Good service also goes a long way. Friendly and reliable 24-hour email customer support and helpful knowledge base information for general users are also helpful.
Before committing to a web hosting provider, why not test their responses before purchasing a plan? Also, check out their customer reviews and online reputation from trusted sources. If you need help managing your own reviews, we recommend using the AddMe reviews platform.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which web hosting is best for WordPress?
WordPress hosting is usually the best if you use a WordPress website, as it is specifically optimized with performance-enhanced software and security features.
Why is web hosting important for a small business or start-up business?
Web hosting is crucial for small businesses because it provides the foundation for their online presence and provides customers with a website. It also helps customers learn about your products and services and lets them find you online. Reliable hosting to ensure your domain and website are always accessible, with fast loading, which improves user experience and search engine rankings. Your hosting plan should include business email accounts (e.g., yourname@yourbusiness.com), which look more professional than a generic Gmail address. A good hosting service can handle increased traffic and resources without downtime as your business grows.
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