Choosing a web host is a big decision, as it is the foundation for being located online, and if you make the right choice, you’re much more likely to have a great website performance. If you make the wrong choice, you’ll likely be frustrated and incur unnecessary expenses.
Today, there are too many web hosting providers that promise top-of-the-line services. This has made it tougher to choose the right service provider for your needs. How do you ensure that the web hosting services you settle on will meet your requirements? In this article, we’ll explore crucial factors that you need to consider when choosing a web hosting provider.
Server Reliability
A defining attribute of the best web hosts is that they are highly reliable. Server reliability refers to the average uptime of a hosting web service. It is the ability to keep a website up and running over a given period, which is critical as it determines the accessibility of your website. Server average uptime is calculated as a percentage, and you should never settle for any provider with a score below 99.90%.
The primary reason why this should be a major concern when looking for a web hosting provider is that downtime, even for a few minutes, will mean that your site is inaccessible. If you are a content creator, this means a loss of readership, and if you are a business, this means a loss of sales.
The Needs of Your Website
Different websites have different needs that should dictate the web hosting provider and plan to settle on. Firstly, you need to consider the CMS used to build your website and its purpose. Did you opt for Drupal or WordPress? Or did you settle on Joomla or WooCommerce for your eCommerce store?
It is important to factor in the build and needs of your website as this dictates the most suitable hosting services for you. For example, if you are running a small site for your blogging, you are better off settling on a good shared hosting plan. Equally, if you are running an eCommerce store, you can guarantee better services from hosting providers specializing in eCommerce hosting.
Server Security
We are in an age where malware and cyber-attacks have become issues that every website owner needs to take seriously. While web security starts with the DNA of your site, you need a web hosting provider that keeps you safer by providing you with advanced security features, such as SSL DDoS protection and active network monitoring processes.
Server Responsiveness
Having a fast-loading website cannot be stressed enough. A fast load time reduces bounce rate and is among the factors that affect your organic ranking. Generally, there are many reasons why your site could be slow, and server responsiveness is an element you can never overlook. This is because server speeds determine how fast and smoothly your website loads.
It is important to factor in the build and needs of your website as this dictates the most suitable hosting services for you. For example, if you are running a small site for your blogging, you are better off settling on a good shared hosting plan. Equally, if you are running an eCommerce store, you can guarantee better services from hosting providers specializing in eCommerce hosting.
Backups
Even the best quality servers with excellent security features are not immune from cyber-attacks, hacks, hardware problems, or failure. You need a web host with a good backup policy, as this is the only assurance you will face minimal losses in case of any issues. You are safer settling for a web host provider that conducts regular and full backups on all websites they host.
Ease of Scalability
Growth is inevitable, and as a new website owner, you are probably not expecting too much traffic to your site. However, after a few months, it might be time to scale up as your site traffic grows.
You also need to be aware that there are seasonal traffic trends, and you need to be prepared to handle sudden traffic spikes.
The only way you will do this is by choosing a web hosting provider that gives you the ease of scalability.
This means that you can instantly have more resources for your website without any challenges whenever you need them.
Availability of Technical Support
Server issues cannot be avoided, and there are times when you will need instant assistance from your web host. How quickly will you get the needed technical support? This needs to be a top priority before choosing any hosting provider, regardless of how good their offer might be.
A simple way to go about this is to check how they provide customer support. You also need to know whether the support will be available 24 hours, seven days a week, all year long.
To get a better idea of the quality of customer service and technical support to expect, go through the reviews provided by past clients and discussions on social media platforms.
Add-ons Provided by the Web Host
You need a web host that gives you more than the basics. Ask yourself what value besides the required necessities does your web host provider offer. Technology advances by the day, and you will need extra features that will allow you to keep up with these changes.
Make it a priority to look at the extra incentives that a web host promises and compare them with a close competitor. This way, you will have a better idea of whether these added features will make a difference over time or if you need better offers. Among the extra features that have become commonplace today include;
- Free domain
- SSL certificate support
- Refund options
- Free site transfers
- Site builder access
- CDN services
- Free email accounts
Proactive technical support
User Interface
You might be the least tech-savvy person, but you should be able to handle simple tasks such as setting up email, installing WordPress, and setting up FTP accounts, without calling your web host’s support line. You should choose a web host with a user interface that is easy to figure out to make it easy to make modifications and updates.
Endnote
Choosing a web host in 2021 should not be a rushed process, rather one that is guided with a goal of attaining quality services. Narrowing down from the thousands of web host providers looking to acquire an extra client can be quite challenging, but not if you know what to look for. Take these factors into account when choosing a web host, and you are guaranteed top value for money.
