Nearly every business, regardless of size, has a website dedicated to their products or services. But one of the most important aspects of a business’s website is often overlooked, or in some cases, not even truly considered. This is web hosting.
Simply put, web host provides proper storage space and online access for websites. And while there are many different web hosts out there, some are far more reliable than others. While I recommend Cloudways, and I am happy to help you select the plan that is right for your business and even build and setup your website. But first, let me explain what truly makes a web host reliable.
Website Speed
How quickly, or slowly, your website takes to load can have a major impact on how users interact with your website. In many cases, if a website takes even a few extra seconds to load, a user will often exit out and find a faster website. A slow loading website simply helps your competitors more than it does your business.
Web hosts and the plans they offer have a major impact on your website’s load speed. Hosts hold websites on servers, and you are given a portion of each server. With many inexpensive hosting options, you may not have enough server space to allow your website the means to continue to grow and as you add more content or customize the design, your website’s speed will slow down. However, with the right web host, you can avoid this issue and ensure your website is fast and user friendly for your customers.
Uptime & Downtime
Another important aspect to consider when it comes to choosing a reliable web host is how much uptime and downtime the host typically experiences. In other words, how often are the servers up and running as they should be (uptime) compared to how often the servers are unavailable (downtime).
When a server is down, your website will not be able to load and will be unavailable to any users who try to access your site. If a web host has a considerable amount of downtime, this will have a dramatic impact on how your site is viewed, both by users and search engines.
Website Security
In theory, every web hosting provider would provide adequate security for your site and the information you store. Unfortunately, not every host is secure and safe. Data breaches and hacks are common, but some hosting providers take an extra step to protect the websites hosted on their servers.
Another related security measure that nearly every web host offers are SSL certificates which encrypt data and information between the hosted server and the user’s that are on your site. I highly recommend every website take this extra step and purchase an SSL certificate for the safety and security of their websites.
Technical Support
Much like any other service provider, be sure to look into the support offered by web hosting providers before making your decision. Do they offer 24/7 customer chat? Do they have a support phone number you can call if you experience any issues with your site? What have other customers had to say about their support in the past? These are just a few of the questions you will want to ask yourself before getting set up with a web host.
Don’t worry, I can help!
Web hosting is often overlooked because of its complex and somewhat confusing nature, but I am here to help you make the best decision for your website based on your needs.
I will be more than happy to assess your individual needs and help you find a hosting environment that best suits your needs.
