7 Important things to keep in mind before you choose a web host.
There are hundreds of hosting providers available and all of them promising the best deals, features, and support. How will you determine which one will be the best option for your website?
The best web hosting service for your brand might not be the same as your industry rivals.
In this article I will help you choose the best hosting provider for your needs. I will also tell you what host I am using for my website.
The host is the foundation of a website and it will affect critical aspects of your site including performance, security, SEO, and up-time.
For most people, the cost is the first aspect considered. “You get what you pay for” this is not always true but most of the time it is. Quality and reliability comes at a price, allowing quality to slope to save a few bucks will cost you more in the long run.
Do you buy on the value of a product or the price?
The first thing almost everyone does when comparing products is to look at the price difference. In many instances this is fine, no one wants to pay more for the same or similar product. However, this is not a good strategy when comparing hosting services. The true value is far more important than the price.
Remember, people are very good at selling stuff. Do proper research before you sign up with a web host. Personal experience is always best, but of course it is not always realistic so read the customer reviews and ask questions.
When you set about hunting for the best web hosting service for your site, you need to ensure that your digital assets remain secure, that you can cope with surges of traffic, and that you have support on hand when needed.
You should know what your hosting needs are before you start choosing plans
Before you start looking around for different plans, you need to identify what your basic hosting needs are.
Here are 4 questions you should ask yourself before you start searching for a web hosting provider:
1. What platform will you use to create your site? (I’m using WordPress.org)
WordPress on top of PHP is a content management system that many people choose. This is because it veers away from offers and gimmicks and relies on its reputation for quality.
2. What is the monthly traffic you expect? e.g. Estimated number of visits per month.
3. Do you want to create multiple websites?
4. How much storage will you need? 10 Gigabyte should be more than enough for a new blog. You can always upgrade when needed.
Support & Reliability
Reliability and support are probably the most important factors. A hosting company should rely on reputation for quality service.
I have dealt with companies that offer 24/7 support, but it takes them more than 12 hours to respond to queries. This is where the value and customer reviews come in.
Both times I messaged SiteGround, they answered and fixed my issues within 6 minutes!
It does not matter whether you are a web hosting guru or whether you know nothing about the service, you need to ensure that you have the support level that you need. For those who need most hand holding, a web host that facilitates twenty-four seven online or phone support is crucial.
I’ve been a customer of SiteGround for 25 Month now and I have no complaints so far. They provide reliable services with great performance and support.
Performance & Traffic
Web hosts will usually price up their services based on the bandwidth you require as well as the storage you need. Ensure that you opt for a package that gives you room to maneuver. By being at the very limit of your bandwidth, your page upload speeds will be slow, making your website appear sluggish. Your web host must accommodate the needs of your traffic.
Your site should be as fast as possible, nobody likes a slow website, especially Google. If your website is slow, it will have a negative impact on your SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Google uses desktop and mobile loading speeds as a ranking factor.
Your web pages should not take longer than 2 seconds to load. You can use GTMetrix or Pingdom to measure the speed of your website.
There are many reasons for slow page loading times. It does not matter how many improvements you try to make, if your hosting server is slow then your website will remain sluggish.
Dedicated server for large businesses
In a shared environment multiple websites share the same server. Shared servers are the most common option because it is more cost effective and it is also quite easy to setup.
Shared hosting accounts are the most economical, however it has a few drawbacks. I think two of the biggest disadvantages of shared hosting is security concerns and limited resources. We all want more website traffic, but if the server is not able to handle a large traffic spikes it will result in many complications, including downtime.
Website traffic usually grows steadily over time, giving you the opportunity to be prepared and upgrade. However sometimes it can happen that you receive a large number of traffic spikes.
Of course, not all of us can afford a dedicated server when we start out, but you should at least know when it is time to upgrade.
Do proper research and read the small print.
Forget the gimmicky offers sometimes put forward by web hosts. The best web hosting company for you will offer a package where you don’t need to compromise.
Take a look at the impartial reviews of web hosting companies. Online feedback is the life blood of these companies so read the pros and cons of each web host. Some may focus on security, others speed, and others flexibility.
Take a look at your technical requirements and choose a web host based on reputation and the bespoke needs of your business.
Extra: About the Security of SiteGround’s Shared hosting accounts.
Siteground provide unique solutions for WordPress to make your website fast and secure.
In a shared hosting environment, multiple users share the same server, which means that if a site get vulnerable then it may also affect the other sites. SiteGround have a unique method where they isolate accounts on the same servers which means your account will not be affected if another website gets vulnerable.
SiteGround also developed scripts to check for hacked content, they will also notify you if any hacked content is detected.
They also developed SG Site Scanner, a service that monitors your website and notifies you about malicious code or security issues.
SiteGround also run a system called 1H Hawk that identifies brute force attacks and disable the IP addresses of attackers in real time.
Unfortunately, a 100% secure website do not exist, but SiteGround definitely do their part to make sure your website is hosted in the most secure environment possible.
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Please note: PCReckoner is an affiliate for some of the services mentioned in this article, (Siteground) which means that I may earn a commission if you purchase one of the services or products thought one of these links. I will never recommend a product or service that I don’t personally use or truly believe are the best option. Thanks!
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