If you are considering running your own website, web hosting services will absolutely be a part of your life. If you are not knowledgeable on this topic, that means it is time to start doing some research and taking a look at what is available. We’ve included the best ideas here for your perusal.
Determine if your hosting provider offers the ability to run server-side scripts. Many free hosting services offer only static pages, leaving you with limited options for adding your own scripts. A paid host account will entitle you to more flexibility.
Almost every web host has additional features available in their packages, although the exact add-ons may vary from host to host. You should also make note of availability for each feature you are interested in, especially when you are narrowing down your choices. For instance, you may find that the lowest-priced provider no longer holds a cost advantage and you must choose a higher-priced package for the feature that you need.
Start researching alternative hosting companies at the first sign of trouble with your own; don’t wait until a change is absolutely necessary. In doing so, you have the ability to easily and quickly transfer to another provider with minimal downtime, should your current web host turn out to be completely untenable.
Always register your business’ domain name on your own, outside of your hosting site. This way, if a shutdown or argument ensues, your valuable domain name will remain protected. This leaves you with no domain control, only your host will have it.
Web Host
Choose a web host that allows you to pay by the month instead of one that requires large, lump-sum payments. You don’t know how long the web host (or even your business) will stay open. You may lose money if your host’s service declines, it closes altogether or your website becomes larger than what the host is designed to handle.
The amount of traffic you receive on your site can affect your hosting charges. Be sure to ask about your host’s billing strategy, so that you can budget accordingly for the price that you will end up paying.
Invest in an SSL certificate for both your and your customers’ peace of mind. Your customers will see the certificate notification on your site and will feel more comfortable giving personal information.
Stick with companies that have excellent reputations. This will give you a good idea of how efficient their service is. Visitors and customers often choose the winners of these awards. While sometimes these awards are not legitimate, most are, so they provide a good way to judge a hosting company. Hosts with lots of these fan-voted awards are ones that you should definitely consider choosing.
Reputation is a vital asset for a good web host. Check out a few user reviews and you will quickly find that there are some web hosts that have a stronger reputation than others. Companies that use minimal effort, or don’t live up to the “hype,” can also be recognized.
If you need to have several emails for your website, talk to a hosting service about the kind of format they utilize for email service. The most common option is POP 3, so choose a host which offers that. This kind of email is linked to your domain, and it can be utilized from anywhere out there on the Internet.
Dedicated Server
As you website grows, consider paying a little extra for a dedicated server. Using a dedicated server can give you access to more bandwidth, space for storage, and website security. This will let you give your customers the best experience they can have while looking at your site. Remember, happy customers tend to return to your site.
You should visit the website of a company which you are considering choosing for web hosting. An unprofessional or poorly designed site should definitely be a red flag. Besides inexperience, this could indicate slow response and other issues. A site that is designed well indicates that the business has a good eye for detail and that they have lots of experience in regards to web design.
Before you sign up for any web hosting company’s services, make sure that their web security features are solid. You need to make sure the company doesn’t have a history of data breaches and site hackings. Good hosts constantly back up servers.
Good communication is vital to picking a good host. You need a host that interacts with its customers and gives them information on any updates or downtime and maintenance. They should be available for tech support whenever you encounter problems.
Choose a host which has redundant Internet connections. A host with just one route to the Internet is a dangerous choice, because if their connection fails, your website will necessarily be down, as well. Speak with the company and confirm that they have redundant connections and that every single one has a decent level of bandwidth for ensuring that your website will stay online despite any problems that may occur on their end.
Offer Refunds
Some hosting services offer refunds if your site is down. Normally, you only receive a dollar or less, but you may lose hundreds in revenue. Search for hosts who provide excellent uptime with no need to offer refunds for downtime.
As you can see, shopping around for a web host is just like any other long-term purchase. Decide what services you need and what you want to pay. Then you can match your needs to the right service. We hope this article has been helpful to you!