The Foundation Of Your Web Experience
The majority of online businesses today use a web-hosting service. In the simplest terms, the online business rents or buys space on a server. These providers allocate space on a web server for online businesses to store their files and make them available to clients or customers. The amount of space allocated on a server for each business depends on the hosting type, including dedicated, reseller, and VPS. Different web hosting services use different technology, and most offer a wide range of other services to make the online business flow. There are 100s of web hosting services offering all types of services. For an online business, a good web hosting service can make the business run efficiently.
Is There Such A Thing As Free Web Hosting?
Many providers will host your website for free. But in most cases, there is usually a catch when you get something for free. Firstly, the web hosting company is most likely sharing the server with many other businesses. So there is no guarantee that your online business will run smoothly or that your website will remain operable for extended periods. Plus, when companies offer free web hosting, it is best to read the contract carefully.
In most cases, the hosting company is not responsible for all your data and images. Free hosting is also limited in space, storage, and memory and usually has numerous restrictions. You will not be allowed to run ads, and most will prohibit you from using plug-in platforms like WordPress.
If you have a lot of videos and images above the cap, the hosting company may cancel your services or even send you a bill. There are also weekly and monthly restrictions on the amount of usage and traffic. In general, free web hosting is very limited in capacity and not suitable for small businesses. So the best advice is to avoid free web hosting as it has many restrictions.
What Is The Cost Of Web Hosting?
Web hosting prices depend on which hosting company you choose, what the provider offers, and the package you decide on.
What Is VPS Hosting?
VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a popular web hosting service. Utilizing virtual technology, it provides you with dedicated resources on a server that has multiple users. Individuals who do not like shared hosting prefer VPS. The great thing about VPS is that only a few users can share allocated segments of the memory, hard drive space, and processing power. VPS means better security, improved reliability, and enhanced performance.
What Is The Cost of VPS Hosting?
The primary costs for VPS hosting vary from $15-$30 a month. Again there are all types of upgrade options depending on your needs. The more features you need, the higher the cost. However, dedicated servers offer many more features and flexibility. The only limitations imposed are usually in terms of physical resources like memory and storage.
VPS is a cost-effective solution for most online businesses, but the more features you desire, the higher the cost.
What Is Dedicated Hosting?
Dedicated hosting is an option for a single business owner who wants total control over the server so they can optimize it for security, performance, and efficiency. A dedicated server offers excellent flexibility as the client can alter the RAM, CPU, software, and disk space to meet the needs of the business. In general, a dedicated server is ideal for a company growing rapidly with a bigger budget where security is a concern. Plus, you want the page loading times to be fast to meet your customers’ needs.
How Much Does A Dedicated Server Cost?
The dedicated server is the most expensive option, and costs vary from $150-$200 a month, minimum. There are also additional costs, like setting up cloud storage for $5-$30 a month, and the server itself may cost anywhere from $1,000-$5,000 for a small business.
Shared Web Hosting
Shared web hosting is the cheapest; the monthly costs vary from $4-$15. Unfortunately, since you are on a “shared” account, you will share those resources with many other people or businesses. The number may be tens or even hundreds, which can affect the service’s quality. The performance can be spotty if you are on a server with many active accounts due to a lack of resources. However, shared hosting providers also place restrictions on the usage of resources by shared servers. If you take up too much server time, the hosting company may ask you to upgrade, which will usually be more expensive.
Can I Host My Own Website?
Yes, there is no law that you cannot host your own website on your PC. But to do that, not only do you need a server that is fast and reliable, you need a PC with high storage capacity. Many startups usually start hosting on their own PC and only move on to a secondary web hosting site when their PC is overloaded.
Why Should You Purchase Web hosting?
Some of the reasons why purchasing web hosting include
- Reliability. You want a reliable web hosting provider if you want your users to use your website 24/7 without any hassles. You can check the host’s uptime history, reviews, and what they guarantee. If your site is difficult to access or frequently down, this can lead to loss of business and customers. One of the key reasons why customers move to another company is slow access.
- Bandwidth: Before selecting a web hosting company, research its bandwidth limitations. If you are going to be using videos and large images, you need a larger bandwidth. And you need to select a plan that matches your needs.
- Changes: You also need to know if you can make any changes without needing approval from the hosting company. Some companies do not permit a significant redesign or allow larger uploads to your website. Instead, they will insist that all changes utilize their site builder. And if you don’t have the know-how, you will have to pay extra to the web hosting provider.
- Does the user interface have a control panel? Having a control panel allows you to change several aspects of your website hosting account and database. Otherwise, when you contact technical support, the company will often charge a fee for the help.
- Multiple domain hosting: These days, many businesses have more than one domain name. It is possible to host more than one domain from a single account. Most shared host providers permit addon domains, but it is essential to know what they charge for it. Sometimes the costs can be prohibitive.
- Costs. In general, with web hosting, you get what you pay for. If your business is new and you don’t have much traffic, expect to pay anywhere from $15–$125 a year for shared hosting. If your company has many customers, the higher capacity plans usually start at $25 a month, a minimum. If you pay annually, then you get a discount. But initially, go with monthly payments to assess the reliability of the service. You can always switch to an annual payment plan later.
- Renewals: In almost all cases, most web hosting providers have lower rates for the first year. However, when it comes time for renewal, the prices will increase. And if your business and website are already up and running, changing hosting services can be a real hassle. Lesson learned- find out ahead of time the renewal cost or any other issues that may arise after the first term.
- Email: Some web hosting providers do not offer email services, and some do. You’ll need to check this out. You preferably will want to set up the email addresses for your site before you begin the build.
- What about technical support? When running a business, the last thing you want is to deal with website technical issues. Especially with online companies, things can go wrong at any time, and you do not want to wait until the next day to get the problem fixed. So you need to know the type of technical support the hosting company will provide. Check if the host offers 24/7 technical support. Even if the company promises everything under the sun, read online reviews to get a better perspective.
- Chat online: There will be times when you may have a non-emergency question regarding the web hosting server. So you need to ask if the company has an online chat system or FAQs where you can find the answer to your query. Otherwise, you will have to call technical or customer support whenever you have a question.
What Are The Best Web Hosting Services for Startups or Beginners?
- Bluehost is probably the one most recommended. It is also affordable should you decide to purchase a plan.
- DreamHost
- Flywheel
- SiteGround
- Hostinger
- Wix
Best Web Hosting Options For Established Small Businesses
- Bluehost: perhaps the easiest and most customer-friendly
- Cloudways: Ideal for cloud-based web hosting
- DreamHost – Has the best month-to-month plan.; very friendly customer service and will not quickly suspend the account if you are out of resources
- GoDaddy: More expensive than most, and service can be slow.
- GreenGeeks – Reputed to be Eco-Friendly Hosting, relatively cheap, and offers a money-back guarantee.
- HostGator: Best if you have technical knowledge- should not be your first choice
- Hostinger – Overall the most affordable plan and offers many services
- iPage: Consider this host if you are on a budget; will get your job done
- InMotion: Offers unlimited bandwidth on a budget. You can’t go wrong with this provider if you have the money.
- Namecheap: Offers excellent technical support
- SiteGround – Allows the use of plug-ins like WordPress; not the cheapest but the best value for money.
Mistakes To Avoid When Selecting Web Hosting
- Please do not go for a free web hosting provider because all it will do is lead you to disappointment and frustration.
- Do not go for web hosting companies that do not offer any reassurance or guarantee.
- Know whether you want to be shared, VPS, or dedicated server- because any changes you make later on also cost more money
- Do not go for the cheapest option without speaking to others using the same service.
- Know what the web hosting service offers before signing. Some have limitations, and that will affect your business.
How To Choose The Right Web Host For Your Business?
- There is no substitute for reading reviews online and speaking to others. Everyone glorifies their services but in reality, not all provide excellent service.
- You have to know how much help you will require; if you are a novice, all extra help will cost more money.
- Know how much traffic you anticipate and be realistic. Most people buy too much space on servers and pay more money despite having little or no traffic. You can always increase memory and space later on.
- Know what the different servers offer
- If a company says they offer unlimited services, avoid them.
- Know your budget
- To avoid lock-in, select a portable content management system.
Final Point
After reading all of the above, to choose the best web hosting provider, know your budget, what features you want, including the bandwidth and storage, the cost of any accessories and renewal, and the technical support. While most web hosting providers are decent, the onus is on you to read the reviews and speak to others who use the same provider. If you want your business to make money, so do these providers.
