In today’s digital advancement, everyone is increasingly guided by technology. It has come to consumers’ senses that websites are essential for the success of any business.
Web hosting is a foundational element of any website. However, not all web hosts are equal; some may not offer the features you need. That’s why it is right to plan and choose a reliable web hosting provider.
Lucky for you, you have come across this article. We know the most crucial criteria to consider when looking for a web hosting provider.
Criteria When Choosing a Reliable Web Hosting Provider
Regardless if this is your first or hundredth website, it is crucial to have a web hosting server. It provides a safe space to store all your website’s essential files and data. Let’s dive into the critical criteria when choosing the best web hosting service for your website.
Determine Website Needs
Get started by determining website needs.
Create a list of the needs and prioritise them according to the plans offered by potential website host providers.
Let’s say your website is designed for photography services; that will be a content-heavy website. You have to prioritise storage and speed features from the web hosting plan. If you see the web host provider offers Content Delivery Network (CDN), that is the best option. Meanwhile, e-commerce websites are best compatible with features focused on bandwidth and security.
Lastly, do not forget your content management system. You can use WordPress for your content and enjoy the luxury of having web hosting services specifically tailored to the platform.
Understand Server Types
You must understand the different server types to ensure you acquire the services you expect.
The cheapest web hosting service is the shared server. It only uses one box and runs hundreds of websites. You do not expect your website to load fast as its performance depends on the load other websites put on the host. Moreover, shared hosting limits access to the server’s capabilities.
The next server type is the Virtual Private Server (VPS). It is a virtual machine running on a box. Host providers often run several VPS on one box, but the performance is better than the shared server hosting. If you opt for VPS, you must be familiar with essential server maintenance and management.
However, if you do not want to share the load performance with other websites, you should opt for a dedicated server. Dedicated servers have a box that is rented to you.
Cloud servers can be a better choice; you can scale it seamlessly. If you expect an increase in website traffic, you can upgrade your web hosting plan without anything to move or rebuild.
Payment and Subscription Policies for Hosting Contracts
Web hosting providers never take off free trials from the list. Providing a free trial is a way for new subscribers to know and test the services offered. Although the days are numbered, this period is essential for web owners to determine if certain services are worthwhile. Moreover, it helps you identify possible obstacles that you might not have thought of.
If the web hosting provider does not live up to your expectations, you can stop the free trial and leave at no cost. The best thing about this feature is it helps you find the perfect web hosting service.
When you have decided to take a shot with this provider, it is best to check their subscription plans. Most offer flexible options during their contract period. Although longer contract periods help you save more, you have to think and decide how long you are willing to commit upfront.
Besides the subscription length, it is best to check the policy and guarantees of the web host. There’s no guarantee of what might happen once you start developing your website. That’s why it is wise to review their policies and guarantees thoroughly.
Ensure that you will get a refund if you cancel the subscription plan. Moreover, choose a web host provider that allows or encourages upgrades. It is expected for growing businesses to upscale their website to cope with the increasing traffic.
Verify Offered Primary Features
Web hosting providers offer different kinds of features. Some hosts only provide general services. That’s why it is best to determine the features provided by the web host. You can quickly check their primary features on their website.
Reading some reviews from their previous clients is a great way to determine if they offer primary features efficiently. Moreover, you can reach out to their team to inquire and discuss the features that would make a difference to your website.
Moreover, evaluate if they accept upgrades on add-on products and services. Over time, as your website grows, you need to add new features to catch up and help you avoid unwanted surprises in the future.
Determine Server Reliability and Uptime
It is crucial to check the server reliability and uptime. Uptime refers to the time percentage of your website is online and available to digital consumers. Although it is natural for a website to have maintenance and downtime, your host should guarantee an uptime closer to 100 percent.
Moreover, determine how the host handles website downtime. It is not healthy for a website to be frequently unavailable. That’s why to look for reviews to know how reliable the host is.
Check for Uptime Limitations
We highly recommend web owners; whether they are building a new or optimising an old website, they have to investigate any account limitations.
In this criteria selection, it is important to have a basic understanding of bandwidth. Bandwidth refers to the flow of data and traffic through your server. Let’s say your website is visually-enriched; the videos housed on your server might use a lot of bandwidth once several visitors watch them simultaneously.
That’s why it is important to thoroughly check the web hosting provider’s features, policies, and restrictions.
Determine Host Supports E-Commerce
Most businesses build an e-commerce website. If you plan to do so, it is essential to ensure that the web host provider you have chosen offers features and services that you need to run an online store.
You must determine if your host offers SSL certificates and other e-commerce tools. It is important in accepting online transactions.
Check the Type of Control Panel
Web hosting is a technical part of managing a website. But, you do not have to be intimidated by the thought. Most control panels or dashboards of web hosts are user-friendly. You can easily configure different parts of the website setting or software.
Most web hosts use cPanel; it is a user-friendly and more straightforward interface than other dashboards. You can check the type of control panel they are using by checking tours and demos before you make a contract with the host.
Research Whether Services Includes Email Hosting
Most of us are used to handling personal emails through Google and other email platforms. It is wise to use brand emails. You need a hosting service to match your business brand or website name to your email.
It is crucial to research their services in email hosting. Some hosting plans only offer limited usage; when your web host crashes, your email goes with it. That’s why it is essential to partner with a reliable host to avoid these problems.
Go Through the Host Provider’s Website Backup Options
Website backup options help you easily and quickly restore your data securely in cloud storage. Look for the information about how long backups are stored and how long it is to create. Ensure that you can access your backups when needed.
We don’t know the misfortunes that might come your way, so it is highly beneficial if the web hosting provider has an easy and efficient restoration service.
Provides Technical Support
Along with their other provided services, it is worth emphasising the importance of reliable technical support. Well, you might have the confidence if you have in-house developers and tech staff. However, if you do not have one, it is essential to receive comprehensive support from your hosting provider.
Not all businesses have the resource or team to deal with unexpected problems and cyberattacks. Thus, it is vital to review the customer support the hosting provider offers.
Test the Host Server Responsiveness
After choosing the host, you can test all their claims first. Do not create a review at face value. It is easy to test server responsiveness on a site that’s already live and running. You can use Pingdom or Google PageSpeed Insights tool.
You can leverage the information and understand the host server’s performance. Is it what you expect? If not, then it is time to drop it.
That’s Why Choose a Reliable Web Hosting Provider
You might be asking yourself, why go through all the trouble carefully considering when choosing a web hosting provider?
Well, if you choose a reliable web hosting provider, it boosts the 4S of your website: speed, support, security, and scalability. These website features are essential to have as your website is rapidly scaling. Your website has to be resilient through the sudden bursts of web traffic as your target audience grows.
Now you have the idea of choosing a reliable website hosting provider and its importance to your website growth. Check out the best web hosting provider that works for your website with us.
