What is a web host?
In a nutshell, your web host provides servers for your website to live on. You pay the hosting company money to essentially ‘rent’ space on their servers, and in return they let your site live there so that it can be displayed to users across the web 24/7. Many hosting companies offer various levels of services that affect everything from how fast your site runs to site security.
What do you need in a web host?
In order to pick a host, you first need to understand what your website requires. Your web host will have a direct impact on how your site performs and functions, so it’s important to find one that’s a good match for your needs. Before you start looking at different options, it’s a good idea to take stock of what your website requires:
What type of website will you be hosting?
Are you planning to host a blog, an e-commerce site, a portfolio, or a corporate website? Will there be community forums? Multimedia content? Will the site be purely informational, or do you hope to generate leads for new business?
Traffic Volume
Estimate how much traffic you anticipate. More traffic may require a more robust hosting plan to keep your site running smoothly and quickly. On the other hand, if you don’t anticipate or need a lot of traffic, there’s no need to pay for more resources than you’ll use.
Software and Tools
Make a list of software and tools that you would like to have for your site. Some hosts are integrated with their own CMS and can only be used with that CMS. For example, you can’t host a WordPress site on Shopify (although you can integrate a Shopify store with WordPress!). Consider any specific software you plan to use, such as CRM, CMS, or marketing tool integrations, and ensure that the host supports it. On the other hand, if you’d rather have an all-in-one solution that includes these types of tools, make sure that the host you’re looking at has what you’re looking for.
Scalability
As your site grows, your host should be able to grow with you, offering easy upgrades to more powerful options. Can you add more resources as your traffic and storage needs increase? Is upgrading from tier to tier affordable? Will the host accommodate temporary traffic surges outside your plan limits if needed from time to time?
Reliability and Uptime
Uptime is the amount of time your website is up and accessible to visitors. Critical things to consider are the host’s Uptime Guarantee and server reliability. Look for hosts offering an uptime guarantee of 99.9% or higher. Even 0.1% downtime can mean your site is inaccessible for nearly nine hours a year. Also be sure to check reviews and feedback about the host’s server performance and speed. Watch out for consistent bad reviews on these elements as they can indicate reliability issues.
Hosting Features
Assess the features each host offers and how they match your specific needs. Top features to consider:
Storage and Bandwidth
Ensure you have enough disk space and bandwidth to handle your website’s traffic and data. Tip: If you think you’ll need more storage or bandwidth than is offered at a pricing tier you’re comfortable with, reach out to the hosting company’s sales team and as if you can add more. Some hosts will let you add on storage or bandwidth for a smaller fee than actually upgrading to the next pricing tier. This may be helpful if you need the extra resources but don’t need everything else the next pricing tier offers.
Security Features
A good host offers robust security features such as SSL certificates, backups, and firewalls. It’s also important to check and see how the host handles malware – do they offer regular malware scans? Will they remove malware if it makes it onto the site? Are these services included, or will they cost extra?
Email Accounts
If you need email services with your domain, check if the host provides this feature and how much it costs. Some hosts provide a native email account system or integration, while others don’t. If your chosen host doesn’t offer email, there are some good options out there with decent pricing.
Customer Support
Good customer support can save you a ton of headaches! Consider both support channels and responsiveness:
Support Channels
Does the host offer 24/7 support via multiple channels (e.g., phone, chat, email)?
Responsiveness
Read customer reviews to gauge how responsive and knowledgeable the support team is. If there is only one support channel (such as chat), how long is the wait going to be when you need help, on average?
Documentation
Does the host have good help articles and how-to’s available? Being able to find answers to your questions with a simple documentation search can sometimes help you get faster solutions to general questions about hosting setup, but only if the host has these resources available.
Pricing and Renewal Rates
Upfront cost is always a consideration, but it should not be the only factor when thinking about price. Consider the following:
Transparent Pricing
Be wary of hosts that aren’t upfront about their pricing structures and renewal rates. Some may sound like a great deal upfront, but then renew at twice the introductory rate (or more!). Make sure you clearly understand the pricing structure and consider how much the hosting will cost over an extended period, especially after initial promotional rates expire.
Free Trials and Money-Back Guarantees
These can provide a risk-free way to test a host’s capabilities and make sure they’re a good fit.
Scalability and Flexibility
As your website grows, your web host should be able to accommodate increased demands. Ideally, the host will be able to grow with your site with easy transitions to higher plans and the ability to add more resources as time goes on.
Flexbility is also important here; can you add services or change plans as needed? What about overages? Sometimes, you might get a temporary spike in traffic that takes you over your resource limits. How does the host handle those instances? Will the site continue to perform? Will you be granted temporary leniency for the spike, or will you be charged every time you exceed the limits?
Environmental Impact
Many people are surprised to learn just how much of an environmental impact servers and associated technologies can have, all to keep our websites up and running. For those concerned with sustainability, consider green hosting. Some hosts actively use renewable energy sources or participate in carbon offsetting programs.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right web host involves balancing many factors, from technical specifications to support and pricing. Take your time to research and compare different hosts based on these criteria. Remember, the cheapest option isn’t always the best, but neither is the most expensive one. It’s about finding the right host that meets your needs, ensures your site’s reliability, and supports your growth over time.
By carefully evaluating potential web hosts against these guidelines, you can make an informed decision that will support your web site goals and help save you time and effort for years to come.