Web hosting is essential for a website. This is because a good web host helps you improve website speed, security, and search engine rankings. However, it might be overwhelming to choose a web hosting provider among thousands of available options.
This article will discuss different types of web hosting and tips to choose the right web host. Let’s get started!
What Is Web Hosting?
Web hosting allows you to publish your website online. A web hosting service company provides the necessary technologies and services for your website to go online. Web hosting companies offer different plans and types of web hosting services.
A hosting plan is a number of features and the number of resources you get with it. For example, Hostinger offers 10 GB SSD Storage for a single shared hosting plan and 20 GB for a premium plan along with a panel that allows you to control your website.
You gain access to resources and permissions in the hosting environment depending on the hosting plan you have purchased.
How Does Web Hosting Work?
Generally, websites are stored on servers. A server is a computer designed to process requests and deliver data to another computer over the internet or a local network. Internet users access your website by typing your domain name into their browser’s address bar.
Types of Web Hosting
Web hosts offer different types of web hosting. Consider your website’s current state and future needs when choosing a web hosting type.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting hosts multiple sites on the same server. This keeps costs low because resources are shared between several customers. However, this causes high traffic to disrupt your website performance.
Shared hosting is also beginner-friendly. This is because it has a pre-configured server and a user-friendly control panel. Thus, shared hosting is an excellent choice if you’re a beginner or a small business owner with a limited budget.
Nevertheless, consider your website’s scalability. If you plan to scale your website along with your business growth, you might want to consider VPS hosting.
VPS Hosting
Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting allocates a certain amount of resources for each site. These sites are partitioned on one central server, which mitigates some of the resource drainage issues in shared hosting.
Greater private disk space and resource availability make it easier for you to expand your website. Moreover, VPS hosting gives you root access to the server. This allows you to configure your applications on the server, delete files, and install programs.
VPS hosting is an excellent choice if you have advanced skills and want scalability for your website.
Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting is a type of web hosting that store’s websites on a cloud server. It offers combined advantages of shared hosting and VPS hosting. It is beginner-friendly and has dedicated resources.
Cloud hosting is an excellent choice if you have a higher budget and a rapidly growing website.
Tips to Choose the Right Web Host
Consider these aspects when choosing your web host.
Uptime
Uptime is the time your website is available to users over a given period. On the other hand, downtime is a period when your website is inaccessible. Your website experiences downtime because of several reasons, including server maintenance and traffic overload.
Consider calculating the uptime percentage your website needs before choosing your web host. If your business heavily depends on your website availability, you might want to choose a web host with a higher uptime percentage.
Generally, a good web host provides at least a 99.94% uptime guarantee. An uptime guarantee assures your website’s accessibility for a certain percentage of the time. Otherwise, you are entitled to a refund.
Speed
Speed is vital for your website’s success because it affects various aspects, including Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and conversion rate. Consider a web hosting provider’s resources because they affect your website’s speed.
Web hosting resources consist of several components, including Random Access Memory (RAM), Solid State Drive (SSD) storage, and bandwidth. Other than resources, web hosting types also affect loading speed.
Storage and Bandwidth
Storage and bandwidth affect your website’s performance, including loading speed and user experience. A web host provides storage space that allows you to manage and distribute your content to your audience.
On the other hand, bandwidth is a measurement of maximum data that can be transferred in a given time. Consider calculating how much storage and bandwidth your website needs to help you choose a suitable web host.
Add-Ons
Web hosting add-ons are third-party software programs that are designed to increase your website performance. Popular web hosting add-ons include Content Delivery Network (CDN) services, anti-malware software, and offsite backups.
Customer Support
Customer and technical support are essential to help you solve issues, such as site errors and malfunctions. Generally, a web host provides 24/7 customer support via live chat and phone calls.
Consider a web hosting provider’s customer support response time, resolution time, and contact methods before choosing one. You might also want to check customer reviews to make sure that the technical support team and guarantees are dependable.
Price
A web hosting plan’s price depends on the type of web hosting and the different features and options available. For example, if you’re a small business owner with low traffic, you might want to choose shared hosting because of its lower price.
Decide the type of hosting, the type of site you’re building, and the features and resources your website requires before you start looking for a web host with the right price for you. Additionally, note that different web hosting companies offer different plans at different prices.
Look for comparisons online and read reviews to help you decide.
Conclusion
Choosing the right web host might be challenging because there are thousands to choose from. However, you don’t need to worry. Knowing what your website needs might help you find the most suitable web host.
We hope this article helps you find the best web host for your needs. Good luck.
