You may have heard of it before, but what does web hosting mean? Basically, web hosting makes it possible for individuals’ or organizations’ websites to exist and be accessible across the internet. Web hosting services, also known as domain hosting, are provided by a web hosting company that provides the technologies and services required for a website to be viewed on the internet. Websites are hosted by these companies on special remote computers called servers.
Everyone needs a web host. Otherwise, their website would be completely inaccessible and lost in the void. It would be like trying to see your favorite musical artist perform, but they didn’t have a venue to perform in.
Different Types of Web Hosting
- Shared Hosting
- Dedicated Web Hosting
- Cloud Hosting
- VPS Hosting
Shared Hosting – Most websites exist on shared host servers where multiple websites live together. Making this type of hosting generally a great entry-level option for those just getting started online.
Dedicated Web Hosting – With dedicated web hosting, you rent the entire computer or server where your website exists. This is a more flexible option as you have total control regarding the server’s setup. This option can be faster and more secure, which is why larger companies with larger websites typically use it. Giving you ultimate control and customization of the server resources that can have higher site performance overall.
Cloud Hosting – Cloud servers are virtual servers comprised of many individual physical servers. It is created to handle high web traffic and is quite reliable as it’ always has backup servers ready if one fails.
VPS Hosting – Short for “Virtual Private Server” which is much more robust, having tons of features you will not find with shared hosting. The server resources are generally shared with other sites, the number is much smaller than shared hosting. This type of hosting allows you to have more control over the server resources, but does not come with cost of a separate server.
What to Look for in Finding a Good Web Host
Of course, not all website hosts are equal. Companies with better web hosts have more reliable, faster websites, which enable them to run a more efficient business. Here are some things to look out for in finding a good web hosting service.
A Strong Reputation – Any good web hosting service should have a long track record or reliability and a good reputation online. You can easily research this with third-party reviews from actual customers and also rankings on reliable tech publications. If you see a significant amount of consistently positive reviews, that’s a good sign.
24/7 Customer Service – The last thing you need when you’re making a crucial last-minute tweak to your website is for customer service to be unavailable when you need them most. The best web hosting services will offer high-quality customer service throughout all hours of the day and night. If they give you multiple options to contact them via phone, email, or live chat, that’s another good sign!
Robust Website Security – Data Leaks and online hackers are an unfortunate reality in today’s digital climate. Reducing these existential threats with top cybersecurity features should be a vital feature of any online web hosting service you’re considering. A good web hosting company will have SSL certificates (enables high-level encryption, more secure than HTTP), robust firewalls, and offer various other security add-ons and options to ensure your website is safe and secure at all times.
Ability to Scale – Growth factor in a website is essential and being able to accommodate that growth seamlessly is a necessity when choosing the right web host.
Backups – having issues with your website is inevitable. You will need to have been taking backups religiously since the creation of the website. It is worth looking into if there is an additional charge for this backup service. Most web hosting companies include but not always.
Switching Suppliers – Everyone runs into better deals along the road when it comes to essentials in life, web hosting is one of them. Does the provider offer a moving service or fee for migrating to a new provider.
A Fair Price – Last but not least, make sure you find a web hosting service that has a fair price. We recommend two different web hosting platforms that encompasses all of these features. Click on either of the two to see what they offer and how they can help, WP engine and Scala Hosting. Web hosting is an essential cost for your business, but make sure you find a service that you can afford that provides the correct value for you and your business!
Web hosting will allow you to have a website that is accessible 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Many business make the mistake of underestimating just how important a website is. A website in today’s world is the equivalent of opening a second location for your business, at least for those who know how to implement one correctly.
A good website provides essential information for your products or services, and a website can even engage your potential customers while you are sleeping at night. So web hosting isn’t really the driving force to make all of these things happen, but it is an essential platform needed to make a website accessible to the world.
In today’s digital environment, your website is the first impression of your business. Slow loading speeds and frequent unavailability are red flags that most internet users will not forgive.