How Do I Know Who Hosts My Website?
Hosting your own website has many advantages. You can do all the marketing there is to do. You have full control over the content and the look and feel of your site. Plus, the benefits of being online far outweigh the disadvantages of having a physical website (no shipping damages, quick delivery of online content).
However, even if you have the best intentions of keeping your website secure, preventing attacks, and remaining up-to-date with the latest news and trends, there are some things that you need to know before you begin hosting your website. Otherwise, you might end up in a bit of a pickle.
Is My Hosting Provider Up-To-Date With Patching?
It’s no secret that cyber attacks are on the rise. Hackers are looking for ways to take advantage of the growing number of people who are putting personal information online. So it is important to take the time to ensure that your hosting provider is keeping up with the latest security patches. You can do this by either contacting them directly or visiting their website and looking for the most recent updates. You don’t want to be hosting your website on an outdated operating system or platform.
Do They Have A Responsible Money Back Policy?
Just as with any other purchase, you might end up with a website that doesn’t live up to your expectations. In that case, it’s important to try and return the product you purchased as soon as possible. But that doesn’t mean you should be returning items willy-nilly. There are certain regulations and policies put in place by credit card companies and banks regarding chargebacks (when a customer disputes a charge on their credit card).
If you receive a notice from a credit card company or bank that there’s been a dispute about a transaction you posted, it’s a good idea to get in touch with the website’s host to see what happened. Many website hosts have a money-back guarantee if you meet certain criteria. So it’s always better to be safe than sorry. In the event that the host refuses to offer a refund, there are other options such as an exchange or a credit on your next order. But you have to act quickly in order to make the most of these options.
Do They Offer Emergency Support?
Just as with any other product or service, you might have a problem that needs to be fixed immediately. For example, your site might stop working properly or there might be some sort of malware that’s causing havoc. In these cases, you need a dedicated support person who can help you get things back on track. Many hosts offer 24/7 emergency support via phone or email. So if you have a problem during business hours, you can contact them and they will get back to you as soon as possible. Whether it’s a quick response or a follow-up appointment, they will work with you to fix your issue.
Who Is Hosting My Social Media Accounts?
If you’re running a business and you’ve decided to go the extra mile to make sure your customers are getting the best possible service, you might want to consider setting up social media accounts for your business. Having a presence on social media is valuable for demonstrating your brand, engaging with your audience, and boosting your business’ reach. While there’s no denying that there are many benefits to social media, it’s also important to consider who is handling your social media accounts and whether or not they are equipped to handle your company’s reputation.
You can setup and use social media accounts for your business without having a website. Just remember that if you do, you’re going to have to keep up with the regular maintenance of these accounts. That means you’re going to have to Tweet, post, and otherwise keep up with everything yourself. It can be a frustrating feeling to have all of your accounts locked down and requiring a personal touch. Especially when you have so much going on in your business already. It can also be a hassle to have to take the time to keep up with all of these accounts whenever you need to.
Do They Have The Skills To Handle My Website’s Performance?
This is an important question to ask before making any kind of business or marketing plan. Even if you’re getting hosting for free, you’re still responsible for ensuring that your site performs at its best. Poorly performing websites can put a damper on a company’s image and brand. Depending on your budget and the amount of traffic you expect to receive, you might want to consider paying for a high-quality hosting plan. In addition to offering quality services, they should also have the skills and the technological know-how needed to optimize your site for performance.
Can They Improve My Site’s Performance?
As mentioned above, one of the main advantages of having your own website is the ability to optimize it for performance. If you’re not tech-savvy, there are tools and resources available that can help you get the most out of your site. For example, you can use WordPress to build your site and then employ services like Google Analytics to track the performance of your site. Google Analytics will show you all sorts of information about the people who are visiting your site and how they’re behaving. Depending on your site’s content, you can then identify areas that need to be improved or changed in order to have higher engagement and better results.
If you’re looking for an all-encompassing service that handles all the technology required to build and maintain your website, along with delivering exceptional customer service, look no further. Plus, you can always upgrade your plan as needed.