Hosting: What Works Best?
Choosing a web host is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. After all, you’ll be spending a lot of time on this particular platform, so you want to pick the right one. There are a few hosting companies that stand out from the pack, however, and we’ve researched the best web hosts available to find out what makes them so special.
Features
One of the first things you’ll want to look into is the hosting package the company provides. Do they offer the basic website package or the advanced one? If you’re not sure, ask them. You’ll find out that the “advanced” package usually includes all the features you need for your site, whereas the “basic” one doesn’t. Therefore, the advanced one is the best choice if you’re looking for a full-featured web host.
Another important factor to consider is customer support. Just because a company is big doesn’t mean they’re any good at solving problems. Even the biggest companies like Google and Facebook have their own support teams, so if you’re ever needing help, there will be someone there to assist you. Smaller companies won’t have the same level of support available, so you’ll need to do a little research into what type of customer service is offered before signing up.
Another essential factor to consider is the platform itself. Do you need a stable and reliable environment to launch your website or are you able to run a successful blog on a nightly basis? The former is usually offered by shared hosting providers, whereas the latter is typically found on dedicated hosting providers.
Reliability
The first thing you’ll want to do is check out the uptime of the platform. Just how reliable is their service? You’ll want to choose a host that boasts outstanding uptime since this is the key factor that determines how much downtime you’ll experience.
Another important consideration to make is whether or not you’ll be offered a fully dedicated IP. A dedicated IP is a unique IP address that is reserved for you and only you. The more unique your IP is, the more difficult it will be for someone else to use it. If you’re getting a dedicated IP, make sure you inform the company of your exact needs so they can provide a suitable solution. A dedicated IP is a great choice for website operators that plan on getting heavy traffic or running online businesses.
Cost Effective
One of the best things about a shared hosting package is how cost-effective they are. You get what you pay for, but in most cases, shared hosting is the absolute best option for first-time or even occasional website operators. The reason behind this is because most shared hosting packages offer a free domain name, and most domains are registered for only a single site. Therefore, if you’re looking for a cost-effective solution, shared hosting is the way to go.
One of the main downsides of shared hosting is the lack of customization available. Since the platform is shared, you’ll experience downtime whenever someone else is using it. If you need to change something about your website or e-commerce store, you’ll either have to wait for support or find the time to do it yourself. If you have little to no experience with code, the entire process can be quite frustrating.
Another cost-effective solution is the WordPress hosting package. Similar to shared hosting, WordPress hosting is also very popular because it’s so easy to use. With most web hosts, setting up a WordPress site is literally free. You won’t have to worry about payment processors, since they’re usually taken care of by the company. If you’re looking for an easy way to get started, WordPress is a clear choice.
Secure
A secure web host is one that offers protection from hackers and identity theft. Just because your website is secured, however, doesn’t mean that every aspect of it is safe. Make sure you look into the security of the platform itself, as well as any additional security measures they may put in place. These things vary from virus scanners and firewalls to encrypted connections and login details. It’s important to look for these security features to determine how much protection you really get.
As you can see, there are numerous benefits to choosing a hosting company. Make sure to read our in-depth reviews so you can find the best possible solution for your specific situation. If you want to run a successful website or online business, consider one of the top web hosts available today.