In order to grow your business, you want the elements of your website to be the best they can be! The overall look of your site, your content, and your graphics are all really important, but so is the maintenance of your website.
To keep your website safe, you want someone who is going to monitor and support your site to avoid any bugs or crashes. Web Hosting can ensure your site runs smoothly and that your files are protected. Below we have listed a few examples of things to consider before choosing a hosting provider.
Free vs. Paid
While a free web hosting service may seem tempting because it’s a money saver, you may want to consider the benefits of a paid service instead. Free hosting and paid to host present the same aspects, but manage them in different ways. A free host company can have outages and technical issues when in need of maintenance. This can affect the downtime of your site, which can also affect your ranking on google. If you are hoping to make money through your website by running ads, every minute the server is down can mean you are losing money. A paid service can often offer higher uptime than free services. This means more money for those counting on ads and web links!
Website Growth
As your business grows, your need for web hosting will also increase. When using a free service, high traffic on your website can cause a crash. So, as your company becomes more popular, you may want to consider switching to a higher quality, paid service to host your website. There are a few examples of different paid services that you can consider based on your business’ needs.
Shared Hosting
This is one of the least expensive options when it comes to web hosting services. Shared hosting places your website on a server that is shared with hundreds of other users. The cost of a shared server can run you as little as $5-10 per month, but it doesn’t come without its faults. When sharing a server with hundreds of other sites, the most popular websites can affect all others on the same server. That means, if there is a lot of traffic on one site, being on the same server as them can affect how smoothly your site runs. Sharing a server can also pose a security concern. While most shared hosts are great at keeping a close eye on the security of your site, you have to be careful in trusting the other hundreds of sites that share a server with you.
Virtual Private Servers
This server is a step above shared hosting, while still being inexpensive. The main issue users can run into with VPS is that the server does not do very well with high traffic. Any sudden increase in popularity can affect the reactivity of your site. Other sites on the VPS can also affect your site, just the same as shared hosting. The benefits of using a VPS include your host knowing every client on the same server. Hosts are aware of how many sites are on the server and what they are doing. This server only offers private services, not public. VPS can range from about $8-17 per month.
Dedicated Servers
This server allows you to rent an actual server from your host. This means you don’t have to worry about interference from other sites sharing a server with you. Other sites on shared servers can slow yours down. But, with a dedicated server, no need to worry about other sites affecting you! If your small business has been getting larger and larger, or if you anticipate it to grow rapidly from the beginning, a dedicated server is probably your best option. The cost can run you about $100, and sometimes more. That is why this server is suggested to those that have already seen a wide range of growth in their company. It can be expensive for smaller businesses. But, with a dedicated server, you are able to control your server completely and ensure it is secure!
Before you decide which web hosting service is best for your company, run a pros and cons list to determine how each would benefit your company. Each option has its benefits and disadvantages, but weighing your choices can help you make the right decision and grow your business tremendously!
A website is a crucial part of your business, however small or large it may be. People judge the authenticity of your brand by viewing your webpage. Showing them what your amazing business has to offer is only one click away. In order to attract the right customers and clients, make your website stand out! Your website can affect your business in so many ways. Make it a positive lasting effect with an update.
Ready to dive into a new website? Contact us today for a free consultation!
