Web hosting service is crucial for proper functioning of any website. It is important to choose a good, reliable company. This will not only help visitors of your website, but also reduce potential stress which may occur due to various problems.
So, what do you have to consider when choosing a hosting provider for your website?
- Storage space
- Bandwidth
- Unlimited MySQL database
- Website uptime
- Customer support
Good hosting can be cheap and reliable at the same time. Yes, that’s right! Although the price is often a measure of quality, you shouldn’t neglect some of the good, economic solutions that are available to you.
*1* Be careful when it comes to unlimited storage
There are a lot of hosting providers that will give you unlimited storage. However, there is a catch. Most of the companies have a passage of text within their TOS declaring that you are able to use only a limited space (even though they advertise it differently). If you go above it, you are a subject to termination. So, this is another thing to have in mind.
*2* Bandwidth and disc space
Your hosting package should allow you to host several domains at the same time (at least 50 basic websites). It also should give you enough bandwidth for them to function properly. Have in mind that most of the websites do not use all of their bandwidth. Only if you start using large files for download, you can get in danger of exhausting the available resources. Nevertheless, you should always read terms of service before opting for a hosting company.
*3* Availability of unlimited MySQL
On top of this, good hosting companies should provide free, unlimited MySQL database. Before you sign any contract, make sure you skip those that are providing limited MySQL resources (they should give you at least 100 databases). Nowadays, you can find even very cheap web hosting that includes this service. And, if the company asks for an additional fee for this service, you should avoid them.
*4* Server uptime
Uptime is another important factor when choosing the right hosting. Good companies have to provide 100 percent server uptime. Nevertheless, most of the hosting companies will give you a little bit less (let’s say 99.9 %, which is also acceptable). After all, if your website is often down you can’t expect your customers to trust you. This will hurt your reputation. Below picture illustrate effect of site downtime or low speed on conversion ratio.
*5* Trial period and WordPress platform
Before purchasing any hosting package, make sure to get everything that is necessary for proper functioning of your website. It is best to ask for a trial period. This will allow you to evaluate provider’s offer and make sure the company is suitable for you.
If you are planning on starting a WordPress website, check the PHP and MySQL versions that are installed on that host. You can also make sure if the provider allows quick WordPress installation and other popular content management systems for your blog.
*6* Importance of technical support
Similarly to cable or telephone providers, hosting tech support is an important aspect of a web hosting company. Sooner than later, you will most likely have some issues or questions regarding your website.
In those cases, it is very important to have a capable team which can assist you with anything that may pose a problem. This can be a real deal breaker! Good tech support can save you a lot of time and stress. Also, you should opt for a hosting company with support that is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
*7* Other people’s experience
Always make sure to check out other people’s opinions and decide whether a hosting company is the right choice for you. By using Google, you can get all the necessary answers in no time. However, there is space for caution. Even if a company has some negative reviews, you have to take it with a grain of salt.
If the hosting provider is a big company, it is only normal that they will have received at least some complaints. Anyway, there will most likely be more negative reviews for big companies, serving large number of people than for the little ones.
*8* Do not sign any long-term contract unless you trust them
This one is self-explanatory. You have to be conservative when choosing your web hosting company. It would be unwise to sign a long-term contract unless you are sure that this hosting provider is the right one for you. Have in mind that most people use their websites as a way to make money. By choosing a bad hosting, you can hinder your entire operation and jeopardise your entire business model.