Table of Contents
What is included in a web hosting service?
Web hosting packages will differ depending on your chosen service, but they often have similar basic features. For example, when using a web hosting service, a server connected to the internet hosts your files. When you visit a website, these files are what will ultimately load.
Sites without web hosting have files on a personal computer, which has to run 24/7 for websites to always be online. Besides what we’ve already discussed, features to look out for are:
- Bandwidth: Web hosting services should have the bandwidth to load your website and keep your site online, even if they have other sites on the same server.
- Domain name registration: Company websites and blogs often have a customized domain, and web hosting services should let you register a domain name. If you already have one, check to see if you can transfer it to your new service.
- Website-builder tools: Some web hosting services have website builders, and you should look to see if yours either has one or is partnered with one.
- Server space: Look for hosting services with private and shared servers, and choose the one that will meet your needs. Private servers are more expensive, but you should also have faster loading speeds.
- Email accounts: If you’re running a company, look for a web hosting service that also has email account domain integration.
What’s uptime and why is it important?
Uptime is how often your website is online and visitors can click on your pages. You need high uptime (ideally as close to 100% as possible), and your web hosting service is largely responsible for this; make sure you choose wisely.
Some of the reasons why you need high uptime include:
- Traffic, customers, and revenue
- Website reputation
- Ranking in search engines (largely due to user experience)
• Monitoring: Track uptime via third-party tools like Semrush’s Site Uptime Checker.
Does a web host offer site backups?
When looking for a web host, you should check whether they offer regular site backups. This should be the case, but it’s not necessarily universal.
You should implement site backups to protect against deletion and hacking. You can then quickly restore your site if the worst happens; ignoring backups could result in months of damage, on the other hand.
• Offsite Storage: Look for offsite storage locations, such as cloud-based storage.
Will your host’s services be able to keep up with your growth?
This depends on the host you choose, but you should pick one that scales with you. Resources like storage space and bandwidth are things to consider as your site grows, and the service you pick should at least be changeable for an upgraded service if needed.
Some hosting providers have different pricing tiers, and you should contact their sales team for information on these packages. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need in advance and express any concerns you may have.
Can I get free web hosting?
You can find free web hosting services, but they often lack key features that paid versions do – so you should look at a paid version instead. If you choose a free hosting service, you normally have to contend with:
- Forced ads
- Lower bandwidth
- Slower page loading times
- Limited customer support
You should also consider whether these tools can provide the necessary security features and other things like website builders, email accounts, and domain hosting.
• Consider Downtime Costs: You need to think about how downtime will impact your website traffic, revenue, etc, and pick a provider with good uptime.
Conclusion
Web hosting providers differ in quality and the services they offer, and your choice will largely depend on your goals. You need to think about free or shared hosting, uptime, and backups. Some features are more nice-to-have than essentials; not every website will need email domain hosting, for example, but all of them will need security.
Define the goals you have for your website and figure out if you need website builders and other integrated features. Consider scalability, too, as you’ll have different requirements with increased traffic. If you’re only picking a website for a hobby, you might be fine with shared hosting.
