10 Things to Look for in a Hosting Provider

10 Things to Look for in a Hosting Provider, Now that you understand the different types of hosting, here are 10 things to consider when choosing which provider to use Click here.

1. Ongoing Costs

Cost is often the first consideration when making any purchase. Still, as the saying goes, “You get what you pay for,” — so it pays to understand the drawbacks to choosing a cheap plan. Many small business web hosting services offer cheap rates to hook in new customers. They’ll then hike the rates after a set period or force businesses to upgrade when they surpass the bandwidth and disk space limitations — which can happen quickly for some users. Bottom line, choosing a super cheap hosting provider may cost you more money in the long run. So, it’s best to base your decision on the features you need to build a successful business.

2. Free Domains

Some small business website hosts provide a free domain for 1 year when you sign up for a hosting plan. Again, although this can be a tempting offer, it’s important to consider the long-term. If you sign up for a plan with a free domain, make sure to check the renewal cost that will hit you in one year.

3. Built-In Website Building Tools

Some web hosting providers offer built-in website-building tools. These tools are typically very limited when it comes to functionality. But if you’re looking to build a simple website for as little money as possible, choosing a hosting provider with a decent website builder may make sense.

4. Ease of Use

Some website hosts for small businesses have clunky interfaces full of ads designed to get you to upgrade. Others are easy to use and straightforward in design.  Before you make a decision, it’s worth checking out platform reviews and seeing what others think before committing.

5. Uptime

Small business website hosting services can’t guarantee 100% uptime — at some point, something’s bound to go wrong, and your site will be down. However, it’s smart to choose a provider with a history of reliable uptime.

6. Security

10 Things to Look for in a Hosting Provider, Some web hosts for small businesses charge additional fees for security features. For example, if you plan to take credit card payments through your website, you’ll need an SSL (secure sockets layer) certificate.  Check if there are any additional security costs you need to take into account.

7. Customer Support

It’s worth choosing a host who offers your preferred method of support — whether phone, chat, or email. Also, some web hosts offer 24/7 support which can be handy if you have a website emergency.

8. Bandwidth

The term bandwidth refers to the amount of data a website can transfer to users at any given time. So, the more website traffic you have, the more bandwidth you’ll need.  Bandwidth is usually sold by the gigabyte (GB). And many web hosting services offer “unlimited bandwidth.” In reality, there’s no such thing as unlimited bandwidth — but hosts know it’s rare for small websites to exceed the bandwidth limits in place. Still, it’s worth finding out the limits because if your site exceeds them, your site can be shut down until you upgrade to a higher plan. Make sure you select a plan with enough bandwidth for peak times, such as when running a flash sale during Black Friday.

9. Disk Space

Disk space is the amount of storage needed to hold your website’s files. You’ll need plenty of disk space if you plan to upload lots of high-definition videos and photos on your website. On the other hand, you won’t need much at all if you plan to have a 1-page website detailing your freelance services.

10. Scalability

If your business grows as planned, you’ll likely need to upgrade your web hosting. So, it’s a good idea to consider the prices and features of every plan on offer before committing to a host.