How To Choose The Best Web Hosting: Important Factors To Understand

If you are one of the many people who want to start a website or blog, then there are a lot of factors to consider.

With so many pricing plans to select from, it’s no wonder new bloggers give up before they even begin!

Also, you need to consider what kind of traffic you expect. Do you need any extra features?

Don’t just pick a web host because someone else uses it, learn how to choose the best web hosting provider.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover the important factors so you can focus on what matters—running your business.

Why is it Important to Choose the Right Web Host?

It’s no secret that you need to choose the right web host. But why is it important?

Impacts SEO

Do you see what happens when you search something on Google?

Yes! Google’s algorithm rewards websites that load quickly.

So, you should choose a reputable web host that optimizes your site for search engine optimization (SEO), and your site will rank better.

Affects Site Speed

Consider how your web host affects your site’s speed.

• What is the average load time for your website?
• Do you navigate your website without experiencing problems loading images or videos?
• Or do you leave your website loading while you get a cup of coffee?

Affects Site Security

Hosting companies that keep their software updated will be able to keep hackers at bay.

You wouldn’t want your business, hobby or project to be easy to disrupt or even terminate in a few clicks.

After all, you’ve put several hours or into it not to care for it.

Has to Fit your Business Needs

Think about how your website fits into your business model.

For example, web hosts with features such as email marketing, can help you increase sales.

If this is too much work and you don’t have time to research, check out our Hosting Finder tool for a list of options.

What Makes a Good Web Host?  

The backbone of your website is the hosting service. It enables you to share your content online.

So, when choosing a web host, ensure you get the best service possible.  

You also need to remember that a host and a server are different.

A host is a company that offers internet services to your website.

But, a server is a piece of hardware or even software that can provide a service to other devices.  

But what makes a good web host?  Here are the most important factors.

Uptime

The first factor to consider is how frequently the site is unavailable.

A higher uptime percentage is better.

You can examine the web host uptime data from the last few months or use a third-party tool to verify this.  

Cost Effectiveness

Investing more money in a web host that is too expensive might not be worth it.

Despite that, it might be worth paying more if it offers more features over competing hosts in its price range, such as more storage or bandwidth.  

Available Plans

Ideally, a good web host will offer a wide range of plans.

There should be several packages available for you to choose from, so you can find one that meets your budget and needs.  

Fast Speeds

Search engines like Google algorithm rate websites depending on how quickly they load pages on the Internet.

Thus, a faster loading page is better for SEO and user experience.

You can use Google Page Speed Insights to determine whether you receive the advertised speed.  

Security

A good web host should have security measures in place.

It’ll protect your site from hackers or malicious users who might try to steal information or upload viruses and other harmful code.  

Available Support

You need a web host that offers 24/7 customer service via live chat or email.

With this, getting help will be easier, and you won’t have to worry about getting stuck on your own.  

Backups

A good web host should offer backup services that protect all your files and can restore them if anything goes wrong.

You don’t want to lose any of your data if something goes wrong with your website or hosting account.

So, make sure you choose a company with backups and are willing to share them with you if needed.

Privacy

You might find that choosing the right web host makes the difference between success and failure for your business.

Using two-factor authentication and SSL encryption safeguards its customers’ data, including sensitive information.

Thus, only those with access can view it.

When running an online store, you don’t want strangers accessing customers’ sensitive data, such as credit card numbers.

Which Factor is the Most Important When Choosing a Website Host?  

When selecting a website host, you need to consider functionality ,security and your budget.  

You need a functional website.  

Your site should load quickly and efficiently so visitors can access the necessary information.

The chances are if a user has difficulty navigating or completing tasks on your website, they will leave and never return.  

Additionally, you should ensure that your site works well with SEO tools like Google Analytics.

Then you can see which content people find most useful and what they’re looking at the most.  

You also need a secure website. Your customers will trust you with their personal information, such as credit card numbers.

Having a secure web host also reduces the possibility of hackers accessing your website for malicious purposes.

Moreover, you should consider how much you will spend on your hosting service.  

Many types of hosting services are available, and their prices vary depending on their features and services.

You can find out what hosting service fits your budget by researching online or talking to somebody with web hosting experience.  

Which Type of Hosting is Best for Beginners?  

There are many types of web hosting, each with its strengths and weaknesses.

Yet, shared hosting is the best type of hosting for beginners.  

Sharing a host with many other websites means you can get started with minimal investment.

Besides, it’s fast, easy to set up, manage, and many options are available.

Shared hosting is also suitable for beginners since you don’t have to worry about managing the server or maintaining your site.

The only thing you need to know is how to upload your files.

The downside?  

To keep costs down, shared hosts don’t provide many resources.

Furthermore, some shared hosts restrict the types of businesses running on their servers, such as adult sites.  

Which is the Best Web Hosting for Large Businesses?  

Dedicated hosting is the best web hosting solution for large businesses because of its fast speeds.  

It allows you to control the operation of your website, including software installations.  

Additionally, you can customize the operating system yourself if you’re an IT whiz.

Due to its high level of customization, dedicated hosting is ideal for large businesses needing to run their web applications.  

Since fewer users share resources on dedicated hosting, they offer faster performance than a shared one.

As a result, large file downloads, such as videos or high-resolution images, will not result in slower page load times.

How to Choose the Best Web Hosting  

A good web hosting provider is essential for your business’ success as you may waste time and money if you choose wrongly.

To help you choose the best web hosting provider, here are some tips:  

Understand Your Needs  

You need to understand your business needs before choosing a web host.  

Are you interested in creating a simple website or an e-commerce site?

Is SSL security or email services necessary for your business?  

When comparing options, all these questions will help narrow down the choices.  

Compare Your Options  

Then, you can compare the best web hosting companies offerings based on your needs.  

Consider price, reliability, uptime guarantee, and customer support hours.

Choosing a provider who offers everything you need at an affordable price is essential.  

Choose a Subscription Plan Length  

Decide on the length of your subscription. You can choose between monthly, yearly, or biennial plans.  

A managed WordPress hosting plan might make sense if you plan on scaling up or having e-commerce stores with a high traffic volume.  

For one thing, managed WordPress hosting plans are more affordable than self-hosted ones.

Also, they provide greater flexibility when scaling up your site.  

You may want to use a managed WordPress hosting plan when traffic volumes are high, such as during Black Friday sales periods.

Check for Reliability and Uptime  

Once you’ve selected a web hosting plan, it’s time to check out the reliability of their services to ensure a smooth future.  

Make sure to choose a company that keeps its servers up 24/7 so your customers aren’t inconvenienced by downtime or slow loading times.  

Check your response time to see how long it takes for a visitor to load your website.

You should pay attention to this if your business sells products online and tries to attract customers outside your local area.  

Look Into Your Upgrade Options  

Some web hosting companies offer updates at various price points, which affect functionality and speed.

For example, some hosts charge extra for more storage space or bandwidth.  

Check Out Extras and Add-Ons  

Some hosting packages include free email addresses and domain name registration.

You can save money in the long run by eliminating the need to pay separately for them.  

Look at Prices

Compare web hosting prices as well.

A more extended contract might give you a better deal if you plan to stay with your host for a while.  

Understand Your Limitations

Knowing your limitations is essential when choosing a web host.  

For example, if your website consumes a lot of data transmission, you’ll need a powerful server to handle that traffic.

When it comes down to it, any web host can offer only so much.

You should also know how those resources will benefit your website and if they have any potential to help at all.  

Understand What’s Included  

Make sure you read the fine print!  

Know what’s included in the web host package before making your final decision.  

It depends on the package that you choose. Some offer only basic features like domain registration and email management.

Other sites offer more advanced features, such as e-commerce shopping carts, which can be very useful if offered at an affordable price.  

Ensuring Security  

Besides malware detection and removal, good web hosts protect against DDoS attacks and spam.  

You can use online scanners such as SUCURI or Qualys SSL Server Test to test your website’s security.  

These online scanners will check your site for known threats and inform you of any problems.  

Test It Out  

Testing a host’s services before committing to them is also vital.

The easiest way is to create a “staging” website on each host and test its performance.  

To test how the actual website will run, host the staging site on the same server with similar content.

Frequently Asked Questions  

Here are some frequently asked questions about choosing a web hosting provider.  

Wrapping Up  

A website is only as good as its hosting service, so selecting the right provider is crucial in developing it.

There are numerous factors to consider, and it is easy to overlook some. Even so, when choosing a web host, you should consider your website’s functionality, security   and budget.

So, what features does your hosting service offer?  

Are there any other factors we should have included?  

Please let us know in the comment section below!