Web hosting is an essential aspect of everything you like on the internet from authority sites, articles, tweets, podcasts, online gaming, streaming contents, memes, etc. These live on a gateway that a company or individual is paying to keep it running so users can check it anytime and anywhere.
Web hosting is your ‘physical’ space to access your content or website effortlessly in the digital world. If you plan to launch your business or personal website, there are vital aspects that you have to consider before you start your project. While signing up is easy, consider these factors to help you understand the ins and outs of web hosting and how it can impact your business in the future.
Why Your Business Website Needs Web Hosting?
The fundamental aspects of web hosting affect your digital presence, including data storage, domains, bandwidth, website uptime, and hosting suitable for your preference or demand.
Your web host provider grants a space to help you save your website and provides the connection needed so others can access or use your site. Your digital area is located in a server that provides your storage and accessibility via the internet.
Web host providers are like ‘landlords’ that allow you to ‘rent’ space into the digital world, whether monthly or annual basis. For example, Mangomatter’s list of top-rated web host providers enables you to build your substantial online presence with the right plan of aspects suitable for your business’ demands.
These guys provide the best insights and best web hosting recommendations based on your current or future needs and help you make a sound decision beneficial for your business.
5 Essential Factors You Need To Understand About Web Hosting
1. Types Of Web Hosting Plans
You may have seen specific terms on web hosting plans such as VPS, shared, cloud, dedicated, reseller, and WordPress. These terms represent various types of web hosting services though not all providers offer all of them.
- VPS Hosting – Virtual Private Servers or dedicated servers are ideal for larger businesses that expect a significant traffic volume to the website.
- Shared Hosting – It’s perfect for newcomers and is affordable and shares servers with other websites.
- Reseller Hosting – it enables you to start and build your branded website hosting biz the hassle of creating infrastructure from zero.
- Cloud Hosting – It’s another hosting that allows you to upscale site power across various servers.
- WordPress Hosting – It lets you build your website in the world’s well-known CMS.
2. Features Available On Each Web Hosting Plan
Understanding what’s on a web hosting plan and what your business needs is vital. Generally, the higher the plan you subscribe to, the more features you will get. The fundamental metrics you must check on every web hosting plan are:
- Disc Space or Data Storage
Disc space or data storage is simple and straightforward as pertains to the amount of storage you can use to store your videos, pages, images, files, and more.
While most web hosting providers offer pace in gigabytes or terabytes, several hosting plans offer unlimited disc space. Sometimes data storage is located on SSD (solid-state drive) or HDD (hard-disc drive). That means SSD is better compared to HDD as it enables quick access to your website’s data.
- Data Transfer or Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the amount of data that can pass from the website to site visitors in a month or sometimes in a day. Several web hosting providers offer unmetered bandwidth. Remember that over usage of bandwidth (if you’re not into unlimited bandwidth) can cause your website to have additional fees or site suspension.
- Uptime
It refers to the volume of time your site is available and accessible online. While technology is not perfect, it’s essential to find a web host that offers 99.9% guaranteed uptime.
- Backups
Site backups are vital and must be done manually or automatically with your chosen web host provider to secure all your site data in case of sudden technical error.
- Security
Web hosting plans don’t provide a security tracking service. Though servers are protected, some websites are vulnerable. For websites built under an open-source platform such as Shopify or WordPress, you’re at higher risks for malware or hacks. Check with your web host provider about extra security monitoring to avoid such vulnerabilities.
3. Domains + IP Address
A domain is the website’s unique name in the digital world, and it can also be your business name where people can search and find your website. It’s the most convenient way for people to remember your business name when searching online. Domains are separately purchased from your service provider and need to be registered by the domain registrar to check whether it’s available or not.
On the other hand, the IP address is your business location, like your ‘physical mailing address’ on the internet. An IP address is like a permanent online directory to your site.
4. SSL and OS
The SSL certificate provides a more secure connection between your site and the visitors or users who access it. Google now requires an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate, or your site will be tagged as ‘not secure’ and may lose your ranking position on search engines.
An OS or operating system enables you to configure, set up, run tasks on the server. Your server requires either a Windows or Linux to perform its functions effectively.
5. Email Address
Various plans, like the number of domains available, are equal to the email address. Startup plans have a limited number of sites and emails. Most providers that offer unlimited bandwidth or storage also offer unlimited sites or email addresses to add to your account.
Conclusion
Understanding the fundamental factors of every web hosting service provides you with the know-how of what you should be looking for while hunting for your most ideal web host provider. The best hosting plan should meet your requirements without breaking the bank from unnecessary features that won’t be useful to your business.
