Are your trying to find a website host by sorting through ads and user recommendations? Knowing your need to launch but cannot make sense of the features and benefits?
We’ve got you covered.
In this article, you’ll learn the considerable features when choosing a hosting provider. You’ll discover the top providers worthy of your business. And, which bonus features are worth upgrading to a higher hosting tier.
Let’s get into it!
What to Consider When Looking To Find a Website Host
There are dozens of web hosting providers. Many share similar features and benefits. This makes the choice less about the technical and more about service.
You should focus on two elements:
- Uptime
- Customer service
Why are these two the critical items?
Uptime
Your business loses money any time the website goes down. Customers cannot access the shop. Subscribers lose access to information and services. Your team’s productivity is disrupted and time wasted.
The long-term effects of downtime harm traffic and search rankings, too. Inconsistent website access prevents search engine crawls and presents errors. Fewer site visits or rapid site exits lower page quality and domain authority.
A 99.99% uptime is critical to ensure standard options.
Service
Yet, hosting providers cannot guarantee 100% uptime. This is due to natural disasters, power outages, and user error. Customer service becomes the second factor as you find a website host for this reason.
Choose providers with stellar customer support and response time. It will prevent downtime confusion and keep you up-to-date with hosting status.
Others
Other considerations include:
- Costs
- Features
- Flexibility
Most options are industry standards if you’re comparing the service providers. Cost is subjective to your budget. It’s the features (bandwidth, storage, backend features) and flexibility (upgrades) you should compare as you find a website host.
Use forums or pose a question on social media to discuss details with experienced users. Otherwise, if you’re new to this, consider the options we’ve selected (below).
Top Website Hosting Providers (We Love)
Here are our choices for top providers by using the criteria we’ve set to help find a website host. These services give an all-in-one solution for businesses making a Web entry.
HostGator
HostGator is one of the cheapest web hosting services. Their baby plan is a fantastic starting point for getting a website online. Their customer service is quick and responsive.
Notable features:
- Cost: ~8/mo
- Unlimited installs, bandwidth, and storage
- Cloud, VPS, Dedicated hosting options
HostGator is particularly known for their WordPress hosting package. This package streamlines WordPress installation and maintenance. Consider the cloud package to keep costs low. Then, upgrade to dedicated hosting once your business begins to receive a ton of attention.
DreamHost
Want hosting alongside 1.5mil+ happy blog and site owners? Then DreamHost is the website hosting solution for you. Their shared plan use SSD hardware to offer the fastest speeds. The cloud services provide great scalability when bandwidth is in demand.
Notable features:
- Cost: ~$11/mo
- Free domain and privacy protection
- 97-day money back guarantee
Your choice of DreamHost will grant unlimited websites, domain email, and fast WordPress installation (if you so desire). They have one of the best customer support teams in the industry. DreamHost is another, great choice for your small business hosting needs.
Bluehost
Bluehost is a brand synonymous with website hosting because of their legacy and unbeatable pricing. Their top position continues to drive competition and cutting-edge hosting technologies. You, the customer, benefit from these advances through amazing service and hardware.
Notable features:
- Cost: ~6/mo
- Extras like spam protection, backup, and ad credit
- Unlimited storage and bandwidth
Bluehost is the prime choice, in our opinion, because of their expertise. They’re the defining web hosting company so you know you’re receiving the best you can buy.
It’s worth mentioning hosting companies like A2, SiteGround, and InMotion.
These hosting solutions provide a solid alternative to our favorites. You’ll find similar features and pricing with these services. All three have stellar customer service and uptime.
The Minor, Bonus Hosting Features during Setup
Various bonus offers appear as you progress through the checkout process. Which of these are worth their while? Which bonus offers should you avoid? Let’s find out.
Certain web hosting packages will include email services using @yourdomain.com for free. Else, a small premium usually $1.99 to $3.99 a month.
A custom email presents many business benefits like easier memorization and brand-ability. Want to use your existing email but enjoy the custom one provided? Set up email forwarding!
Site Builder
Site builders use visual composers to create the design of the website. This is a handy feature included with most website hosting packages. It’s a worthwhile bonus if you’re a DIY-type or want to save money with design costs.
These tools use drag-and-drop design features alongside templates to craft attractive websites — all without the need to know code.
Security
Look for security features like:
- Automatic updates
- Scheduled backups
Higher pricing tiers will include Sitelock. This is a security tool to protect from DDOS attacks. The tool also removes malware and prevents intrusions. Combine this with reliable website monitoring services for an added layer of security by mitigating attacks in real-time.
SSL Certs
Good web hosts will provide SSL certificates as part of their package. These certificates secure your website — a critical element if accepting transactions. Or, storing visitor data. The security certificate grants secondary benefits like SEO and customer trust, too.
Your Online Business Journey Begins Once You Find a Website Host
Almost all online business efforts are reliant upon web hosting. How so? Because your website is the hub of your online activity.
It’s important to choose a web hosting provider with reputation and top-notch features. This ensures flexibility, speed, and the uptime you need to make an impact.
Still stand-offish about web hosting services? Get in touch!
We’d love to help you realize your small business goals — and help keep it secure to maximize your business opportunity.
