Launching your website is one of the most exciting elements of starting your new business. Once it is online, it all begins to feel very ‘real’, and for most small companies, this will be your starting point. However, even getting to this stage takes time and effort, and it all begins with finding the right hosting company. Your web hosting provider is the one who hosts your domain, and often enables you to buy your domain directly through them. Finding the right company is important, as your business website is essentially in their hands; Don’t rush the decision; Here are some things to consider when deciding on a web hosting plan.
Reliable
The company you choose to host your website with should be reliable. Established companies are experienced, and have a reputation to uphold, so you generally will have peace of mind that you’ll get what’s advertised. Search for things like reviews and rewards on third party websites to see what kind of experience others have had. You’ll want to ensure that the opinion of the company is mostly positive before taking the plunge.
Great customer service
Customer service is important with any company you buy from or work with, but especially so when it comes to your domain. If things go wrong, you need to know you can quickly and easily get in touch with someone from their tech department who will fix or will walk you through the steps needed. Ideally, you’ll choose a company that offers 24/7 online and phone support. One thing to take a look at is the phone number; if they don’t have a free phone number and the company is located overseas it could be pricey to call them up if you need to speak through an intricate issue. You could look on their social media sites too and see what level of customer service they offer to their customers and how responsive they are. Having a variety of ways to get in touch if needed is always a good thing.
Competitively priced
No one wants to overpay for web hosting services. In business, it’s all about keeping your spending in check to maximize profits. You shouldn’t just choose the cheapest company, based on price alone, but instead, check out what kind of price points their plans are at and how this compares with other companies. Remember that web hosting isn’t just a one- off cost, it’s something you’ll be billed for over the course of having the site, usually monthly or yearly. Often there are deals for buying years ahead in bulk, and it can give you peace of mind that everything is paid up and sorted. Make sure you have email reminders set for when your domain payment is due, otherwise if payments are missed, your site could go temporarily down until paid (and without you noticing!) or you could lose your site completely. Good web hosting companies will offer this service to make sure you’re kept in the know and remain in control of your website.
Easy to use
If you are a newbie to domains and websites, then an easy hosting service is going to be a top priority. Even if you know what you’re doing, a nice interface is always good to have, and so before deciding on your web hosting company, click around their website. Ideally, the company will have plenty of easy to process DIY guides for how to get setup, and again, going back to customer service being easily accessible, if needed, is important. Linking a domain and getting everything initially set up can be a little more complex than people realize, so you’ll need to know how to set up redirects, manage your SSL, manage your domain email addresses and how to add new applications or databases to your website. On top of this you’ll need to know how to manage your backups and how to upgrade or renew your hosting solutions when the time comes. The companies that have made this easier and more streamlined than others, making these tasks simple even if you’ve never done it before, are a much better choice than the clunky and outdated ones that can cause hassle and stress.
Migration support
Do you already have a domain hosting company, but have decided you’re not happy with them for whatever reason, and you want to leave? When you’re looking for a new company, you’ll need to ensure they offer migration support. Look into what the migration process is like and weigh the risks. You’ll need to know you can trust the provider with the asset you have built from the ground up. If a registrar refuses to renew (which is unlikely but can and does sometimes happen) or you forget to renew, or the provider goes bust, you need to know you won’t lose your website. Content compatibility can also be an issue if you’ve built a website with the previous host, so be sure to investigate that and learn the ins and outs. Consider talking to a support person for details, so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
A website builder
A website builder isn’t essential for everyone, but it could be for you based on your needs. Many people link domains to other existing sites such as Blogger, WordPress and ecommerce stores, but if you need a website created from scratch then it is helpful to find a person, company, or program that builds and designs websites.
Good security
Finally, good security is crucial and something that should not be overlooked. Hackers and data breaches are an unfortunate part of the online world today so it’s especially important for business owners to protect their assets. A good web hosting company will have powerful firewalls, offer SSL certificates as part of their plans, and affordable security software or other add-ons to enhance your website security. Always check out what security is available before signing up.