Figuring out what type of web host you will need for your website can be daunting, especially with the sheer number of options that are available.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of great web host providers across the web. So, with so many options to choose from, the question is: How do you pick the right web host for your website?
In this post, we will guide you on how to choose the right web host that can suit your business needs.
Types of WordPress Hosting
The hosting provider that you choose will eventually affect your site performance, as well as the success and security of your site.
That’s why the importance of picking the right web host cannot be overlooked. That said, it could help if you understand the different types of WordPress hosting that are currently available:
Free WordPress Hosting
There are tons of free web hosts available out there (even WordPress has its own), although it comes with a catch.
You could find free website hosting that is being offered in small groups and forums online. Free web hosting is usually managed by a person that resells a small part of his server space to get some revenue.
But since it is just a small space, it also means that your resources are limited. Not to mention that the owner of the server can shut down your website anytime.
Shared WordPress Hosting
This is one of the most popular types of WordPress hosting out there. It is affordable and beginner-friendly, making it ideal for those who are new to digital marketing in general.
Shared hosting is usually where you share a big server with several other sites. When you have a couple of sites on the same server, the web host could offer you a more affordable rate.
Nonetheless, you still have limited resources, and when one of the websites on the server gets compromised, so is yours.
WordPress VPS Hosting
In a Virtual Private Server (VPS), you will usually get all the benefits of a dedicated server. The only difference is that special virtual space in a server is reserved just for you.
Technically, even if you are sharing space with others, you will still have a separate space for your own website. With any customizations and plans that you select, it would not apply to others and will remain exclusively for your site.
Managed WordPress Hosting
It refers to a managed hosting company that specializes in giving hosting solutions to the WordPress platform. Meaning, you are the only one who could host WordPress sites on their server and no one else.
It is excellent because all resources are dedicated to the WordPress platform, and concentrated efforts lead to better results. This type of hosting will work for you if you want to focus on your content solely, and you want someone else to handle the technical matters of maintaining your website.
That way, you do not have to worry so much about your website speed, security updates, and reliability. Your content is safe, no matter what.
Understand Your Specific Website Needs
Since every site is different, what might work well with other businesses may not be the best option for you.
According to WPhost Web Hosting NZ, there are other important factors apart from your budget that you have to consider when assessing what your needs are. This includes your site performance, storage, security, and support.
For instance, if your website is starting to get a decent amount of traffic, then you might want to get a standard hosting plan instead of a shared one. On the other hand, if you have an e-commerce website that generates at least 100,000 visits per month and requires 99.99% uptime, then you are better suited for a managed or dedicated web hosting.
As a website owner, you also have to be realistic with your needs. If you are not really that tech-savvy, then you might want to work with a hosting provider that offers in-depth support. You can do that by searching for customer reviews of your preferred web host online.
So, if you are eyeing Siteground, you can simply type in “Siteground review” or “Siteground customer support” to gather feedback. This can help you weigh whether your preferred web host is right for you.
Compare Pricing Plans
Costs will vary depending on the hosting provider that you pick. You can find plans that run for as little as a couple of dollars, to the ones that are priced three digits.
It is crucial that you look beyond the pricing and consider what particular features are included in the monthly or annual costs.
For instance, if you encounter a web hosting provider that charges you close to a hundred bucks per month, it might be because it comes with specific features that are not available with cheaper plans.
Moreover, the total costs of a lot of hosting plans are not just because of the hosting itself. There are other factors to consider, such as backups and monitoring, uptime guarantee, the amount of support that is offered, and so on.
Know the Hosting Provider’s Performance
The performance of your site is crucial. The speed of your site can affect your search engine rankings, as well as the number of visits that you get.
There are several tools that you can use to test your web host’s overall performance. For example, you can set up a site and then use tools like GTmetrics and Pingdom to know how long it takes for your website to load.
You need to consider a web hosting provider that offers guaranteed uptimes, quick servers, large bandwidth, and enough space to accommodate your needs.
Check for Web Hosting Support
Support is another important factor in your website. Usually, your site will run on a server that is installed in a data center somewhere, and you cannot physically access it.
If ever something goes wrong, it is impossible for you to connect with your website anymore. Thus, your web host’s support team is the only one that you can rely on to save the day. That’s why an excellent response and support team is needed.
If you are relatively new to WordPress and you are looking for a hosting provider that will help you troubleshoot whatever WordPress and hosting issues you might have, there are quite a few good ones who will provide you with a good WordPress support. Examples are Kinsta, WP Engine, and SiteGround.
Know the Features That Comes With It
At the end of the day, it is all about the features that you choose that will run your site. Therefore, it does not make sense to pick a plan that has features that you do not plan on using.
So, do your research in order to figure out what exactly you are looking for, as well as what your site will need in the long run.
There are also a couple of questions you need to ask yourself:
- Aside from WordPress, do you have to install other scripts or a separate domain or a subdomain?
- Will you host more than one site on WordPress?
- Are you planning to take advantage of a free domain?
- Does your WordPress host support unlimited add ons of domains and subdomains, or will you have to move with another host to enjoy these benefits in the future?
- Does the web hosting company of your choice support the causes that you believe in?
Remember, it is all about your brand and what you wish to accomplish. Having the right plan will lead you to the right hosting provider.
Validate Hosting Provider’s Uptime
Your website’s uptime should be as close to 100 percent as possible. Of course, achieving a 100 percent uptime is almost impossible since issues do happen, and the need for site maintenance may arise. Nonetheless, there are a lot of hosting providers that provide a 99.9 percent uptime.
Excellent web hosting providers will back-up their uptime guarantee with a guaranteed reimbursement, as stated in the SLA or Service Level Agreement.
Most web hosts will also have a status page on their site where you can monitor the status of their connections, network, the overall health of their server, and so on.
Read Customer Reviews
Every hosting company that you come across online will tell positive things about their plans. While most companies claim that they’re the best, it’s a lot more useful if you could hear the experiences real users have with their products.
So, take your time to read hosting reviews online, especially with a particular option that you are considering seriously. Know what other people have to say with a particular hosting provider so that you will have more insight into what you have to expect.
With that insight, you will gain more clarity of your own needs and choices, and you are able to make a more informed decision.
Choosing the Right Host for You
When picking the right WordPress hosting solution, hopefully, you will consider our recommendations.
Remember that every business has its own unique set of requirements, so what works best for you might not necessarily work well with others, and vice versa. There are a lot of factors to consider, especially when it comes down to narrowing your choices.
Keep in mind that the right hosting provider can make a big difference to your website’s overall performance and success.
Featured image credit: Unsplash.com
