Being overwhelmed and confused is orderly if you are looking for web hosting services as a beginner. Your financial and social reputation heavily depends on your website and its performance.
Hence, buying the best hosting services is integral because a reliable host ensures your website’s accessibility, security and speed. Simply put, they enable a positive user experience.
In this blog, we explore how to choose the best hosting provider.
Choosing the Best Website Hosting Provider: A Beginner’s Guide
Assessment of Needs
Before you dive into the type of web hosting, you should assess your website requirements. You must ask questions like:
a. What is the estimated traffic?
b. What are the resource needs for your website?
c. What will your website feature?
d. Is your website heavy with media or generic content?
e. What is the type of website you want to host? eCommerce, gaming platforms, video streaming, etc.
f. Are you using Microsoft-based applications?
g. Are there specific software tools you need from the provider?
Once you get the answers, it becomes easy for you to look for web hosting providers that offer these services.
Type of Hosting Service
When you assess your needs, you get a step closer to determining the type of web hosting service you want. There are 4 primary types of services:
a. Shared hosting: Single hysical server and its resources are shared among other users. It is good for small websites or personal blogs.
b. VPS hosting: It is a traditional hosting type that offers a good environment for beginner websites that will grow in the near future.
c. Cloud hosting: If you plan to host an eCommerce website or a heavy web application, choose cloud hosting because it offers optimal scalability.
d. Dedicated hosting: One physical server houses one website or application. It is excellent for resource-intensive or heavy-task websites.
Analyse Different Providers
a. Uptime Track Record
The best hosting providers offer a minimum of 99.9% uptime. This guarantees minimal downtime and maximal availability.
b. Resource Allocation
When looking for the best hosting plans, always ensure adequate resource allocation. Processing power, memory, storage and bandwidth are necessary resources for a well-performing and active website.
c. Security Compliance
Look for features like SSL certification, DDoS protection, anti-malware tools, firewalls and more. The best hosting services offer all these robust security features.
d. Technical Support
Every hosting provider is fundamentally responsible for offering relevant and prompt technical support. Read testimonials and reviews to ensure that you are choosing the best website hosting provider.
e. Package Pricing
Most web hosting providers with great services provide value for money. However, ensure that the package is affordable and reasonably priced. Agood idea is to compare multiple providers before choosing one.
Compare Hosting Features
a. Backup Protocol
The best hosting plans include a robust backup protocol that includes automated backups, remote storage, security and disaster recovery plans.
b. Software Updates
When choosing the best hosting services, always make sure that your web hosting provider offers automated and regular software updates. This reduces software vulnerabilities and increases security.
c. Free Domain
Some web hosting providers offer services like free domain and email hosting for a limited time. It can be a bonus for businesses that are starting.
Conclusion
Finding the best hosting provider for the first time can be daunting. However, you must always make appropriate efforts to ensure a mindful decision. By following the above steps, you can choose a provider and package that will create the best foundation for your website.
