5 Tips to Consider before You Buy a Web Hosting Package.
Every business, no matter a start-up, an SME, or a Multi-National, needs a website. The website is the business’s brand. It may perhaps be the first point of introduction between the company and its user. Building a website, invariably means that you need a web hosting service. Finding a web hosting company, may seem like an easy task, because there are so many out there. A Google search will throw up 10,000 and more search results for "Web hosting company". Here are a few tips on what you should consider before choosing your Hosting Provider.
1. Price- This is the aspect majority will look at primarily when choosing a web hosting company. However, it should not be a crucial factor. When you go through price differences it’s useful to recall the old maxim that we get what we pay for. Jumping on the cheapest one is not the best idea, particularly if you depend on your website to make money. So check the features that each hosting company provides and then compare prices.
2. Location of your Host- Does location really matter? It should not be the deal breaker in your decision, because hosting overseas or on the cloud does not really affect your website load times drastically. But location matters in terms of Customer Service and Support and preferred language. Many companies offer 24/7 tech support, but perhaps you prefer a face to face meeting, or prefer support in your own language.
3. Security- of course one of the most important aspect of hosting is security. How secure is your website server? What are the default Security certificates installed in your plan? Can you purchase and add further security? If you are hosting an Ecommerce site, what about Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, commonly known as PCI DSS?
4. Tech Specifications / Limitations- It is practically impossible for websites to give you unlimited bandwidth and unlimited space on their cheapest or shared package. If you are looking to host an e-commerce site, a blog or a forum, then this kind of shared hosting may not be a good idea. You may not get the RAM and disk storage to complete all your needs.
5. Hardware- You may want to use Cloud hosting rather than physical servers. Check the system your cloud server provides, and make sure your website developer is familiar with using the Cloud platform for uploading your website.
