If you want people to visit your website, you need to host it on the internet. A web hosting provider will do this for you, so it’s very important to choose a good one.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- What a web hosting provider offers
- How to choose the best web hosting plan for your business website
- Essential features to look for in a web hosting provider
Let’s start with a quick overview of what web hosting providers do, which will help you understand the different features they offer.
What Does a Web Hosting Provider Do?
The main job of a web hosting provider is to make your website available on the internet so people can access it. They provide you with three key things:
- Domain: This is your website’s address that people type in to visit your site, like www.hostasia.lk. Your hosting provider helps you pick a domain name and checks if it's available.
- Server: This is the computer that hosts your website online. It handles the traffic coming to your site. Your hosting provider uses their servers to make your website accessible on the internet.
- Storage Space: Your website contains text, images, videos, and other files. Your hosting provider gives you space to store all these elements.
These are the basic services every web hosting provider offers: a domain (your website's address), a server (the space where your website lives), and storage space (room for your files).
In addition to these basics, web hosting providers offer extra features. In the next section, we’ll discuss how to choose the right hosting plan for your website.
Selecting the Best Web Hosting Plan
When you choose a web hosting provider, you’ll see different options.
Do you need shared or dedicated servers? Managed or private hosting? SSL types? These terms might seem confusing, but we’ll help you understand what to look for when choosing a web hosting plan.
Step 1: What Type of Hosting is Best for You?
Your web hosting provider will give you a server to host your website. You need to decide between a shared server or a virtual private server (VPS).
Shared Hosting:
- Your website shares a server with other websites.
- Resources like RAM and disk space are shared.
- It’s the cheapest option and great for new websites with low traffic.
- If you need extra security, Linux hosting is a secure choice.
- Not recommended for high-traffic sites, as limited resources may cause issues.
Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting:
- Your website shares a server but has its own dedicated resources.
- This option is more expensive but can handle more traffic and user requests.
- Recommended for established businesses with expected high traffic.
- Not ideal for low-traffic sites, as you might waste resources.
If your website gets a few thousand visitors, shared hosting may be enough. For hundreds of thousands or millions of visitors, VPS hosting is better.
Step 2: Is SSL Security Necessary for Your Website?
You definitely need SSL security for your website. An SSL certificate:
- Encrypts data exchanged between your website and visitors, keeping it safe from hackers.
- Displays a green padlock in visitors’ browsers, showing your site is secure, which builds trust.
- Displays a green padlock in visitors’ browsers, showing your site is secure, which builds trust.
There are two types of SSL certificates:
- Regular SSL: Secures one website.
- Wildcard SSL: Secures multiple websites.
If you only have one website, go for a regular SSL certificate. If you have (or plan to have) multiple websites, choose a wildcard SSL certificate.
Step 3: How Much Resources Will You Require?
Decide how many resources you need by answering these questions:
- How many professional email addresses ending with @yourwebsitename.com do you need?
- How much disk space will your website require for media like images and videos?
- How much bandwidth do you need based on your traffic? If your website often crashes, consider upgrading your bandwidth.
Answering these questions will help you choose the right hosting plan for your website.
Key Factors to Consider in a Quality Web Hosting Provider
Besides the basic features, consider the services and support your web hosting provider offers after you sign up. Here are some important factors to check:
- Truly Unlimited Plans: Some providers claim unlimited space but have hidden limits. Read their terms carefully.
- Expert Support: Your provider should offer excellent support to fix any technical issues you encounter.
- High-Quality Training: They should provide resources to help you manage your site without needing constant help.
- Additional Services: Check if they offer regular backups, bug fixes, and server updates to save you time.
- Reliability: Your provider should ensure your website is always online and secure from hackers. Good customer support is essential for resolving issues.
Choosing a web hosting provider isn’t too hard. Just make sure you understand your needs and ensure your hosting provider understands them too!
Have you found your ideal web hosting provider? Do you have any more questions that we haven’t covered? Let us know in the comments!
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