Business owners already know how important it is to have an up-to-date functioning website, but who you choose for web hosting is just as important as the look of the website.
Before you choose a web hosting company, you need to check them out and make sure their services are what you need so that you don’t have to worry about any problems after you sign up to work with them. Bluehost is one hosting company we at Tech Busbee recommend as we host hundreds of our own apps, sites, and client’s websites in their web hosting servers, but regardless of which company you choose, below are some things to consider so that you don’t regret your decision.
What Is Their Web Hosting Customer Service Like?
When it comes to customer service, hosting companies vary greatly. Some provide FAQs or forums for you to go to so you can get answers to your questions, while others have live customer service reps who are available 24/7 for your convenience. When you’re running a business, the latter is what you want. Businesses cannot afford downtime on their website because customers are depending on that site for assistance.
Customer service that is available at any time, any day, is the only useful option whether your website is a personal one or one you use for a business. The last thing you need is to run into web hosting problems and not be able to find any type of assistance that you can use to resolve the problems quickly and move forward.
What Is Their Level of Security Like?
Security terms can be tricky. While companies such as Bluehost and others offer top-notch security that has been verified and which you can trust, others are vague in the descriptions they use regarding how secure their services are. Before you sign up for any hosting service, make sure you read the “fine print” and do detailed research into the type of verification they offer you so you know for sure that the services are 100% secure.
This is the only way to make sure your customers’ transactions are safe and that the chances of being hacked are extremely low. Reliable security is crucial to the success of your website, so this is never something you should take lightly.
What Kind of Performance Will You Get From Your Website?
Your website needs to perform well 24/7, 365 days a year, and for that you want it to be fast. There are many types of web hosting options, including shared, dedicated, and cloud hosting, and dedicated hosting is the way to go. With dedicated hosting, you’ll get your very own server that is dedicated just to your website, so you can depend on it being fast and reliable. Even though the cost of a dedicated server is a little higher than the others, it is worth it in the end because there will be no other websites competing with yours.
You should also consider companies that offer WordPress management, since this is a very popular way to develop a website. If you choose a hosting company with a good reputation, such as Bluehost and others, this is something you won’t have to worry about because their dedicated hosting plans are reliable, professional, and top-notch.
Can They Help You Recover and Restore Your Site Like Companies Such as Bluehost?
Backing up the information on your website is important, and backing up to several places is usually recommended. When things like this do happen, you’ll need a hosting company that can resolve the issue quickly because every second that your website is down means customers won’t be able to access it, which can mean a loss of revenue. The right hosting company will offer dedicated WordPress hosting that can retrieve your information with the click of a mouse – and better still, they’ll do all the work for you so that you don’t have to do it yourself.
Do They Offer the Tools You Need That Allow Your Website to Grow?
All businesses want to grow, but as your business grows, your website needs to grow as well. If you choose a shared web hosting plan, it may not be able to accommodate all of the files and data the site accrues as your customer base grows. In short, your server has to be able to handle the job once your business – and your website – starts to grow. Let’s face it, traffic increases can come in surges or slowly over time, and in both of these cases, a dedicated WordPress server is most reliable.
If you stick with a company like Bluehost, you won’t have to worry about this because their services are specifically designed to help your site grow as your business does, whether you have a blog, an online store, or anything else.
Do They Have Detailed Information on All of Their Services?
A common complaint of business owners is that they didn’t know their hosting company doesn’t provide a service or two that they need for the business to grow and thrive. For this reason, reading the fine print and all of the details of the company’s services is super important. If you miss something, it could mean that your life is about to get a lot more complicated. Before you agree to allow a hosting company to host your site, make sure you understand everything that they can provide to you.
This is especially important because some hosting companies’ services are rather limited. Once you decide exactly what you need, make sure your hosting company is able to provide it to you by researching their services thoroughly.
How Much Do Their Services Cost?
While you can’t base your choice of a web hosting company solely on the cost of their services, it is definitely something you need to consider. Different companies offer their services at different prices, so a little comparison shopping is always recommended. Nevertheless, the services they offer are far more important than the monthly hosting fee, so this is something you need to consider before you make a final decision.
If you choose a reputable company such as Bluehost, you can get a great hosting plan with a very competitive price, so doing your due diligence is the smart thing to do before you decide which company you want to work with.
