Crafting a high-quality website that entices visitors to learn more about your business and convert should be a top priority. Yet, many business owners get stuck in the logistics of it all and never really move past the basics. They build a simple website using the cheapest or easiest hosting they can find, put a bit of information on the site, and hope for the best.
This strategy, or lack of strategy, is a sure-fire way to quickly have your website buried on the search engines and to unintentionally turn away the traffic that somehow is sent your way.
If you’re going to have a successful business these days, you need a successful website. If you’re going to have a successful website, you need to intentionally focus on every aspect of website creation.
One component of any WordPress website is the hosting service. There are many hosting services to choose from, each one providing a different performance and service. These features actually have the power to impact SEO, web performance, and conversions, making the decision of website hosting service very important.
Choosing the right hosting service for your website is essential. With the wrong service, you face the potential of a poorly run and managed website, and as an extension, a poorly marketed business. You want to ensure that the hosting service you choose will meet the needs of your business and will provide a smooth, seamless web process.
With so many options out there, it can be confusing when it comes to choosing the best one for your needs. By learning everything you need to know about the various WordPress hosting services, you can decide which one is right for your business’ website.
” Often overlooked, web hosting is one of the key components of every successful website. Choosing the best WordPress hosting for your needs can improve your SEO and increase sales. “
What to consider when choosing a WordPress hosting service
There are many features to consider when choosing the optimal hosting service for your business. It’s important to determine the things that you value the most so you can ensure your chosen hosting service checks those boxes.
Here are some things you might want to consider:
Features
Every hosting service has features that differentiate it from others. These features are what make the host either work or not work for you. Not only do you want to make sure that your host has the features you need to ensure your site runs effectively, you also want to make sure you’re not paying for a bunch of features that you’re not going to use.
The best way to determine which hosting service has the majority of the features you need is to create a list of essential features. You’ll want to list features that you currently need in order to get your website off the ground, as well as features you anticipate needing in the future.
Some things you may be looking for are the support of HTTPS or SSL, migration tools, the ability to host more than one WordPress site, the ability to use other scripts you need, the support of unlimited domains or subdomains, and if your version of PHP or MySQL will be supported. There are other feature considerations that you’ll need to list that are unique to your business.
Jot everything down so that when it’s time for you to start researching the different hosting services, you’ll know what features to look for. Make sure that you divide your list in terms of non-negotiables and negotiables. That way, you’ll know what you absolutely must have and what you can let go of if necessary.
Along with certain features, you’ll also want to make sure that your WordPress hosting service has top-notch performance that will ensure an optimal experience for your visitors. Look for fast servers, high bandwidth, and efficient, guaranteed up times.
Cost
When you’re choosing a host, another consideration is going to cost. While you’ll need to make sure that you’re staying within your budget, you also need to remember that you get what you pay for. Just like everything in life, a cheaper price often comes with a different sort of cost, such as quality.
You’ll need to ensure that the hosting service you choose has all of the features that you need and a majority of the ones that you want. You’ll also want to make sure that it comes with numerous positive reviews and recommendations. Once you’ve checked those factors off the list, there’s a good chance the cheapest hosting services aren’t going to be there anymore.
Web hosting services are priced based on a number of things such as the efficiency of the servers, the quality of service, and the type of support offered. While you may not be looking for the cheapest host, you also probably won’t need the most costly. If you don’t already have a totally successful and frequently trafficked business, you can likely get by with paying no more than $100 each month.
” Hosting isn’t expensive when you consider the potential business benefits of a professional website. “
Support
You’ll also want to keep an eye on the type of support that potential hosting services offer. Unless you are highly skilled with website creation and management, you’re going to have issues and need help. If something happens with your website, you’re going to want to know that you can contact your host anytime to receive the support you need and get your site up and running.
Check out each WordPress host on your list to make sure they have various modes of contact on their website. Look for a 24/7 phone number, email address, and even online chat. Read reviews to make sure customers agree that the host has great support. If the clients aren’t singing the praises of the customer support, there’s a good chance you won’t be either.
Hosting type
After features, cost, and support, you’ll need to choose the type of hosting that best suits your needs. While there are many options of types, there are two common WordPress types that you’ll probably want to choose from.
Managed WordPress Hosting
Managed WordPress Hosts offer hosting only for WordPress. This means that if you use this type of hosting service, you won’t be able to host any other type of site. These are a great option for businesses who are certain they will only be using WordPress because everything that they have to offer will work for that website. With features and programs focused solely on WordPress, you will see better results from your website.
These types of hosting services are simple to get started with and their entire team is made up of WordPress experts, so you know you’ll be receiving great support. Another benefit of Managed WordPress hosting services is that many of them provide caching services, auto updates, CDNs, backups, and a staging site.
Shared WordPress Hosting
Shared hosting companies don’t only serve WordPress websites, they serve a number of other platforms as well. These hosts tend to come with a 1-click option for installation, making it simple to install WordPress easily after purchase.
Shared hosts can be a cheaper option, however they aren’t as user-friendly for WordPress sites as a dedicated WordPress host. They tend to not have as many WordPress-focused features and support is hit or miss.
Hosting is one of the most pieces that make up the foundation of your website
There are many options out there when it comes to choosing your WordPress host. You’ll need to take the time to research which hosts seem the most able to meet your needs. As long as you pay attention to features, cost, support, and the right type of host for your business, you’ll be more than ready to make the right choice and get your website off the ground.