Launching a website may seem intimidating at first, but many online service providers make the process straightforward. Whether it’s a startup e-commerce company or a small business trying to establish an online presence, a website is an online headquarters for existing and potential customers. However, getting started is only possible with a reliable web hosting service.

Web hosting, domain name registration and other hosting-related terminology can be confusing to the average person. Suppose someone lacks experience in launching a website or is not familiar with the technical aspects of website hosting. It would be a challenging task to choose a web hosting service that will meet and hopefully exceed their expectations.

Companies don’t need to hire an experienced IT professional to create a successful website. However, executives and managers must understand the ins and outs of web hosting services to make informed decisions regarding their websites. Choosing the right web hosting provider can make or break a company. 

Below is a comprehensive guide to web hosting, types of web hosting, what to look for in a web hosting service and examples of the best web hosting services available.

What is Web Hosting, and Why is it Important?

In simple terms, web hosting is what allows users to surf the internet without interference. Web hosting is a service that makes websites or web applications accessible to internet users. 

Web hosting services come from web hosts who rent out physical computing servers to customers. Often, web hosts will also include software, connectivity and other necessary services to create a website.

The servers these web hosts rent out are essentially computers that store files and make them available on the internet when someone visits a website.

While anyone can use a dedicated server and an internet connection to create a website, configuring the server comes with complications that web hosts are experts at handling. This is one reason why many companies will use a web host’s server to manage their website. 

Why is web hosting important? For one, having a good website can make or break a business. When customers visit a site, it’s crucial that they have a positive user experience, which can generate revenue and drive the business forward. 

Additionally, using web hosting for a website can improve search engine optimization (SEO) and help companies gain more control over their website. 

There are various types of web hosting services available to both small and large businesses. Understanding the types of web hosting services and which type best fits a business can help companies of all sizes establish a good online presence. 

Types of Web Hosting

Below are the different types of web hosting that businesses can choose from to improve internal operations, ramp up marketing efforts and remain competitive in their industries.

Shared Hosting

As its name suggests, shared hosting is a type of hosting where one computing server hosts multiple websites simultaneously. It’s common for small businesses or startups to use shared hosting services, as it’s cost-effective and known for its ease of use.

Dedicated Server Hosting

Contrary to shared hosting, dedicated server hosting is a type of hosting that gives website owners ultimate control over the server storing their site. One company exclusively rents one server. While there are benefits to having a dedicated hosting system, it can come at a price. 

These plans are more expensive, and companies using dedicated hosting usually need to rely on dedicated IT departments to handle the server’s installation, maintenance and ongoing management. 

Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting

VPS hosting is common for businesses looking to reap the benefits of dedicated hosting but lack the technical expertise to manage dedicated hosting. VPS hosting offers more control over a website and comes at a cheaper cost, so it’s a viable solution for many small to medium-sized businesses across all industries. 

With VPS hosting, each website is hosted in its own space on a server but shares a physical server with other users. VPS is not the best option for managing a website with high traffic volume, as site performance can be affected by the various sites on the server.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting is a type of hosting that includes many computers working together and combining computational resources to run applications. When using cloud hosting, users can employ resources without having to build and manage computing infrastructure. 

Resources used for cloud hosting are spread across several servers, meaning there’s less of a chance of downtime due to server malfunctions. Many companies are considering cloud hosting, as it’s an emerging trend in the technology industry. 

Colocation

Rather than renting server space in a private data center or using dedicated servers, some companies will rent out space in a colocation center. The center is responsible for providing the user with power, bandwidth, IP addresses and cooling systems that a server needs to operate smoothly. 

Colocation may be suitable for businesses that have an IT department. In addition, colocation offers users a higher bandwidth at an affordable price. 

Managed Hosting

Last but not least, managed hosting is where hosting providers will provide technical services needed to get a website up and running. Hosting providers who offer managed hosting plans to their customers will manage the daily operations of the website, including hardware management, operating systems and standard applications. 

It’s common for many businesses to use managed hosting because they know they can rely on their hosting provider to handle the heavy lifting. 

Understanding the multiple types of hosting options available can help businesses choose which service will best suit their needs. 

5 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Web Hosting Service

Listed below are five significant factors companies must consider when choosing which web hosting service will best suit their needs. Keep in mind that there are more factors than what’s listed, but these are some basics.

1. Cost

Companies looking to launch their website need to set a financial budget before partnering with a web hosting company. While price should not be a deal-breaker, spending too much or too little can negatively affect a website’s performance. Web hosting costs can range between $1,000 and $4,000, depending on a few factors.

Depending on the type of web hosting, the cost ranges from around $3-$830 on average. However, money also has to be set aside for maintenance and optimization as well. These additional expenses also vary depending on a few factors.

2. Scalability

One of the most important factors to consider is whether or not the hosting provider can help businesses grow over time. As companies expand globally or see a spike in sales, they need to ensure their hosting provider will handle these types of changes. 

3. Customer Support

When a user’s website goes awry or faces technical issues, the web hosting service provider needs to step in and fix these issues quickly. Poor website performance can lead to a negative user experience and lead to site abandonment. When providers offer 24/7, high-quality customer support, businesses can rest assured that these issues will get resolved promptly.

4. Speed

Web hosting providers need to offer fast and reliable site performance. The speed of a site must be a high priority for any business. Choosing a web host company that offers speed and uptime is crucial in today’s business environment. Slow sites or servers with low uptime can lead to the site crashing and loss of potential revenue.

5. Security

Although it’s listed last, security should still be considered a top priority for businesses choosing a web hosting provider. All websites need to be secure to prevent any cybersecurity issues, like data breaches or hacks. Hosting companies need to provide ample security, like firewalls and malware protection, to ensure their clients are well protected from instances of cyber attacks.

Keep these factors in mind when selecting a web hosting service provider. Without these core elements, a website can experience downtime, loading errors and other technical issues that would need to be addressed by an IT professional. 

The Best Web Hosting Service

With all of this information, it may still be challenging to decide which hosting provider is best. Each provider offers unique features and benefits as well as varying prices and server storage space. Researching some of the leading providers in the industry allows businesses to choose which features are most important in creating a strong online presence. 

Below are four examples of some of the best hosting providers being used by businesses today.

Interserver Web Hosting and VPS

Interserver’s significant selling point is its customer support. Their support team can be reached 24/7 by phone, live chat or ticket system. Interserver is an industry leader with 99.9% uptime, fast website speed and free migration service. Interserver offers many types of hosting services for businesses, such as e-commerce and nonprofit organizations. 

Bluehost

Bluehost hosts over 2 million websites, making it another industry leader. Some of their offerings include dedicated hosting, VPS hosting, and WordPress hosting, which can be used to fit any business needs. The company is also endorsed by WordPress, a valuable endorsement for any hosting provider. 

HostMonster

Originally, HostMonster was aimed at small businesses and individuals looking to create a website. It’s the perfect service for beginners due to its user-friendly interface. HostMonster provides great customer support services, high-quality security measures and an uptime of 99.96%. 

Just Host

With competitive prices, free domain registration and quality customer support, Just Host is another viable option for businesses who need website hosting services. Just Host also offers a money-back guarantee. If their services don’t meet a business’ expectations, they can cancel and receive a refund of hosting fees. 

These four web hosting services offer various hosting features that can be used to elevate a business’s online presence and drive revenue. Online hosting is not something to take lightly — it can make or break a business.

Hostinger

Hostinger offers 24/7/365 days a week quality customer support for its clients. The hosting platform knows that companies just starting may need to scale as time goes by, so they have various plans that suit all types of customer needs. 

Hostinger is optimized for WordPress and is easy to use and chock full of advanced features that most companies would charge extra for. Hostinger will give users their money back after 30 days if the service does not meet their expectations or needs.

HostGator

HostGator offers hosting services that makes launching a website painless. With unlimited bandwidth, storage options and a free domain for a year, their plans start with an introductory offer of $2.75 per month. Only 30% of their clients are web pros, so no matter the level of experience a business has, HostGator has an option for everyone.

DreamHost

DreamHost was awarded PCMag’s “Editors’ Choice” five years in a row, which speaks for itself. It has plenty of plan options for its customers, and will often have discounted prices for nascent businesses looking for a viable web hosting service. 

Whether it’s dedicated, cloud or VPS hosting, DreamHost has an array of plan options to equip every business with the tools they need to launch. With 24/7 customer support, plenty of features available and an easy-to-use interface, it can work for just about anyone in need of web hosting. 

Businesses Must Prioritize Web Hosting

Web hosting is essential to any business hoping to drive revenue and expand its operations to meet and exceed its goals. Take the time to investigate the plethora of web hosting providers. It will make it easier to decide which type of hosting and provider offers the best, most affordable plan options. Keep the factors listed above in mind when choosing a hosting provider.