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What is Web Hosting and why do I need it?
Web hosting allows you to store and process your website’s files and other data on web servers so they can be accessible on the internet. If you want your website online and available to be viewed by anyone but yourself, you are going to need web hosting.
Web hosting providers who offer web hosting are responsible for keeping their servers up and running online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are also responsible for managing, maintaining and the overall performance of their web servers for the websites they host on them.
Everything you look for, find, read, watch and listen to online whether it’s podcasts, Tik Tok or YouTube videos, social media sites, like Facebook or Instagram, Memes, articles from the New York Times, Twitter, Video Gaming, of course you favorite websites, even Netflix lives on a server somewhere.
Web Hosting an essential part of running a website, and it’s something that every business or anyone for that matter who wants to have a presence on the web, should consider investing in.
There are many different web hosting providers out there, so it can be difficult to know what to look for and what your needs will be.
When you first start looking for a web host, it might seem like there is no difference between any of the options out there.
But what you find as you browse can make a big difference in what hosting package is best suited to your personal brand, blog or business.
What features should I be looking for in a Web Host?
When you are looking for what to look for in a web host, there are various factors that should be considered.
Many hosting packages on the market offer what seems like an attractive price point, but when it comes down to what features come with this package and what support is available, it may not be what you need.
Some Web Hosting features to be on the lookout for include:
– Unlimited storage space and bandwidth – This is important, as your website will grow over time and you don’t want to have to upgrade your hosting package in order to accommodate this.
– A variety of domain name options – If you are not already registered with a domain name, you will want to choose a web host that provides what is called ‘domain name registration’.
When you register a new domain name, it is the process of claiming your website online and giving it an internet address.
This can be done through your hosting account with your web host provider, and they often register what is known as top level domains (such as .com, .org, .co.uk), as well as country specific domains (such as .is for Icelandic websites).
– 24/7 customer support – While some web hosting packages offer what seems like a low cost or ‘free’ option, what is included in that price may not be what you need.
Many providers offer what is called a ‘shared hosting’ package, where your website is placed on the same server as many other websites. Many, however, do not include 24/7 customer support.
This can be important, especially if your website goes down or experiences problems at midnight on a Saturday night!
– cPanel access – cPanel is an online control panel that gives you access to all of the features and functions of your hosting account.
This is where you manage your website, set up email accounts, create databases and more. When looking for a web host, be sure to ask if they include cPanel access with their hosting packages.
How much does Web Hosting cost?
The cost of web hosting can vary greatly, depending on what features and services you need.
Generally, the more features and storage space you need, the more you will pay for your hosting package.
– Shared hosting – This is the most common type of web hosting and is often the cheapest.
It is where your website is placed on the same server as many other websites, and is great for small websites who do not experience a high volume of traffic. Shared hosting packages start at around $3-4/month.
– Cloud hosting – Cloud hosting is a newer type of hosting that is becoming more and more popular.
It is great for businesses or any websites which experience high volumes of traffic or who need a lot of storage space.
It gives you what is known as ‘elastic scaling’, which basically means that the power of your cloud hosting will grow with you.
– VPS hosting – This type of hosting is what is considered ‘ intermediate ‘, as it offers more features and power than shared hosting, but is still cheaper than a dedicated server.
A VPS is a virtual private server, which is a server that is divided into several individual ‘virtual’ servers, each with their own operating system, memory and storage space. VPS hosting starts at around $10/month.
– Dedicated server – A dedicated server is the most powerful and expensive type of web hosting, as it offers your website its own server to host on.
This is great for high traffic websites, or those with specific requirements that cannot be met by a shared or VPS hosting package.
Dedicated servers start at around $50/month.
How do I choose the right Web Host for my business?
Choosing the right web host for your business can be a daunting task. With so many providers on the market, how do you know which one is right for you?
– Firstly, consider what type of website you are looking to host.
- Is it a small website with limited storage space and bandwidth requirements?
- Or is it a high traffic website that needs its own server?
– Once you’ve answered this question, you can begin to narrow down your choices by considering what features and services are important to you.
- Do you need 24/7 customer support?
- cPanel access?
- Unlimited storage space and bandwidth?
– Once you have a list of what features are important to you, begin researching the different providers and what packages they offer.
Many providers offer what is called a ‘shared hosting’ package (described above), where your website is placed on the same server as many others. If this is what you need, they might be the perfect fit for you!
– Once you have found what seems to be the best provider for what you are looking for, read reviews online before signing up.
– If you can afford it, consider signing up for a longer term contract. Usually, the cheaper providers offer what are called ‘monthly’ hosting packages, which usually means your hosting fees will be higher than if you were to sign up for a longer term contract.
Looking for a web host can be a daunting task, but following the simple steps above, it should make it a little easier!
And remember, if you are ever unsure about what to choose, always consult with an expert.
