Once you have registered a domain name, your next logical step is to find a reliable hosting provider. However, just a quick Google search will bring up around 100 million results, so it can be hard to know which host is right for you. If you want to have a successful presence online, though, you have to put some thought into the web hosting provider that you choose. Keep reading for a list of the things you need to consider.
Web Space
The amount of web space you need, will be determined by the type of site you are going to run. If you are just going to have a five page website which outlines what you can do, you won’t need a lot of room. However, if you are also going to have a blog that is heavily marketed, you may need to upgrade to a plan with more room.
Bandwidth
The amount of bandwidth that you need will again be determined by your website. Most small sites find 10GB of bandwidth to be more than enough, however if you are planning on uploading ebooks for people to download, or lots of graphic images, you will likely need more than this.
Email Accounts
As a marketer, you will know that it is best to have an email address from your domain, as it looks more professional. So, check to see whether your web hosting provider will let you have an email address with your account. Some web hosts, will give you unlimited email accounts for no extra charge, whilst others may charge you for each one you need. You should also check whether your account is catch-all forwarding, or if you have access to a webmail client like Squirrel Mail.
Up Time
One of the most important things that a marketer needs from their website is reliability. If your site is down, it not only looks unprofessional, but it could also cost you custom. Lots of sites guarantee a 98% uptime, but if you put this into perspective, that’s still around six days a year when your website will be down. Instead, try and find a provider that offers at least 99.7% uptime – the more reliable your site is, the better the experience your customers will have.
Technical Support
If you are a marketer without technical knowledge, you’ll need to consider finding a web hosting provider that offers good technical support. Ideally, you need to contact them and find out how long it will take to get a reply to a query, and also ask what types of support they have available (email, phone, live chat, etc.). You also need to find out whether they work a normal 9-5, or whether 24 hour support is available. Try to choose a company that makes you feel at ease with any problem you may have. Keep in mind that technical support is not connected with what you use for your site in terms of actual files. You will want to use really good responsive themes even for WordPress.
These are just a few of the factors that should influence your decision when choosing a web hosting provider. Keep them in mind, and don’t just opt for the first company you find.
