Best Web Hosting Services For Business
The Internet has become a big player in the modern world. We send over 247 billion e-mails every day and make around 2.7 trillion searches on Google! It’s no wonder that there has been a huge boom in online-based activities – from blogging to running a business. Whether you are a keen blogger or a small business owner, you’re likely to need a web hosting provider. But just like you have plenty of different cookies to choose from when you step inside Millie’s Cookies, you’ll also have a lot of web hosting providers to choose from.
So how can you pick the right provider? What do you need to keep in mind when selecting a web hosting solution?
Three Different Solutions – Three Living Arrangements :
Web hosting comes in three main different solutions.
• Shared Hosting – The cheapest of the three options. Shared hosting could be compared to living in an apartment. It means that you have plenty of neighbours to share certain functions with you, but you’ll still have your own small little space.
• Virtual Private Network (VPN) – Gives a stable and strong performance. If shared hosting is like living in an apartment, then having a VPN server is like owning a town home. You’ll have much more freedom to do what you want with the property and you won’t need to share your private space with neighbours. Yet, you’ll occasionally see someone drive by.
• Dedicated Servers – The most expensive and the most complete system of the three options. Dedicated server is like living in your own mansion on top of a hill. You have much more space and freedom to do all sorts of different things. You also won’t need to worry about having a neighbour bother you.
The Key Factors to Keep in Mind:
One of the most important things to keep in mind when shopping for a web hosting solution is to keep your own needs at the forefront. Just like you wouldn’t shop for a house with someone else in mind, you also shouldn’t pick a web hosting provider based on someone else’s opinions.
So first, think about your needs and what you want from the solution. For a business, bandwidth and disk space might be much more important than programming services, for example.
In general, these are the key factors to keep in mind:
• Disk space
• Programming services
• Bandwidth
• Server performance
• Comparison of traffic allowances
• Customer service options
Here’s what some of the biggest providers offer in terms of the above features:
• HostGator – You could enjoy both unlimited bandwidth and unlimited storage. In addition, HostGator provides you with a free domain name and around the clock customer support.
• HostClear – You’ll receive an unlimited about of domains and resources and the domain transfer is free. Both bandwidth and storage are unmetered and the domain name is free. You’ll also get to enjoy 24/7 customer service.
• iPage – The provider offers a free website builder and free security tools. In addition, the bandwidth and storage are unlimited and you’ll receive 24/7 customer support.
• GoDaddy – You could enjoy both unlimited bandwidth and storage space, with a free domain with the annual plan. GoDaddy also has an around the clock customer service.
As you can see most providers offer very similar features. So you’ll also need to pay attention to the following key figures to spot the difference!
The Figures to Watch Out:
Finding a top web hosting provider depends on a set of figures. If you want to find the best provider, then you need to pay special attention to the following:
• Server Uptime Record – You’ll need a web host that can provide you with a stable connection 24/7. The general view is that a 99.5% and above score in uptime is acceptable, with anything below 99% worth leaving.
In terms of uptime, the following web hosts have a great uptime record:
o HostGator – 100%
o Unifiedlayer – 100%
o Dreamhost – 100%
o Bluehost – 100%
o 1&1 UK – 100%
o GoDaddy – 99.9%
• Price – You’ll also want to pay attention to monthly costs. You should keep in mind that the more services you need the higher the cost would be. Nonetheless, you don’t want to be paying above your means.
In terms of price, the following web hosts are definitely worth checking out:
o eHost – £6.77 per month
o iPage – £4.35 per month
o HostClear – £5.98 per month
o Idea host – £5.98 per month
o HostGator – £3.95 per month
Also, the cost can often be brought down by using online discount codes for web hosting providers, which can save up to 30% of your total cost.
• Upgrade Options – When you first need web hosting, your present needs might differ quite a bit from your potential long-term needs. But there’s no reason to pay for a full service at the start when you don’t yet have many visitors.
Don’t Forget about the Planet:
Finally, you should consider going green with your web hosting! Some data suggests, non-eco-friendly web hosts produce over 630kg of CO2 each year! In addition, these providers can suck up to 1,000 KWh of energy, which is a lot. But green web hosts often create nearly 0kg of CO2! Providers such as AISO, Dreamhost and Site5.com are all committed to keeping their carbon footprint as low as possible, without sacrificing on the overall quality of the service.
So, next time if you are looking for a top web hosting provider, keep the above tips in mind!