What exactly is web hosting?
Planning on starting your own website? Ever wondered what website hosting was? Every website that we browse online absolutely needs web hosting. This is essentially where all files, information and content that create your website are stored. These files are stored on a remote computer which is known as a host or the hosting server. This is where we get the term of web hosting.
When you visit a website the files that create it are shown within your web browser. So its vitally important that you choose a good reliable web host that suits the needs of your website.
Web hosting is essentially rented space on a remote computer, it is normally charged either monthly or annually.
There are various types of hosting
Cloud hosting
This is a virtual server which is made up of many physical web servers. If one fails, there is another to take its place which means it is more reliable than standalone servers and should have no down time. They also scale automatically to handle increased traffic.
Shared hosting
The majority of websites are on shared hosts or servers this means that other people’s websites files are also kept at this location.
Dedicated web hosting
Dedicated web hosting means you are renting the entire computer or server on which your website lives. No one else’s files are on that server. This is more flexible as you have complete control over the setup of the server. It can also be faster and more secure, it is most often used by larger companies or those with large websites.
Things to ask when looking for a good web host
What’s the down time like?
Downtime is what it sounds like a period of time when your website is not online or up. Downtime can be scheduled or unscheduled and can be for a number of reasons. When your site is down visitors to your website will not be able to see it, every minute your website is down could mean the potential loss of a customer. Choosing a reliable host with very little down time is essential.
Is email included?
Having an email address associated with your domain name looks more professional and is more marketable than having a Hotmail or other email address. Good web site hosting packages include email addresses.
What’s the support like?
It’s good to know what is covered by support and when it is available. A good hosting company will offer support at least during normal working hours if not 24 hours a day. It’s also worth looking at how this support is provided, is it just through email or tickets or can you actually give someone a call.
Are backups taken and if so how far back do they go?
If you have an issue with your website and need to roll it back, you will need to have been taking backups. Does the hosting company offer this service and if so how often do they take them? It’s also worth investigating if there is an additional charge for this service or if it is included. Most good web hosting companies include this in their hosting plans.
Ability to scale
If your website grows and you need more space or are experiencing more traffic you need to know if you web host can accommodate you. Your web host should be able to upgrade and scale to suit your needs.
How easy is it to switch supplier in the future?
You may find a better deal further down the line or move to a specialist web host, is it going to be easy to move, does the new provider offer a moving service, does the old provider have any get out charges?
Reputation
Find a web host that has a good reputation. Have a look at reviews on independent sites, can the web host provide you with testimonials, who are their clients and how long have they been in business?
