Whether you’re starting a new business, creating a blog or looking to change your current web hosting provider, there are certain things to look for to find the best web hosting for you. To discover the best web hosting platform, you will need to think about what type of site you want. Consider how much support you will need and how user-friendly the platform is to use too. If you would like eCommerce hosting, then there will be extra things to consider compared to a blog. It is essential that you know what kind of web hosting will best fulfil your requirements.
Read our tips here from award-winning hosting provider Catalyst2.
Cost – How much will you actually be paying?
Price is a major factor when finding the best web hosting. It is always worth looking around for the best deals. However, there are some things to consider before you decide on a web hosting service based on price.
Decide if you want a pay monthly plan or a lump sum, and look at how different hosting platforms compare. Look at how long the term is, and make sure you are comfortable with signing up for the minimum period. You might see a great offer with an incredibly cheap monthly price plan and think, ‘what could go wrong?’ However, you will be disappointed to find that this monthly rate only applies if you sign up for three years and pay in full. Make sure you find out what the low price includes. Find out whether it has any extra charges and whether their solution will work for you. Web hosting can be incredibly affordable, and many sites offer a money back guarantee if you aren’t happy with the service.
Support – What if something goes wrong?
One top tip when looking for the best web hosting provider is testing out their support services. A quick and easy way to do this is to open up the web hosting provider’s online chat option and ask the questions you want to know the answers to.
You might want to know if there are any hidden charges and you could ask how simple it is to use or whether there are any discounts available. Ask these questions and see how prompt, helpful and practical their responses are. This can give you a good idea about what support they provide and if you are happy with it. If you require more dedicated help, phone support or 24/7 support, make sure your web hosting provider offers this too.
Reviews – What do other people think?
Another important aspect of looking for a web hosting provider is looking at online reviews. In a world of affiliate marketing and referrals, it is worth being mindful that some recommendations may be sponsored, so look at a range of different sources.
Look at sites like Trustpilot, Google Reviews and specialist reviewers. These are all worth checking out to get a picture of how web hosting providers perform. Look at the server response time and talk to other people who have set up their own website. See what they would recommend and how they have found the service.
Added benefits – Worth paying more for?
There are other things you need to consider when looking for the best web hosting provider for you, and these are the extra benefits that you get by choosing a particular provider.
Look at the online security support, especially if people will be spending money on your site. Some services will offer you a free SSL certificate, some might provide WordPress already installed, and others might offer a free website builder. However, it is important to bear in mind that many of these things are already free. If you need a domain name, then that may be included with your plan. You should also look at how much storage and disk space is available to you.
