What is a web host?
It is a company or service that provides space on the internet for your website. If your website's domain name is your address on the internet, then your web host is your house or office. It's what keeps your site running and hosts all the files necessary to run your website. Files are stored and uploaded through your web host's server.
The performance and quality of the service provided to you by your web host provider will directly impact your website. As important it is, careful judgement is needed when choosing the best web hosting provider for your business. Here are the top 3 criteria according to various web experts and designers;
1. Server Reliablity
Since you are using your website for business purposes, any downtime or server failure will make you lose money. Your website should always be running and operational. Most providers will offer 99% server uptime( the time when the server is operational) but one that provides 99.5% or higher would be better. No matter how good your content is, being available and operational is still the #1 priority for websites.
Also check what security options and backup strategies they can offer you. A website that is always online and well protected is ideal.
2. Speed
How fast will your website load? Depending on whether you pay for the cheapest available plan, VPS(medium speed) or a dedicated server(best performance), the speed of your website will be factored by how many other websites are being run by your web host using the same physical server. The lesser you pay the more crowded is the server your going to be in meaning the slower your website will perform. Upgrading to a VPS service which is less crowded but a bit more pricey, or getting a dedicated server which will exclusively be for your own use, will improve your speed but cost you more money.
3. Technical Support
In an ideal world, you will never encounter any problems with your web hosting forever. Quite similar to buying your first car and never ever needing any kind of repair or maintenance for the rest of your life. However since we all live in the real world, as your website grows and the more time you have it up and running it will eventually need a few fixes here and there. Whether because of technical problems, upgrades or changes in the industry, there will be a time when you'd need technical support from your provider.
Check how their technical support quality is. A 24 hour availability with fast response is a promising start. If you can check their technical competency by placing a call or sending an e-mail, it will help you in determining whether they are the right provider for your business or not.
by: masterofvectors
yourwebdesignjobs.blogspot.com
Related = 12 Best Website Hosting Providers in 2015
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