A website hosting provider securely hosts the files of your website (pictures, videos, text, and coding) and makes them available to the public via the internet. Web hosting platforms also offer enhancements such as faster loading speeds to improve the experience for visitors.
Which website hosting should you choose?
There are a few different types of website hosting, and deciding between them comes down to your specific needs and budget.
Shared hosting
Shared hosting providers share their server and all of its resources (memory, power, and storage) with many websites. This tends to be less expensive, expect to pay between £2 and £12 per month, but your website’s performance can be slowed down if other websites on the server experience higher volumes of traffic. Shared hosting doesn’t allow for customisation, but that is not usually a drawback for small businesses that expect routine traffic to their website.
VPS hosting
VPS hosting divides the computing power of a server into self-contained operating systems. It’s a more expensive option, typically £3 to £49 a month, but your website won’t be slowed down by traffic on other websites hosted on the same server. It also allows you to customise configuration, but you must factor in the cost of a developer to help with customisation.
Dedicated hosting
Dedicated hosting means your website (and any of its domains) runs on an exclusive server and is fully customisable. Your website performance isn’t impacted by any other websites, which comes at a premium - between £60 to £400 a month. Additionally, it means your business must manage and maintain the server in-house. For this reason, it’s the most expensive option, but the preferred option for large-scale enterprises.
How to choose a website hosting provider
These days there is an abundance of website hosting providers to choose from. Spend some time researching and comparing their offerings to see which option best suits your needs.
The first step in selecting a website hosting provider is to determine whether you will use shared or VPS hosting. Shared hosting is fine for routine browsing but consider VPS hosting if you expect to scale and require more robust capability on your website.
Probably the first factor most of us consider is price, but it can be a false economy to go with the least expensive option. Cheaper website hosting can mean more downtime and slower internet speeds, which put off visitors to your site - sometimes permanently. Newer hosting providers regularly offer low-cost services when they launch to attract business, but they often aren’t equipped to handle the surge of websites that take advantage of lower pricing. This can cause slower speeds or downtime for your website. Particularly if you want to increase traffic, creating a fast and reliable experience for your visitors is well worth the additional cost.
Another important factor is security. Make sure that the hosting provider helps protect your website from malware or DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks that can effectively shut down your website and endanger the security of your clients. Check to see if they conduct automated backups and updates to protect your content and keep your website running smoothly.
24/7 customer service is another important factor and something that cheaper options might not provide. A problem with your website could cost you revenue and clients, so make sure you have access to technical support whenever you need it.
These are just some of the factors to consider when choosing a website hosting platform, but there are more. With an abundance of website hosting providers and so many options to choose from, it can seem overwhelming to start building a website. However, it’s easier than ever before to get your business website up and running. Think about what you need - basic browsing capability or sales - then research and compare features. You can start driving traffic to your business online in no time!
FAQs
How much does it cost to host a website?
The price for hosting varies depending on which type you use. Shared hosting is relatively inexpensive, from £2 - £12 per month, but has limited speed, storage, and security. VPS is a more robust and safer option, but that is reflected in the cost of up to around £50 monthly.
Is website hosting necessary?
Yes. A website host stores your website content, keeps it secure, and makes it accessible to the public on the internet.
Can I host my website myself?
It’s technically possible to host your own website, but you would need to buy your own physical server with enough power and storage to run your website. You also need to know how to configure the server, set the network settings, and install your own security measures. It is much more convenient and safer to use a website host to run your website.
