Choosing a web host for your business website is a very important aspect to an overall web marketing plan. However, many small business owners I have come across, do not put enough thought into choosing the right web host for their business. And from what I’ve seen, the reason is simple. They simply do not have the time to research web hosting. But believe me, it’s important and should not be overlooked.
Let’s face it, the furthest thing from a small business owners mind is whether they will be able to run php, MySQL, or have enough bandwidth to implement a new feature – and rightfully so. They are too busy solving their day-to-day business problems, to be worried about whether their website can run Joomla, Wordpress, or some other software or script.
So, this is not an in-depth article on web hosting. This is simply to raise the awareness or importance to the decision process.
First of all, make sure your hosting can support Linux. I am perhaps bias when it comes to an operating system. However I can say with confidence, Linux is one of the most stable, versatile and robust operating systems available today. This is not a post meant to bash Microsoft, only to bring awareness that there are many things available today that will blow the socks of MS.
Some things to look for when choosing a web hosting are:
Features – again, running on a server capable of supporting open source should be an important aspect. In my opinion, you should stay away from ASP.net servers, they are do not support some of the most popular platforms, or at least it’s difficult to use the software of choice, i.e. Wordpress. cPanel is one of the most
Reliability (up-time) – make sure you choose a hosting service that has a proven track record for keeping their servers up and running.
Upgrades – make sure your hosting keeps their servers up to date with the more recent version of software and patches.
Price – of course price is important. However you will find hosting pricing is competitively priced – that’s because it has become a commodity. Basic hosting is not expensive anymore so it really should be “part of the package” or a side bar, when talking to SEOs.
Customer Service Support – never overlook how a company perceives its customers. You will no doubt need a good support team to back you when the going gets tough. Always choose a company that values its customers by putting an emphasis on customer support.
Some recommended hosting that I personally recommend are as follows:
Host Gator
Blue Host
Host Monster
There you have it, some basic things to look for when choose a small business web hosting services.
We will be looking more closely at hosting features in up coming posts!