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How to Determine Which Web Hosting Provider Is Right for Your Site

The provision of web hosting is an essential component of any website. It is important to put a lot of thought into selecting the web hosting company and plan that will provide the best service for your website.

There is a wide variety of hosts available, and you should check to make sure that the one you choose offers all of the necessary features.

The good news is that our team at DreamHost possesses a wealth of experience in the field of web hosting, and we are aware of the criteria that should be prioritized the highest.

As soon as you have a clear idea of what it is that you want, you will be in an excellent position to launch your brand-new website in the most effective manner.

This article will take a comprehensive look at the 16 most important criteria that should guide your decision when selecting a web hosting service for your website.

What exactly is web hosting, and why do you require it?

It doesn't matter if this is your first or fifty-first website; it's imperative that you have a solid understanding of exactly what it is that you're getting when you purchase a hosting plan.

Your web host will, in essence, provide you with a space on their server where you can keep all of the necessary files and data for your website.

Additionally, it takes care of delivering that data to people who visit your website through their browsers. This function is handled by the extension.

Images, videos, files written in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), and possibly even Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), which instruct your website's theme on how to behave, are examples of the types of information that may be stored.

If you consider the web address or domain name of your website to be similar to a street address, then the web host can be compared to the actual house at that address.

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How Do Websites Actually Operate?

Related: Explaining How Websites Function

When people try to access your website, their web browsers make use of the aforementioned information in order to locate your web host and view the content of your website.

To put it another way, if you do not have a web host, then your website will not be connected to the rest of the internet.

Web hosting is not only an essential component of launching any website, but it also has the potential to have a significant influence on the search engine optimization of your website (SEO).

Because of this, the speed of your website, as well as its security and other features, are all affected by your web host. These topics are going to get a more in-depth discussion very soon.

The most important takeaway is that the web host you choose is important, so you should give careful consideration to which one to go with.

How to Determine Which Web Hosting Service Is the Most Appropriate for Your Site

We will be able to assist you in analyzing your choices now that you have a better understanding of the services provided by hosting companies.

If you want your website to have the best possible chance of being successful from the very beginning, you will need to evaluate each web host that you are considering based on the 16 criteria that are listed below.

1. Be aware of the requirements for your website

To get things rolling, it's a good idea to take some time to sit down and make a list of the things you require. After doing so, you will have a better idea of how to prioritize them when you compare your list to the amenities provided by each potential host.

You should take into consideration, for instance, the fact that your website caters to a particular niche market if you want to be successful. It's possible that you'll need to give top priority to features related to speed and storage if you're developing a website for photography.

In addition, some hosts provide the option of using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) for websites that have a lot of content.

Websites devoted to online commerce, on the other hand, might want to center their attention on bandwidth and safety. In point of fact, some hosts provide e-commerce-tailored plans for their customers.

Also, don't forget to give some thought to the kind of support you might require as well as the quantity of it.

Consider the content management system (CMS) that you want to implement on your website as the very last step in the process. Because WordPress holds a proud claim to more than 60 percent of the content management system (CMS) market, a large number of web hosting companies offer services that are specifically tailored to the platform.

Users of WordPress who host their websites with DreamHost, for instance, have the option of selecting DreamPress, which is a WordPress hosting solution that has been optimized and comes with professional staging, daily backups, custom caching, and email.

2. Verify the Duration of the Hosting Contract's Subscription Period

When it comes to the lengths of contracts, many companies that provide web hosting services provide customers with a variety of flexible options. There is a good chance that you will find plans on a monthly and yearly basis, in addition to discounted prices for multiple year contracts.

This indicates that you will want to give some thought to the length of time that you are willing to commit to right off the bat. It is often a good idea to give a new host some trial run time in order to gain first-hand knowledge and experience with them. On the other hand, you will be able to save a significant amount of money if you are self-assured enough to sign up for a longer term.

Before agreeing to the terms of a plan, it is important to take into consideration not only the duration of the agreement but also its specific provisions. You may also be able to switch easily between contract lengths and plans with certain hosts; however, you should make sure to inquire about any applicable fees and/or penalties.

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3. Make sure there are guarantees for the server's reliability and uptime.

You should also look into the uptime guarantees that your potential web host offers, as this is an extremely important service. This impacts the degree of dependability that you can anticipate the hosting service to provide.

The percentage of time that your website is online and accessible to users across the internet without encountering any problems is referred to as its "uptime." You should naturally want your website to be live as much as possible, and your host should guarantee something that is very close to 100% uptime for your site.

It goes without saying that not every web hosting provider utilizes the same terminology when referring to uptime.

Because of this, you will need to carefully review the policy of any potential hosting company in order to determine what exactly is guaranteed by the company. Even if you don't consider it to be uptime, your web host might if there are a lot of bottlenecks slowing down your website but it's still technically available.

You should probably also find out how the host deals with any downtime that may occur. When you're trying to grow a following on the internet, having your website go down frequently is obviously not ideal.

It is a good idea to look for reviews that indicate how reliable the host has historically been in the past so that you are aware of what you are getting yourself into.

4. Verify the Host's Cancellation and Refund Policy, as well as Their Guarantees

Once you begin the process of building your website, you never know what surprises it may hold for you. Having said that, it is prudent to investigate the refund policy of any potential web hosting service in great detail. It is important to have options available in case you end up dissatisfied with your current host or decide you no longer want to maintain the website.

In addition to ensuring that you can cancel your plan and receive a refund, it is prudent to gain an understanding of the guarantees provided by the host as well as the areas in which it does not accept responsibility.

This could involve looking at its uptime guarantee (which we covered earlier) in addition to the documents pertaining to its terms of service.

You could also check to see if there is a real-time status page that you could look at.

It is essential that you have the ability to obtain a refund in the event that you either come to the conclusion that you do not like your new host or that you unexpectedly find that you do not need a website anymore. At DreamHost, we provide a number of different refund options; however, the specifics of these options do change slightly depending on which hosting plan you go with.

Finally, make sure that you have a clear understanding of when the deadline for requesting a refund will be well in advance.

It is helpful to make sure that you have everything in order with your new provider if you know how much time you have left.

5. Be aware of the different upgrade options you have.

Whenever you are signing a contract, it is in your best interest to read over all of the details first. This is especially true for online service providers. Before you commit to a hosting plan, it is essential to confirm that you won't be charged additional fees if you decide to upgrade your package at a later date.

After all, there is always the possibility that your brand new blog or podcast will go viral, in which case you will have to quickly scale up in order to provide your site with additional resources and space. That's a very positive development! You will, however, need to make certain that your hosting plan can grow along with you rather than being a barrier to your progress.

6. Confirm that the Host Has the Following Primary Features:

We have discussed in the past that there are a great deal of variations on the concept of hosting. If you have already decided what features and capabilities you require from your web host, you will have an easier time navigating this specific step.

There are web hosts that provide very basic services, while others may provide more specialized features that will make your life significantly simpler.

For instance, here at DreamHost, we make no secret of the fact that we have a soft spot in our hearts for WordPress. In light of this, we provide a number of features that simplify the process of constructing, launching, operating, and maintaining a WordPress website.

When you visit the website of the hosting provider, you should be able to tell relatively quickly if the services that you require are included in the packages that it provides. If you have to dig around to find that information, it's possible that the host isn't truly focused on the features that fulfill your primary requirements.

Reading reviews is yet another excellent method for determining whether or not a specific web host will meet the requirements of your website. Customers are typically very honest in online reviews, which means that you should look for comments that discuss the features that will make the biggest difference to you personally.

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Related: What Are the Benefits of Using WordPress? There are 12 compelling reasons to go with the most widely used CMS in the world.

7. Assess the Complementary Goods and Services That Are Currently Available

After you get your website up and running, you might find yourself in a position where you want to add new features to it at some point. In light of this, it is important to investigate the supplementary offerings that your host provides at this point in the process.

If you want to begin on a modest scale and expand your operations as your website develops, you will need to ensure that you can effectively add new functionality without having to go through a lot of trouble or relocate your entire website in order to do so.

If you are able to select features in an a la carte fashion, you will be able to create a plan that meets all of your requirements while leaving out anything that isn't necessary for you.

This wishlist may contain items such as a personalized email address or an SSL certificate, both of which will be covered in greater detail in a later section.

Alternately, you might be able to extend your storage capacity as well as add other resources without having to alter your fundamental strategy.

Establishing what is possible at the outset can help you avoid unpleasant surprises in the future, regardless of the circumstance.

8. Determine if the Host Provides Support for Electronic Commerce

If you are in the process of developing an e-commerce website, it is essential to check that the web host you select provides all of the features required to successfully operate an online store.

This may include built-in e-commerce tools, the ability to install helpful applications with a single click, and even additional safety precautions for financial transactions conducted online.

For instance, if your web host does not provide Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates, you will have to go out and buy one for yourself that is compliant with the requirements of the payment gateways you intend to use.

You can also look around for hosts that offer website builders or other features that will make your e-commerce endeavor more successful if you do not know how to set up your storefront.

9. Confirm Whether There Are Any Price Differences Between the Initial Sign-Up and the Renewal Process

When you sign up for a hosting plan, you will frequently be eligible for discounts depending on whether or not you pay for the plan on a monthly or annual basis. In some cases, you may even be given the opportunity to pay for a period of several years all at once in order to qualify for a greater price reduction.

A lot of hosts also provide a discount for re-registering. Having said that, before you commit to a plan, you should exercise extreme caution and ensure that you have a thorough understanding of its terms.

You definitely don't want to get caught off guard by an unannounced price hike when you least expect it. It is not unusual for initial discounts to be quietly replaced by higher costs after the initial few months or year of service. This phenomenon is known as "carryover."

On the bright side, if you run a charitable organization, you should be aware that certain hosts are willing to negotiate special pricing based on the requirements of your group. Any organization that is registered as a 501(c)3 and needs to develop a web presence in order to further its mission can save a significant amount of money by taking advantage of this opportunity.

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10. Determine the type of administrative interface that will be available to you.

Hosting your website is frequently the most technically challenging aspect of maintaining it. Having said that, there is absolutely no reason to feel intimidated. The majority of hosts offer their customers an intuitive control panel or dashboard. In this section, you will be able to configure various aspects of the software and set up for your website.

cPanel is the name of the control panel that will appear the majority of the time. On the other hand, some hosts provide a tailored solution. In point of fact, that is the manner in which we conduct business here at DreamHost.

Our control panel is intended to be less complicated and more user-friendly than the control panels of some of the other hosts that you might use in the future. It is not a given that you will have a developer working on your website; therefore, before you sign a contract with a host, it can be very helpful to look at demos of the control panel or take tours of the interface.

Related question: do I need managed hosting for my WordPress site?

Related: Do I Really Need Managed Hosting for My WordPress Site?

11. Acquire a Complete and In-Depth Knowledge of Any Account Restrictions

It's possible that you won't be able to predict the volume of website visitors you'll get, particularly if this will be your first attempt at creating a website. Because of this, we strongly advise doing extensive research into whether or not the prospective hosting service you are considering will place any restrictions on your account.

Because of this, you will need to have a fundamental comprehension of bandwidth. This is the term that is used to describe the quantity of data and traffic that is moving through your server at any given time. If you have a lot of videos stored on your server, for instance, you could end up using a lot of bandwidth because multiple users are watching those videos at the same time.

Even if you find a host that provides unlimited traffic, you should still take the time to research the host's other policies. Do you remember the small print that we talked about earlier? There are times when "unlimited" plans actually come with a few restrictions that you need to be aware of.

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12. Evaluate the Methods Used by the Organization to Be Kind to the Environment

You could be asking yourself how being eco-friendly relates to a business that provides web hosting services. However, even companies that only offer a digital version of their product or service should give some consideration to this component. For instance, here at DreamHost, we make it a priority to offer environmentally responsible hosting.

To lessen their environmental impact, some businesses choose to operate exclusively from off-site locations, while others invest in environmentally friendly technology and materials. You should be able to investigate what your host is doing to lessen the impact of whatever it is. This is true regardless of the specifics.

13. Investigate whether or not the email hosting for your account is already included.

It's possible that you're accustomed to having Google or another service proficiently handle the management of your personal email. Because of this, email is frequently treated as an afterthought when it comes to a company's website and business in general.

You will need a host for your email service if you want the name of your website and the branding of your business to be consistent across all of your digital properties, including your email. There are times when a limited-use email address will be provided for you as part of your hosting package. However, it is strongly recommended that you investigate your options for email hosting, particularly if you intend to use email marketing to communicate with your target audience.

Combining your web host and your email host can have both positive and negative effects on your business. If your host does not have safeguards in place to protect either of these things, you might find yourself in a situation where if one fails, it takes the others with it. This means that in the event that your website host goes down, your email will go down with it as well.

On the other hand, maintaining both services in the same location can make your life easier, and a trustworthy host should be able to prevent issues of this nature. When it comes to the hosting of email accounts, we thankfully provide a variety of choices. We can provide you with either a standalone email host or a web hosting plan that incorporates secure email into the package for your convenience.

14. Investigate the Website Backup Options Provided by the Host.

When developing a website with WordPress, you have quite a few choices available to you regarding the creation of backups to ensure the integrity of your website. For instance, if you want to have direct control over your backups, you can use the tools that are available in the Plugin Directory.

UpdraftPlus is consistently cited as one of the most recommended and widely used solutions.

This plugin has more than two million downloads and over three thousand reviews, all of which are five stars. If the need arises, you will be able to easily and quickly restore backups of your website thanks to this tool. The cloud storage that you use can even be used to safely store your backups. Please do not hesitate to look at our compiled list of WordPress backup tools.

However, it is also a good idea to inquire about the facilities that are available from your host in this respect. It is possible that you will have access to daily backups of your website, but this is something that is dependent on the type of hosting that you purchase.

This is especially helpful in the event that a file on your website becomes corrupted or if your website itself is hacked. In point of fact, it's not a bad idea to have multiple backup solutions ready and waiting in case something goes wrong.

When you are assessing the backup services provided by a hosting provider, you should look for information regarding the length of time your backups are kept and the frequency with which new backups are created. In the event that you need to access your backups, double check that you know how to do so.

It is of the utmost importance that your web host offer a restoration service that is simple to use in the event that your website is compromised.

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15. Ensure that you will receive the Support That You Require.

It is important to place an emphasis on the value of dependable technical support in addition to site backups and restoration services. It's possible that you won't require this level of service because you already have programmers and technical staff working for you in-house.

In the event that this is not the case, the comprehensive support provided by your hosting service can be extremely helpful. There are a lot of small businesses that don't have the resources or the knowledge to deal with unforeseen issues, attacks, and other things like that.

Therefore, it is essential to thoroughly investigate the customer support options provided by each hosting provider. These can frequently vary from one individual plan to the next. The support for lower-tier plans is typically less hands-on than the support offered by managed plans and more expensive options, which typically offer premium support.

16. Conduct a Test of the Responsiveness of the Host's Server

After putting your chosen host through its paces and addressing all of the items discussed thus far, there is one more essential component for you to take into consideration. You don't have to take the claims and reviews at face value; you can verify for yourself whether or not the host is responsive.

It is somewhat less difficult to test the server response on a website that is already live and operational. If you have already subscribed to a plan, you can use a tool such as Pingdom to get an early indication of the level of performance to which you can look forward.

You could also make use of the data that is accessible to you through the tools that are provided by Google PageSpeed Insights. You can also use the tool provided by Pingdom to enter the URL of a website that you are familiar with and that is hosted with a company that you are considering using. You may even want to try to get access to a test account or sign up for a free trial so that you can use that to conduct additional testing if it is possible to do so.

The Best Service for Hosting Websites

The selection of a hosting package is not one that should be entered into lightly. DreamHost, on the other hand, has something suitable for each and every customer. You don't need to be releasing the next big thing in order to demand (and receive) high quality hosting services. All you need to do is put in the effort.

If you have reviewed our checklist of necessary requirements, you will probably find that the shared hosting plans that we offer are suitable for your brand new website. You will not only be provided with a free SSL certificate, but WordPress will also be pre-installed on your account, and you will have unrestricted access to our user-friendly WP Website Builder.

This indicates that even if you weren't intending to launch the next big thing, you might end up doing it anyway with DreamHost because of how easy it is to use!

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