Having a website is an essential part of doing business in the digital age, as it gives customers a way to interact with your company and learn more about what you offer. And since 97% of consumers conduct research online before visiting a local business or service area, having a website could be the difference between your ideal customers knowing you exist or not.
But with so many options available, it can be difficult to decide how to build and host your website. This guide will provide an overview of website hosting, popular hosting solutions, and tips for developing an effective small business website.
Website Hosting Basics
First things first, what is website hosting? Website hosting is essentially like “renting” space on a server for your website. When someone visits your domain name (like www.yourwebsite.com), they are connected to that server which contains all the content from your website, such as text, images, videos, etc.). Without hosting, no one would be able to access any of the information or pages that you’ve created on your site. The host is responsible for keeping all this information accessible at all times and providing technical support if needed.
Next, let’s talk about the costs. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Having a small business website doesn’t need to deplete your budget. Hosting your website can cost as little as a few dollars per month or as much as hundreds of dollars per month. It all comes down to your specific needs. If you want a simple website with a couple of pages and minimal content, you’re probably looking at minimal costs. If you plan to have a feature-rich site full of videos and other content, you may be looking at a slightly bigger investment.
Choosing a Hosting Provider
When choosing a hosting provider, there are several important factors to consider. Here are a few tips:
- Explore your options. As with any big decision, don’t just choose the first option you find. Make sure to explore your options so you feel confident that you’re making the right choice. You might consider making a features checklist or a pros and cons list to compare different hosts.
- Be sure to ask about uptime guarantees and backup services in case something happens to your site’s data. Additionally, speed, reliability, and customer support should impact your decision.
- Consider your storage needs. Depending on your vision for your website, you may need a little or a lot of storage space for the different files you plan to upload. If you think you’ll need a lot of storage and want peace of mind, it might be worth considering an unlimited storage plan.
Popular Website Hosting Platforms
Now, let’s talk about your options.
One of the most popular web hosting solutions is WordPress—this content management system (CMS) makes it easy for users to create beautiful websites without having any technical knowledge or coding experience.
Other platforms like Wix or Squarespace allow users to create websites through drag-and-drop functionality, which requires minimal effort and skill levels; however, these services tend not to be suitable for larger businesses with high traffic or eCommerce needs.
For those who want full control over their websites’ design and features, they may opt for self-hosted solutions like Joomla or Drupal—these open-source CMSs require some technical know-how but give users full control over their websites’ look and feel as well as what content they can show visitors. Keep in mind, you’ll need some technical skills if you decide to go this route.
Finally, businesses looking for comprehensive cloud-based solutions may choose from various third-party providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
