Website hosting is one of those overlooked, undervalued “oh, do I need it” things. However, you get what you pay for, and whilst you may find budget hosting, you will also get budget features and performance. There are also several ‘extras’ that not all hosts offer, and you should be looking for them in your next hosting package.
Having good hosting for your website is essential for several reasons –
1. Website speed and performance
The quality of your hosting can significantly impact the speed and performance of your website. Even the best-built site will be slow to respond if the server it’s hosted on is slow. In addition, slow loading times can negatively affect user experience and increase bounce rates, hurting your search engine rankings.
2. Website uptime
Uptime refers to the time your website is accessible and available to visitors. Good hosting providers ensure high uptime, minimizing any potential downtime that could result in frustrated visitors and lost revenue. Decent hosting offers 99% uptime. Unfortunately, you won’t find 100%; nothing on the internet is perfect.
3. Security & SSL
Hosting providers that prioritize security can help protect your website from security threats, such as hacking attempts and malware infections. More importantly, your website must have an SSL in the modern age. Without one, your website will be flagged to users and insecure, hurting your traffic considerably. Beware, some hosts do not offer an SSL as part of their base package, and it will run you an extra £50-£100 per year.
4. Backups, updates & monitoring
Quality hosting will provide regular backups to ensure your website data is safe in case of any unexpected issues. Auto security updates to ensure your website’s functionality has the latest security and updates, giving you peace of mind and saving you time.
Some hosts offer uptime monitoring, too, for peace of mind that your website is up, even when you aren’t.
5. Support
Good hosting providers offer reliable customer support to help you troubleshoot any technical issues that may arise with the hosting. This can be especially important if you are not technically savvy and need assistance managing your hosting package.
In summary
Overall, having good hosting can help ensure that your website is fast, secure, reliable, and looking after itself. These are essential factors for attracting and retaining visitors and your peace of mind.
If it’s a no-brainer for your next website hosting to offer everything needed, give us a shout. We’d love to chat through your options with you.
