The first and most important step when it comes to building a website is choosing a reliable hosting provider for WordPress. It’s a pivotal decision for small business owners.
With the right hosting, your website can achieve optimal performance, security, and user experience. Choosing the wrong one can be a real headache and you will find yourself in a roadblock in getting results.
When you search online, you find a lot of options but not enough information that’s tailored to newcomers.
This guide will walk you through all there is to know about WordPress hosting for small businesses: the types, their purpose and who it suits. Additionally, we have listed the key factors you need to remember while choosing the right WordPress hosting for small businesses because we believe that hosting is not a “one size fits all” thing.
Essential Criteria for Choosing WordPress Hosting for Your Business
WordPress is a big player in the market. Before delving into the world of hosting options, you have to evaluate your unique requirements.
Ever wondered why a cosy coffee shop needs a different website vibe than a bustling online boutique? Not all websites are created equal. They differ in purpose, size, functionality, and the tech used. Apart from that, some factors have a practical impact.
While the coffee shop might require a simple website with basic functionalities, the online boutique may need e-commerce capabilities.
So when choosing a reliable hosting provider for a WordPress website, there is much more to it than just picking a name out of a hat. Finding the perfect hosting match involves understanding your specific needs.
Let’s break down some key factors to consider before taking the plunge into the world of web hosting.
1. Website Speed And Delivery
Have you ever landed on a website that takes ages to load? Nobody wants that and nobody likes that. Speed is a game-changer when it comes to results. Your website’s speed can make or break the user experience and affect your SEO rankings.
The study by Protent concludes site speed difference is huge between the top and poor websites, especially impacting checkout and login pages.
Far too many owners ignore the benefits that a reliable hosting provider for WordPress brings to improve website speed. Some owners get an all-in-one package of a domain name and hosting together. It’s cheap and easy for simple websites but they are not tailored for growing business websites.
Look for a reliable hosting provider for WordPress that offers fast servers and utilises caching and Content Delivery Networks to enhance performance. Choose a reliable hosting provider for WordPress that has an inbuilt CDN so that it’s hassle-free down the line.
Can it handle high traffic? What type of storage do they go for? How much is the bandwidth? These are critical questions you need to ask your hosting provider before sealing the deal.
2. Perfect Uptime And Availability
Did you know that on average, a small business could lose anywhere from $137 to $427 per minute because of downtime? Every minute of downtime you lose money.
Uptime is the percentage of time your website is operational. Hosting providers guarantee at least 99.9% uptime. Due to unforeseen circumstances, a website can go down. However, a reliable hosting provider for WordPress will proactively ensure that doesn’t happen. Not only that, when a website goes down, a good hosting provider ensures the website is back up and running as soon as possible. Every minute of downtime you lose money.
It’s not going to look good when customers find your website unavailable or face a 404 Not Found page. Ensuring perfect uptime is the holy grail of website reliability, guaranteeing you are available all the time.
Getting a reliable hosting provider for WordPress is crucial. It’s on the top of the list of most small business owners because you want to get it right.
3 Security Tactics
In a world where cyber threats are rampant, investing in improving website security should be a top priority of WordPress hosting for small businesses. A breach could sink your business faster than you think. A good hosting provider offers robust security measures including firewalls, malware scans, and regular backups.
Having a firewall is essential which is why 94% of companies still rely on them. A firewall acts like a fortress around your website, keeping it safe from external threats.
Routine scans for malware are crucial to maintaining a threat-proof website. Don’t forget the SSL certificate! SSL certificates encrypt data like a secret code. Ensure your hosting provider offers SSL to protect sensitive information from prying eyes. A good WordPress hosting for small businesses includes regular backups to prevent data loss.
To get a better understanding of security features, checkout our article on WordPress security.
4. Tech Support And Resources
Are tech glitches giving you a headache?
As a small business owner, you have a lot on your plate. A sudden downtime or a technical malfunction is the last thing you want to deal with. A reliable hosting provider for WordPress that speaks your language and offers round-the-clock support should be your priority.
Responsive customer support is your lifeline in times of tech trouble. A reliable hosting provider for WordPress will provide 24/7 technical support to address any issues promptly.
Right now, there are features like chatbots that you can interact with. A reliable hosting provider for WordPress like HostGator has separate forums that list the history of issues and how they tackled them.
Many reliable hosting providers for WordPress have premium plans that offer hands-on support with a team of support staff working with you on an issue.
Seek providers with friendly and efficient support teams to guide you through any issues. Tech issues don’t follow a schedule. Look for hosting providers offering round-the-clock support, ensuring help is always a message away.
The larger your website and traffic, the more unique problems you could run into. Predict the trajectory of your business growth and the avenues you will venture into. Decide how much support and help you and your team will need. This has a direct impact on the hosting provider you choose.
5. Budget-Friendly Web Hosting
Pricing is an obvious factor. Small business owners will gravitate towards economical options because their website is new and small. But WordPress hosting for small businesses should be cost-effective and fit within your budget constraints.
While choosing the cheapest option is tempting, balance cost with features. A low-cost provider may lack essential services, leading to higher long-term costs due to downtime or security breaches.
Cost is highly subjective to a business owner. Some small business owners even though with a small team, are willing to invest in crucial security aspects.
That is why you find a lot of hosting providers, coming in all shapes and sizes. Navigating and settling down for the right one can be tough. To reduce the hassle, here are the most common types of hosting that are available, their benefits and limitations.
This is an unbiased coverage of every detail. By the end, you will figure out what your business website needs.
Types of WordPress Hosting
1. Shared WordPress Hosting
Shared hosting is the most economical option for WordPress hosting for small businesses. It starts as cheap as 60 rupees a month.
As the name suggested, you and multiple other websites will share a pool of server resources. Since it’s cheap and doesn’t break the bank, many blogs and single-page websites choose this option.
There are, however, some downsides. We saw speed being a key factor for business websites. Shared hosting leads to slower loading time. This impacts your website’s performance during peak hours of high traffic.
This is because of the design of shared hosting – you need dedicated resources to handle the traffic as you are one among many other websites that depend on it.
2. VPS Hosting for WordPress
From the name, it’s self-explanatory. Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting offers more control and dedicated resources compared to shared hosting. There is a virtual set of resources created for you to use. It’s the perfect hybrid of shared hosting and dedicated server hosting. The base server is used by multiple other websites but there’s another virtual layer called hypervisor.
This hypervisor has compartments that independently run the OS. You also get root access so you can install the software you want for your needs. Your website is faster, you have more bandwidth to use, and traffic from other websites won’t impact your performance.
So, who does this best suit? As a hybrid, it can work for businesses of all types. Pricing is a key factor, as VPS hosting is more expensive than shared hosting. You would also need some technical assistance to manage and configure your server and resources.
3. Dedicated Hosting for WordPress
The opposite of shared hosting, you now get a server just for your business. The advantages you get are now huge including:
- Large server resources for scalability
- capacity to handle large traffic and requests.
- Exclusive customer suport
- Comprehensive security features to tackle DDoS attacks and spam filters.
- Little to no chance of downtime.
- cool featuers to cusomtize ahrdware and Operating sstems.
All these come with a price and that too on the more expensive end. That is why large enterprises and publicly listed companies choose dedicated hosting.
4. Managed WordPress Hosting
Managed WordPress hosting is tailored specifically for WordPress sites. Managed WordPress is not just a hosting service but even more.
To begin with, you get options to migrate instantly, auto backups, supreme optimization of caching, and much more. Not only that, you get features that even dedicated hosting providers offer like an SSL certificate and 24/7 expert support and starts at 640 rupees a month.
There is a limitation that you should be aware of. Because of additional functionalities, you cannot download new plugins that offer similar features. This option is ideal for small business owners who want to focus on content creation rather than technical management.
Reliable WordPress Hosting Providers In the Market Now
- Bluehost: Recommended by WordPress.org, Bluehost offers affordable shared hosting plans with excellent customer support and a free domain for the first year. Ideal for small businesses starting.
- SiteGround: Known for its exceptional customer service and performance, SiteGround offers managed WordPress hosting with advanced security features. It’s a bit pricier but worth the investment for growing businesses.
- WP Engine: A premium managed hosting provider, WP Engine specializes in WordPress sites, offering robust performance and security features. This is suitable for businesses with higher budgets and traffic.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying WordPress Hosting
- Choosing Based on Price Alone: While budget is crucial, don’t sacrifice quality for a lower price. Evaluate the features and support offered. You could miss out on key features when you settle down for entry-level packs.
- Ignoring Scalability: As your business grows, your hosting needs may change. Choose a provider that allows easy upgrades without significant downtime. In case you need migration, choose a hosting provider that offers instant and hassle-free switching.
- Neglecting Security: If there is one takeaway, it’s this. Do not compromise on security features. Prioritize and analyze all the security features they provide to avoid costly data breaches. Always choose a host that implements strong security measures.
- Overlooking Customer Support: A lack of reliable support can lead to frustration during technical issues. Ensure your provider offers accessible and knowledgeable support. There’s nothing wrong with relying on the experts for help.
You got to know the ins and outs of hosting. Cost plays a significant role so check our article that explains the costs to build a website in detail.
Conclusion
Right now, you definitely have a bigger picture and know all there is about choosing a reliable hosting provider for WordPress. By following this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to select a hosting provider that meets your unique requirements, ensuring your small business thrives in the digital landscape.
It can get difficult while building a new website. It’s a pivotal tool for your online business. Choosing a reliable hosting provider for WordPress is crucial for your website’s success and smooth operation. That being said, you need a strong web development agency by your side.
Gyan DevignTech Services has a track record of helping small business community in Canada figure out the right technology and web hosting for their business- yes, we are not biased.
Your dreams are big and we have a lot to discuss. Connect with Toronto WordPress developers now and let’s have our first meeting.
