There are now more hosting companies than ever before, and the number is still growing. More competition has led many hosting providers to improve their business, offering better technology and customer service. But there are still many sub-par companies that rely on low prices and high user demand to keep customers despite their general lack of features and services. Here are three things you should focus on when you’re looking for a new hosting service:
1. The right technology
If your website isn’t working well with your new host, nothing else matters. Look for one that has the right features for what you need, including service levels that would still accommodate your website if your business grew.
Some of the important features for WordPress sites include:
- Free Apps: WordPress installer and many other eCommerce and website building scripts in just a few clicks.
- Optimized for WordPress: Our web hosting servers are optimized for WordPress performance.
- You can upgrade your web hosting plan at any time.
- Have the servers close to where you and your clients are.
- Advanced SEO tools, so your site ranks as high as possible on Google.
- Support for email, MySQL databases, FTP accounts.
2. Emphasis on security
Just as there are more hosting companies than ever, there are also more shady businesses operating online than ever before. Whether you run a personal website or one for your business, having hackers steal your credentials, take control of your site, delete your data, etc. can be a huge liability. If you’re dealing with customer data, the risks increase even further.
Security is always the most important thing and I recommend a hosting provider that offers:
- 24/7 proactive server monitoring.
- DDoS protection included at no charge.
- At least 99.9% uptime (because 100% doesn’t exist).
- Web Application Firewall monitors for attacks and vulnerabilities before they can occur.
- Frequent backups.
3. Customer service
Sooner or later, you’re going to need help with something from your hosting provider. When that time comes, you need someone who’s there to help you quickly. Many hosting providers sell services and make up their revenue with numbers, knowing that most customers won’t contact them for anything. That often leads to inadequate or slow customer service capabilities when something happens.
My recommendation is to find a hosting provider that really cares about customer service with:
- Availability 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Respond to your requests as quickly as possible, even on weekends and holidays.