In a recent article, I outlined five marketing steps to take when turning a hobby or side hustle into a business. That piece generated a lot of feedback, especially from those who thought getting a professional website was step one (spoiler alert: it's not). 

In those conversations about websites, the topic always seems to drive toward website platforms and hosts. In particular, here are some of the most common questions I received:

• Which website is host best for beginners or those without prior design experience?

• Do I need a website host and a website platform, or are those the same thing?

• Should I choose the cheapest host or the most expensive one? What's the difference?

As with most things of this nature, the answer isn't always black and white. It depends on your industry, your other marketing initiatives, and your level of support, among other things. 

However, one thing is always true: when it comes to your business, you can't afford to take chances, so you do need a secure and reliable website. I'll cover all the questions above in the next few weeks but for now, let's focus on website hosts. 

Unfortunately, there are many different web hosts to choose from, and it can be overwhelming to know which one to select. Ultimately, I recommend researching to find one that fits your specific needs. The following points will help you decide which web host to choose.

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Reliability is key

You need to know that your website will be up and running when visitors try to access it. A good web host will have a 99% or higher uptime guarantee, which means that, at worst, your website will only be down for a few minutes each month. If you choose a web host with a lower uptime guarantee, your website could be down for hours or even days at a time, causing interruptions to your business and potentially lowering your conversion rate. 

A good web host will also have customer support available 24/7 if you have any website problems. Around-the-clock support means if you have an issue with the platform or your website, someone will be available to help you resolve the issue quickly, regardless of your timezone. This level of support is especially important if you're just starting out with your website or going through any type of migration process that might require additional support. 

Features and tools

A good web host will offer a variety of features and tools that will make it easy for you to create and manage your website. These features might include website builders, one-click installers for popular CMS platforms, email marketing integration, and more. These features save you time (and potentially money) by having everything under one umbrella and reducing the need for third-party apps. 

Additionally, if you're running an e-commerce store, you'll need a web host with features like SSL certificates and shopping cart software. And if you're using AWS Cloud, click here to read more about cloud hosting and how it can benefit your business. These features make it easy for you to run your website and give your customers the peace of mind that their information is safe and secure.

Security

When you're running an online business, security is always a concern. First, you must know that your website and visitors' data are safe from hackers. A good web host will have robust security measures (like firewalls and malware scanning) to protect your website from attacks.

Additionally, if you're handling sensitive information like credit card numbers, you'll need to ensure that your web host has an SSL certificate. This certificate encrypts your data and keeps it safe from unauthorized access.

However, the unpredictable can still happen even with the best security measures. That's why choosing a web host that offers daily backups of your website is essential. This way, you can quickly restore your website if anything goes wrong.

Speed is essential

The speed of your website is just as crucial as its uptime. If your website takes too long to load, visitors (or potential customers) will likely get frustrated and leave before they even have a chance to see what you offer. A good web host will ensure that your website loads quickly and efficiently and give visitors the best experience possible.

For instance, if you're selling products on your website, a slow loading time could mean the difference between a sale and someone who chooses to head back to Google search and find another website. In addition, with today's fast-paced online environment, people expect websites to load almost immediately, so it's essential to choose a web host to meet those expectations.

Scalability

As your business grows, you'll need to be able to scale your website to accommodate more traffic and data. A good web host will make it easy for you to upgrade your plan to add more resources as needed. These resources might include additional storage space, bandwidth, and more.

Also, a good web host will offer a variety of plans so that you can choose the one that fits your needs. For example, some hosts offer shared hosting, while others provide cloud or VPS hosting. The difference between these types of hosting is the number of resources each one provides and, regarding scalability, these include:

• Shared hosting - good for small websites with low traffic

• VPS hosting - good for medium-sized websites with moderate traffic

• Cloud hosting - good for large websites with high traffic

• Dedicated server - good for very large websites with extremely high traffic

The traffic and the need to process data on your website will help you determine the best hosting type for your business.

Cost

Of course, the cost is always a factor when choosing a web host, as you'll need to find a balance between price and quality. You need a web host that gives you the features and resources you need to run your website at an affordable price.

However, you should generally avoid signing up for a long-term contract if possible. Many web hosts will offer discounts if you sign up for a year or more, but this locks you into a contract, and you might end up paying more than necessary. Consider a monthly plan instead so you can expand or contract as needed or change hosts if you are unsatisfied.

Final Thoughts

There are many important factors to consider when choosing a web host for your website. By taking the time to research and find a host that fits your needs, you can ensure that your website will run smoothly and efficiently.

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