Whether you have decided to start an online store or a travel blog, you cannot have it up and running until you choose the right website hosting service provider. It is essential to team up with the right type of web hosting provider as it plays a vital role in cementing your online presence. For instance, if you have a small business that you wish to take online, you’ll have to choose the best web hosting for small business as it will cater to all your requirements.

The sign of good hosting services is speed, support, and security, and you’ll have to choose a web host that offers all three. Since there are a plethora of website hosting providers, choosing the right one can be quite a task.

Take a look at some effective tips that will help you choose the right web host.

Determine the type of hosting you need

The first step in “how to choose a web host” is to determine the type of web host you need. There are different types of web hosting services —shared, virtual private server (VPS), dedicated server, cloud, colocation, and managed hosting. The type of business you have plays a major role in determining which type of hosting service will suit you the best; for instance, shared hosting is the best web hosting service for small business, whereas VPS or dedicated hosting is perfect for fast-growing or established businesses. So, you’ll have to answer the following questions to decide which web host will suit your requirements:

• Do you need your own infrastructure?
• Will you need greater access or control over your server or website?
• Are you tech-savvy?
• Will it be easier to let the hosting company take the lead in maintenance?

When you answer these questions, you’ll know which type of hosting service to opt for.

Server reliability

While choosing the right web host, you need to pay attention to the web host’s uptime score. You’ll get visitors from across the world and from different time zones. So, it is essential to have a web hosting service that functions 24×7. The web host has to be stable in terms of server and network connections. 99.95% is an acceptable uptime score these days, and this is applicable even for shared hosting plans. So, when you are choosing the right web host, you need to ensure that the uptime is not below 99.95%. Irrespective of which type of web host you choose, it needs a commendable uptime score and reliable server connection.

Necessary features

Regardless of whether you are looking for the best web hosting service for a small business or a large one, you need to check the features offered by the web host. You’ll need cPanel, WordPress or other blog integration tools, analytics, FTP access, email support, and a variety of other back-end tools to get your website live and functioning. Some web hosts even allow you to choose an operating system. Additionally, while choosing a web host, you need to check if they offer essential security tools.

Storage

While choosing a web host, you need to consider the storage capacity offered. The storage is the amount of hard drive space meant for storing the web pages, videos, images, databases, and other data. Though many web hosts offer unlimited space, it is essential for you to know that this is technically impossible. The host’s servers can be overcrowded, and this can affect the server’s performance. For your website to function optimally, you’ll need room to expand and grow. So, before you choose a web host, you’ll have to compare the different types of web hosting services and examine their storage upgrade options.

Domain addons

It is essential for any emerging business to own their domain. Even if you change providers, you can still own the SEO benefits generated. Domains are quite cheap, which is why you can invest in more than one. To accommodate these extra domains, you’ll need extra hosting space. In such cases, it becomes necessary to opt for a web host that allows adding multiple domains. Irrespective of which type of web host you choose, if it’s budget-friendly, it will allow you to have at least 25 addon domains in a single account.

Signup and renewal price

While choosing a web host, you’ll need to understand the difference between the signup price and the renewal price. Shared hosting plans are quite cheap during the signup period, but the renewal price can be much higher. So, before you click “buy,” you should check the renewal price as well. Another important factor you need to consider while choosing a web host is that you cannot avoid pricey renewal costs unless you are willing to switch between two or three web hosts every year. So, it is sensible to check the terms and conditions before you choose a web host.

Refund policy and free trial period

Before signing the dotted line, ensure that you go through the refund policy carefully. When you are in the process of choosing a web host, ask these questions as they will help you make a sound decision:

• Is it wise to choose a hosting plan within the trial period, and does the company provide a full money-back guarantee?
• What is the web hosting company’s refund policy once the trial period ends?
• Does the web hosting company levy cancellation charges or extra fees?

You need to know how well the web host handles customer refunds so that you won’t lose money if you aren’t satisfied with the services.

Customer support service

Another significant factor when you are looking for the best web host is the customer support services they offer. It is advisable to opt for a web host that offers  24/7 email, forum, live chat, and telephone support. If something happens to your website due to technical errors, or there’s some other pressing matter which can affect your website’s traffic, you’ll need answers and help right away. Ensure that the web host you choose offers impeccable customer support. You can even check the reviews of web hosts on consumer forums as they are useful and can help you make the right choice .

Whether you are looking for the best web hosting service for a small business website or an established one, following these tenets of choosing a web host will help you make the right choice.