Today, all businesses need a website, even small businesses. If you’re a small business owner, a website can allow you to promote your products and services, attract new customers, build business credibility, give your business a competitive edge, and much more. But if you don’t start a website, where do you start?
For starters, you’ll need a domain name, web hosting, a secure socket layer (SSL) certificate, and a content management system (CMS) such as WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace. Typically, many web hosting providers offer all these things with paid plans. So, what exactly is web hosting? Keep reading to learn more.
What is Web Hosting?
This service allows websites or blogs to be published on the Internet. It provides server space, bandwidth, and other necessary things for publishing your site. It entails storing content on websites like audio, video, documents, and more on servers owned by the web hosting service.
What is a Domain Name?
It is a webpage’s address that is used to query and communicate with the webserver. This way, there will be no human-readable IP addresses in the communication between the client (web browser) and server. Simply put, it is your website name.
What is an SSL Certificate?
Nowadays, security is essential on the Internet, especially on sites where customers key in sensitive information such as their credit card details. An SSL certificate can enhance website security.
Sites with SSL certification usually have a small padlock before the web address in the URL bar and an HTTPS prefix instead of HTTP.
What is a Content Management System?
A content management system (CMS) is a platform that can allow you to create, store and distribute the content on your website. WordPress is the most popular CMS, powering roughly 40% of all websites.
How to Choose a Host Provider for Small Business
Now that you’re familiar with the basics you’ll need for your website; you’ll need to choose a web hosting provider. While you may want to settle for the first host provider you stumble upon, don’t rush.
Your choice of host provider can significantly influence your customer satisfaction and even revenue. That’s why you need to take the time to pick a reliable web hosting provider. But with numerous web hosting providers available, how do you pick a reliable one? When picking one, here are some factors you should consider:
Support: If you don’t have in-house IT personnel to manage your website, you’ll need plenty of support. When picking a provider, check out the support the provider offers. Ideally, you’ll want to pick one that offers email, chat, phone, and even social media support round-the-clock. Additionally, you may want to opt for managed WordPress hosting If you don’t have in-house IT staff. With managed WordPress hosting, the web host will handle and maintain your server.
Budget: The amount of money you’ll spend on hosting depends on the size of your business. If you’re a small business owner, managed hosting can offer you excellent performance at a reasonable price.
Best Managed Hosting for Small Businesses
Managed hosting can come in handy if:
- You don’t have staff to help you manage your website.
- You experience downtime often.
- Your site speed seems to decline every month.
If you experience any of the above situations, consider checking out a managed WordPress host such as Nexcess for improved site performance.
