What Makes a Good Web Host?

When choosing a web hosting service, there are several key features or benefits to look for. Nobody wants to put their website into the hands of an inexperienced hosting service or fly-by-night startup, as the consequences could be very costly. Blazing fast website speed, unwavering service reliability, around-the-clock customer support and clear, honest pricing are the foundation of any good web hosting company.

Read on for a more detailed look at five of the most important things to keep in mind when shopping around for a new web host.

1. Live 24/7 Technical Support
One of the most important things to look for in any web host is tech support. Things will go wrong on occasion. There might be technological glitches that cause websites to go offline for seconds, minutes or even hours at a time. There are hackers out there who are constantly trying to stir up trouble or steal information. There will even be problems in the “real world” that can cause performance issues for websites.

These things do not happen very often, but they do happen. And they can cause a great deal of financial hardship for companies whose websites are affected, especially when those websites are on servers managed by inexperienced web hosts who only offer tech support during traditional business hours or who are not fluent in speaking the same language as the customer.

Every second that a website is down can potentially mean lost conversions, lost sales and lost revenue for that business. The World Wide Web never sleeps and so it is important that company owners choose a web host service provider that offers round-the-clock technical assistance and customer support, so any issues of the website are immediately taken care of.

This is why it is so important to be working with a web host that knows what it is doing and offers free tech support around the clock, every single day of the year.

2. Automatic Daily Site Backups
What happens if a company’s website gets hacked and several key files get deleted or corrupted? Or what if the company’s website administrator is making changes to the website’s structure or content and accidentally deletes important files or web pages? There have been cases just like these where entire websites have accidentally been deleted in a matter of seconds due to user error.

These kinds of problems can be a huge setback for many businesses, especially those who engage in e-commerce and make sales directly from their websites. Fortunately, there is an easy solution. A good web host will provide website backup services and will have their clients’ website content automatically backed up on a daily basis. This is a lifesaving feature for any company who relies heavily on their website to engage with their current customers and to attract new leads.

3. Fast Page-load Speeds
Studies have repeatedly shown that website speed is a major factor affecting user experience and search engine rankings. Nobody likes waiting for a website page to load, even if it is only for a few seconds. In fact, many web surfers will leave a website within the first five seconds if their attention is not captured immediately when landing on the site.

First-time visitors are especially likely to leave a website and never return if they encounter slow page load times. Even current customers are more likely to take their business elsewhere if they repeatedly experience technical difficulties and slow speeds when attempting to conduct business on a vendor’s website.

For any business that is serious about serving its customers online, slow page loading times are completely unacceptable. Fortunately, they are completely avoidable too. Any premium web hosting service will offer packages that allow their clients’ websites to accommodate higher traffic levels without sacrificing speed and reliability.

It is important for traffic levels to be monitored on a regular basis as well, to prevent websites from crashing due to traffic spikes that overwhelm the sites current bandwidth. In laymen’s terms, this simply means that as more people come to a company’s website over time, the hosting service needs to be upgraded to handle all those extra website visitors.

A good hosting company can keep tabs on traffic levels for those business owners who do not have dedicated IT professionals on staff and who are not tech savvy themselves.

4. Uptime Performance
Uptime percentage is one of the factors that one must consider in choosing a web hosting provider. Most of these providers promise to offer 99.99% uptime. However, based on review and client feedback, this is not always true. Therefore, it is always safe to ask for the uptime percentage.

5. Simple Fee Structure
Another thing to consider when looking for a new web host is transparency. Some web hosts offer unbelievably low rates and attract a lot of customers who are eager to save a few bucks on their services. Only later do they realize that some of the features they want to add on are only available for an additional cost. Suddenly those bargain prices do not seem to be such a bargain after all.

Some hosts have hidden fees for features like blogging software installation, automatic backups, email services, site security checkups, SSL certificates and SEO services. These features are all good to look into, and they are generally worth their price, but it is important to know what is included and what is not included when making a purchasing decision and trying to stick to a budget.

6. Reasonable Pricing
Well, there is no doubt that this issue will never be missed out on the checklist. The best services may cost higher than those provided by other providers. But web hosting is an investment to a successful live and working website, which can be readily and easily accessed by online visitors. Therefore, investing in a more expensive but reliable web host can significantly affect the growth of the business.

When choosing a hosting service, be sure to ask for a comprehensive list of all features and options that are included along with additional fees for other options and add-ons.

7. Reliable Uninterrupted Service
The bottom line when searching for a web host is reliability. Businesses expect their websites to be up and running around the clock. Their customers have that same expectation and are likely to take their business elsewhere when their expectations are not met. When selecting a web host, it is vital to use a service that can guarantee minimal service interruptions for their clients.

While it is true that no technology is perfect and problems are always a possibility, a good-quality service provider will have a reputation for consistent uptime and will also offer guarantees to its customers. Your website host is what represents your online identity. This simply means that by choosing a reliable web host, one can never go wrong. A reliable web host provides a safe platform where businesses can build strong relationships with their clients. Additionally, employing professional that offers web hosting services can greatly help in achieving high ranking in search engine results page.

The Best Web Hosting Service Provider

If your business is in need of a web hosting service provider that offers all of the above benefits and more, do not hesitate to contact Authority Solutions™. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about web hosting, website security, SEO, site design, content marketing or anything else related to digital marketing. Our name in the Internet Marketing and SEO world has brought success to many clients from different industries—medical, real estate, and legal—who can testify how our partnership is strengthened through the test of time.

We strive to constantly better our services to address our clients’ needs, and we offer the best web hosting services, along with results-oriented SEO strategies, that make a total difference. 888-997-4146 us today to learn more!