Last month, we discussed the basics of web hosting and some of the moving parts behind the scenes when you type in a website address and hit the Enter key.
This month, we would like to continue to talk about the important things to consider before purchasing a web hosting product for your website.
Let’s start out by defining what a web hosting product really is. Like previous posts, we’ll do our best to avoid techno-speak…probably.
Turning back to Wes and his art gallery from last month’s post, the retail space in the building where Wes’s gallery is physically located is equal to space on a hard drive where a website would be physically created. Although it’s just made of code, that code still takes up valuable physical space on a server just like Wes’s art takes up floor space in a building.
Someone needs to provide the space for the website, as well as the internet access that allows people to view the site. That is exactly what a web hosting service, like GoDaddy or Dreamhost for example, gives to their customers. They provide space a business can “rent” to display their website, and the internet access necessary for lots of customers to visit at the same time.
Before you purchase web hosting you need to know what you want your website to accomplish. Like anything else, there are different tools for different needs. You wouldn’t buy a car to transport huge deliveries of hay to your clients, and you wouldn’t purchase a Mack truck to transport your son or daughter to the senior prom.
Some web hosting companies focus on providing simple solutions to people who just want a small site with basic information, such as their location, business hours, and contact info. Think – car.
Other web hosting companies provide the processing power and storage space where big businesses can create websites with lots of pages that show photos, videos or other content that needs more “horsepower” behind it. Like a truck.
Knowing what you want to accomplish ahead of time will help you choose the best, most cost-effective product for your needs.
Of course, different tools have different prices too, and you wouldn’t want to pay for the space to store lots of videos if you just want people to find your store’s address. If you are going to build a big multi-media website, then a lower cost, consumer-targeted web host is probably not going to be your best choice. Although some do offer some higher performance hosting products, you would be better off choosing a web host specifically created for such a purpose so your customers have a better experience. If you know what you want your website to do, you can purchase the best tool for the job.
Ask yourself what you want your website to do. Make a list of the tasks you want it to be able to handle, and the amount of data you’ll need to store. Then, you can choose the best, most cost-effective product for the job.
Please reach out to the GreenCup Digital team with your web hosting questions, comments, or concerns. Or, if you are ready to build your online empire, let us help you create a well-crafted web presence and an effective social media strategy. Contact us today and let us help you select the right tools for the job.
Please stop back next month when we discuss some of the products available for building websites today. Whether you need an e-commerce storefront, multi-media platform, or just a simple informational site, products like WordPress have made it easier than ever for businesses of any size to maintain a professional, full-featured online presence.
