What is a web hosting service?

In order to keep your website up and running on the internet, you need a website hosting service.

Depending on your and your team’s back-end development experience, you might need a little or a lot of help with creating and launching your website. Luckily, website hosting companies offer a diverse set of services for business owners of any skill set.

There are comprehensive sites that offer everything a newbie might need to build a site from scratch: domain name purchases, website-building tools, content creation tools, and web hosting services.

Then there are sites designed specifically for web hosting, perfect for business owners who can build and add to their own site but still need a “plot of land” for their site to live.

Types of website hosting services

Website hosting services are not one size fits all. While looking for a company to host your site, see if their specific services match your needs.

These are the most common services offered:

• Shared - Often the least expensive option, a shared hosting service will split one service among various customers. This option is best for smaller websites that aren’t designed to grow, such as a portfolio website.
• VPS - Virtual Private Servers offer customers access to a shared server with private features (private storage, private processing power, and more). VPS hosting is perfect for a small website that needs to keep information secure and private, such as an online retail store.
• Dedicated - At the highest rung is a dedicated web hosting service, in which you, as a customer, have complete administrative control over your server. This option is best for tech-savvy companies who will make use of advanced back-end customization.
• WordPress - As a good chunk of the internet is built using WordPress’ code and website technology, WordPress hosting is designed to host these sites specifically. If your site is built on WordPress, consider this option.
• Cloud - Cloud hosting allows you to upload your website and its server to the cloud. With unlimited storage capacity, cloud hosting is best for businesses that rely on growing their websites’ content, such as a news company.

What to look for in a web hosting service

Not sure where to start when comparing web hosting services? Start by contrasting these crucial features, which will vary from service to service:

• Uptime - Uptime measures how consistently your website stays live on the internet. If a web hoster’s uptimes are lower than 99%, you might be barking up the wrong tree.
• Security - Security measures are an important part of any website, especially if you plan to complete online transactions or host an e-store. Consider security features such as SSL, encrypted transactions, and more.
• Scalability/Storage - If you want your site to grow—meaning you’d like to add more content and more sub-pages—you’ll need lots of storage. Consider aligning your website goals with a company’s storage allowances.
• Domain Registration - Before your site can take off, it needs a namesake for users to find it. If you don’t already own a domain, consider registering one with a website hosting service.
• Customer Service - Building a site can be hard: ensure you have someone to reach out to for help.
• Web Building/Design - If you’re not computer savvy, you may want to find a website hosting company that offers website construction features.