There are different types of web hosting. And as much as there are varieties in hosting, so exist the different web hosting companies.
Regardless of the seemingly identical options available, there are still a lot of benefits to comparing different types of web hosting companies.
Today, we examine why you must compare different web hosting companies so that you can get the best value for your money and the best performance for your website.
If you want to read more in-depth expert reviews on hosting options,
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Cost Savings
One of the most significant reasons why you should shop around for web hosting companies before you settle on parking your domain is the issue of costs. There are a lot of companies that offer different types of hosting, such as shared VPS hosting and dedicated hosting experiences. However, each company is going to charge a different price from its perceived competitors.
Some guides will give their best web hosting Australia comparison while others can compare ones based in Europe, and it is useful to dig up information beforehand. Remember that there are numerous hosting providers available around the world.
These identical products might fetch for different prices depending on who’s supplying the product. However, the primary way that some of the more prominent players compete is by adding some flex to their product lines.
For example, some come with bare minimums or add in a few freebies, which can either justify a lower or higher price. By being able to compare different hosting providers, you can check out how much the service is actually valued or worth to you.
There are some features that you do not really need, but come bundled in regardless just for the sake of having extras in the package. You should steer clear of these extras. If in doubt, it’s always a good idea to contact your webmaster.
Discounts
There are some discounts that are not available on other web hosting companies and, sometimes, even the most expensive hosting services can be a strong contender depending on what discount they’re giving out.
As a point of reference, everyone should always see if they can save on plans by checking out discounts and deals, and if there are “bulk” plans that they can purchase.
Determine Your Needs
Not all web hosting companies are made equal so ask around if the web hosting company caters to the unique needs that you have. The last thing you would want is for your web hosting company to fail you when you need it the most.
If you’re running a large eCommerce service you’ll need a dedicated server in order to facilitate faster response times for your customers. However, if you have a small store with a relatively medium turnover, you may be able to get away with shared VPS hosting.
Other examples are in the customer service department, in which professionals who don’t need heavy assistance can opt for no-frills hosting, but a beginner might need a support system.
The Reputation of the Hosting Service
A factor that some people might overlook is checking for the status of the web hosting company. One way of doing this is by checking out other factors that people have considered when using their services before.
Also, talk to a few friends who are in the same industry as you are and ask about the web hosting companies that you are considering. Sometimes, even a simple web search can yield interesting results.
Find Out About the Real Speed
E-commerce owners can’t afford any slowdown in speed because it affects the user experience of their end-users. By being able to avail of fast hosting services, you can be sure that your pages load quickly and you get a higher chance of converting your visitors into loyal customers.
However, who has the fastest server?
There are many claims out there about which web hosting company has the fastest server, but the only way to find out is to check out what people have been saying on surveys. If you find that you’re choosing between two popular hosting services, there might be surveys available for you.
Two companies may claim to provide their customers with dedicated hosting, but even if they claim to be of the same speed, one will still be faster than the other. It’s important to check out the “real” speeds that real users are reporting.
Customer Service
Nobody likes waiting on the phone for hours. It’s an absolute waste of precious time that you could spend doing something productive. Another pet peeve that everyone probably has is terrible customer service.
It’s essential to compare web-hosting companies because there are stark differences in customer service times and how they assist you. Not everyone can fix what’s wrong with their website, and even developers sometimes have to talk to hosting customer services to perform proper fixes on their website.
There are a few hosting providers that provide slightly better customer service than others, but they do cost more. There are hosting providers that cost less but can’t offer top-of-the-line customer services due to the way they are priced.
Everyone’s going to need customer service at one point, so it’s essential to compare different customer service types and how various companies handle different requests.
Take note of these particular points to check up on:
- On-site or off-site customer support team
- Channel of contact for customer support, e.g. phone, email
- Availability of support staff
- Real-time assistance
- Turn-around time for assistance
- What other people are saying about their customer service experience
Extra Features
Comparing different web hosting platforms allows you to find additional features. For example, knowing how many add-on domains you can have on your hosting could make a difference if you intend to “park” several ones in your hosting server. It will save you on costs, as well as make the process of managing multiple domains easier for you.
Web Hosting User Interface
The user interface of the hosting provider is another important factor you have to consider since you might be using your provider for quite some time. You have to take a look at the ease of use and accessibility of the back-end. You should also factor in the different types of customization and settings that can be utilized.
If there will be multiple people handling the web hosting server or if a complicated interface isn’t something that you’re familiar with, then it’s best to compare web hosting companies until a user-friendly interface is found.
You can also make a trial account to check if a web hosting service is really useful.
Conclusion
There are a myriad of benefits and different tips to comparing and checking out different web hosting companies, but the most important factor to consider is if the services of a hosting company can match your needs and if their claims are reliable.
By being able to put these two factors together, you can get the best value for money, coupled with the best performance.
