If you want to ensure the safety of your website, brand, and business, it is imperative to have reliable hosting. Your website heavily relies on the foundation it provides, and any server issues could have detrimental effects on the years of effort you have put into developing it. Therefore, entrusting your website to capable hands is a must for any serious website owner.
With so many web hosting companies competing for our attention these days, it can be difficult to make a decision. We are constantly bombarded with attractive promotions from these companies. If you are considering getting a web hosting account, we recommend taking a look at this article first to avoid getting caught up in enticing promotions and marketing tactics.
To enhance your consumer knowledge regarding acquiring your web hosting account, the following guidelines are provided.
1. The “Free Domain” Gimmick
Before accepting a free domain, it is important to be aware of certain aspects that you should consider.
- Who owns the domain? The domain is free, but the hosting company retains the ownership. What does it mean? You’re either stuck with the company forever or you need to pay a hefty sum to buy the domain back.
- What about the next few years of renewal? The first year is free, but when you want to renew it, they’ll charge $19.95+ for renewal. That is like a 200% markup over the average domain name cost.
During the research process, it is advisable to ask questions to determine the ownership of the domain and ensure that the standard renewal fees are satisfactory.
2. Separate Domain and Hosting
You don’t have to register domain names at the same company. We want to clarify that we don’t mean to imply that your current web host is untrustworthy; rather, it’s important to find a reliable and trustworthy registrar from the beginning.
The domain name serves as your online identity, being the most valuable and irreplaceable asset, while hosting services are merely there to support the website. It may be argued that registering the domain with the web-hosting company is more convenient. Unquestionably, web-hosting companies prefer to have your domain registered with them, as it generates significant revenue for them.
If the web hosting company decides to go down along with your domain, it will not be convenient.
3. Read That Bandwidth and Disk space Terms
When shopping for shared web hosting, people often overlook the terms bandwidth and disk space. While high traffic alone typically does not exceed a website’s bandwidth limit, it is possible for this to happen if files are offered for download on the website.
4. Unlimited Storage’s Catch
The concept of “Unlimited Storage” may appear appealing, but it is a notion that certain web hosting services aim to deceive you with, as “Unlimited Storage” does not truly exist.
If you’re similar to most individuals, when it comes to reviewing the TOS of your web hosting service, you tend to skim through it instead of reading it attentively. In the TOS, there is a portion that discusses CPU/Server Usage.
In essence, the statement indicates that exceeding a specific storage limit on your website constitutes a violation of the Terms of Service, which may result in termination. It is common for hosting services to include such clauses in their Terms of Service to safeguard server resources against misuse.
To get around their promises of providing Unlimited Storage, many web-hosting services are utilizing CPU/Server Usage measures.
5. Research and Find out More About Them
A frequently used method involves inserting the query “web_hosting_company sucks” and reviewing the resulting outcomes. It is astonishing to discover the substantial number of customers who have expressed dissatisfaction with their web hosting provider.
While this list may provide you with an idea, it should not be regarded as definite or guaranteed.
- Unfair count. Large companies tend to disappoint more people because they have more disgruntled customers, although they might be only an extremely small percentage of the overall customer base.
- Bias and subjective verdicts. Statements on personal blogs can sometimes be highly subjective, biased, and influenced. Any rebuttals can potentially delete by the site owners to give a one-sided impression.
- Complaints are common. It is easier for some people to rant than to praise. In general, if a web host performs smoothly, they’re just doing their job, and if it doesn’t, then it deserves all the bad reviews. That’s just what we do.
6. Know What A Content Management System Is
First and foremost, it is important to understand the concept of a content management system. A content management system, often referred to as CMS, consists of a collection of files within a website. It serves as a user-friendly platform that enables website owners to effectively handle, organize, and release their content. WordPress happens to be one of the widely used content management systems available.
By following a step-by-step process, you can rephrase the provided text as follows without altering the meaning: With the use of a CMS, the amount of manual work required to handle your website can be reduced. Even individuals without technical expertise are capable of starting a website within a few minutes using a CMS. Moreover, the installation of a CMS merely requires a few clicks. In addition, posting content on the internet is as effortless as updating your status on various social media platforms.
You can find reliable companies like Ventra IP that offer WordPress web hosting to optimize your site if you are interested in learning more about CMS. Your host will specifically install WordPress only on your servers, which sets it apart from regular hosting. This makes it easier to maintain security and improve your site’s performance.
7. Know What The Terminologies Are
In addition to a content management system, it is beneficial to also familiarize oneself with other web hosting and development terminologies. Although signing up for a web hosting company is typically perceived as a simple process, this is only applicable to individuals with a strong understanding of web development.
Before signing up for a web host provider, it is important to have a good understanding of the common terminologies associated with web hosting, especially if you are new to building and publishing a website.
- Server: A computer or network of computers that store your files and manage all the requests made by a website, such as streaming, downloading, uploading, etc.
- Control Panel: A page, website, or user interface in which you can control the settings of your web hosting account and select server settings for your website.
- Domain: Commonly referred to as a website address. Acquiring domains is typically separate from setting up a web hosting account. Typically, you need to lease it from a domain host server.
- Bandwidth, CPU. Memory, And Storage Capacity: These are a few server statistics directly correlated to your web hosting plan’s limitation. A hosting account with extreme limitations to these numbers can significantly impact the performance of your website.
In addition, it is essential to be acquainted with various terminologies, particularly Web 3.0, as majority of your activities in your hosting account will primarily involve these concepts.
You should keep in mind that some terms can be mistakenly used interchangeably, such as domain name and web address. Although they are similar, there are slight differences that you should be aware of, such as the inclusion of top-level domains like .com.
8. Learn About Web Hosting Plans
Apart from the aforementioned terminologies, it is essential to be aware that the majority of web hosting companies provide various service options. It is necessary for you to select the appropriate plan according to your website’s objectives and financial resources. Generally, web hosting plans can be classified into three main categories.
- Personal: This category often gives the bare minimum to a subscriber. Typically, it’ll allow you to publish and design one or two websites under an account. Plans that fall under this category are often ideal for people who want to publish an online portfolio or informational website for a small business.
- Business: This category is often ideal for business owners with an expansive website like an e-commerce website.
- Corporate: This category often gives large businesses an opportunity to establish an online presence and put their IT systems on their web host.
