Choosing a web hosting company is one of the first steps when launching a website.
It’s a fundamental decision because your web host will set the tone for a variety of factors that will affect your website for months and years to come.
Not all hosts are created equal. And it’s somewhat tricky to change from one web host to another. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with technical terms and marketing hype if you’re unsure what to look for.
In this article aimed at non-techy savvy business owners in South Africa, we cover six factors to consider when choosing a web host.
Consider These 6 Factors Before Choosing a Web Host:
(1) Website Backups
Just as its critical to back up business data, regular website backups are also important. The worst-case scenario is typically a hacked website. But human error and simple tasks, like updating WordPress or installing a new plugin, can and do cause downtime scenarios.
In general, the best solution is to restore from a backup.
There are many ways to back up a website. You should do it yourself via a WordPress plugin or Joomla extension, but it’s a must that your web host is also backing up on their side. Get these questions answered before choosing a host:
- Are backups included? If not, it’s best to move on.
- What is included in the backup? Ideally, it should be a full backup. Whatever is not backed up by the host becomes your responsibility to handle and restore.
- How often do you backup? A weekly backup by the hosting company is generally sufficient for most non-ECommerce websites.
- Do the backups cover email? Ignore if email will not be not hosted on your website server. For example, your email is on-premise or via Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace.
(2) Domain Name Management
A domain name is the online address of a website. For example, google.com or unisa.ac.za. A website needs both web hosting and a domain. Each comes with its own recurring costs and management tasks.
The good news is that many web hosting companies also sell and manage domains. However, some hosts are also limited in the top-level domains (TLDs) they offer. They will have standard options like .com, .co.za, .org.za, but not newer TLDs like .plumber, .durban, or .photography – if your business is after something special.
If you’re a beginner, don’t buy your domain from one company and host with another. This will save you time, and also avoid technical problems that could cause website and email downtime.
Related:
How to Choose a Domain Name (10 Recommendations & Tips)
(3) Server Location
Your website needs to be blazing fast for two simple reasons:
- A slow website is annoying for users. 1 in 2 visitors abandon a website that takes more than 6 seconds to load. That’s possibly potential customers leaving your website and visiting competitor websites instead.
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). If your marketing strategy involves getting new customers from Google, a fast website is essential for ranking high in the search results.
The server location of your hosting company impacts website speed. It’s not the most critical factor, but it’s hard to change after committing to a host.
If your target market is in South Africa, choose a web host that has their servers in the country. Avoid foreign hosts where servers are located in other continents, and thus slower for South African visitors.
Of course, do host overseas if your business is seeking website visitors from that country or continent. A blog with a global audience falls in the same category.
(4) Customer Support
Whether you are actively working on your website at the time or haven’t touched it in months, web hosting and domain problems can happen at any moment. The consequences can be disastrous. For example, your website crashes during a major sale, a hacker injects your website with pharmaceutical adverts, or emails go down company-wide.
It is absolutely essential to choose a hosting company that offers 24/7/365 support. The more support channels (phone, email, support tickets, and live chat), the better. Prioritise companies with local, in-house support teams and not those that outsource overseas.
Investigate their customer service on social media (mainly Twitter and Facebook), internet forums (such as MyBroadBand and Reddit), Google Maps reviews, and HelloPeter. Look for reviews highlighting the quality and responsiveness of support staff.
(5) Pricing
A common marketing tactic is for web hosts to advertise very cheap hosting rates. However, those advertised rates are only for the first year. Exorbitant renewal prices are hidden in the fine print. And because it’s cumbersome to migrate a website from one host to another, many companies remain despite the price change. Hence, ensure you are aware of the renewed pricing upfront before choosing a host.
Similarly, many web hosts offer a free domain for the first year. You’re likely to stay with the same provider for years (or decades), so don’t be swayed by a once-off saving of a few hundred rands.
We have already covered server location and hosting overseas. If you need to, be mindful of fluctuating exchange rates, payment methods, and bank charges.
(6) Control Panel Software
Ensure your hosting package includes control panel software, such as cPanel or Plesk. These tools offer a user-friendly interface that lets you make server-side changes (e.g., installing WordPress and creating email accounts) easily without you needing to code. It’s a must for non-techies. cPanel and Plesk are well-supported with countless YouTube videos and tutorials to guide you step-by-step.
The same can’t be said for every web host or package. Some won’t include control panel software at all. Other companies use in-house alternatives; These can range from amazing and comparable to cPanel/Plesk – to rudimentary tools that look like something from 2008.
In short, it’s safest for beginners to go with cPanel/Plesk offerings. Alternatives can be good but may lack comparable support and features.
Related:
What is cPanel? How to use cPanel in WordPress hosting?
Host Your Small Business Website with iSite Computers
iSite Computers is managed IT services provider. We help small businesses and individuals in South Africa with affordable web hosting and domain name management. Whether you are launching your first website or migrating from another host, we are here to help.
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