As business owners, we all know that the competition is not just about how much is being sold by our stores, it is also about how many are following us and engaging us online. Indeed, the Internet has created a level playing field for businesses; smaller companies now have an equal chance at getting attention on the Internet as bigger companies do.

For this reason, more and more entrepreneurs are finding the benefits of having a website. A “permanent address” online that people can visit to learn about your products and services. However, with this comes another element of having a website that business owners should know: web hosting.

What is web hosting?

Web hosting, simply put, is when a hosting company allows you to use a certain amount of bandwidth and space so that you can create a website that can be accessed online.  Think of it as a neighbourhood and your website is the house that is going to be built in that neighbourhood.

Create a shortlist of web hosting sites to choose from

There are many hosting sites to choose from. And depending on your website needs, there are factors that will have to be fulfilled in order for them to be considered.

• What is the required space?
• What is the uptime score?
• Are their servers reliable?
• Do they offer SSL certificates? (optional)
• Will they allow me to use the platform of my choice? Platforms like WordPress, Tumblr etc.

These are just some of the questions that you will have to ask in order to choose the right web hosting to shortlist.

Choose the right hosting plan

You need to know what the website is going to be for first. Will this be an eCommerce site? Or will the website just serves as a place where all your content is posted? The website’s purpose will determine which hosting plan is applicable to you.

For this part, you can consult with a specialist to help you decide which package to take. It would betempting to get the most expensive one, but if you do not need the amenities that come with it, that would just be an unnecessary purchase.

The right web hosting will improve your online presence

Just like what was mentioned before, a business will thrive in the modern age if it knows how to adapt to the changing times. This means pushing for online efforts that aims to get customer attention and engagement.

Getting the right web hosting for your business’ website needs allows you to create a unique way to connect with your customers. Not to mention, a good web hosting means that you can now reach out to potential customers or attempt dip into demographic pools that you have not tried engaging in.

Once you have finalised your online strategies and plans, start looking for a web hosting site that can help you communicate with your customers better.