For a while, hosting was a major headache in the website design business. Dealing with hosts who would vanish for hours on end or take ages to respond to support requests was a constant frustration.
First of all, what is website hosting?
Website hosting is kind of like having your own space on the internet. It works by storing all the important files – like code, images, PDFs, and scripts—that make up your website on a fast server connected to the internet. When someone types your website’s address (like www.yoursite.com) into their browser, the server is located, and the files are sent back to their computer. This space where everything is kept is called ‘website hosting’.
Different types of hosting
Hosting comes in various price ranges and service levels. Over the years, hosting costs have significantly decreased. It’s quite simple to purchase a “shared hosting account” for just a few dollars per month, where you share a server with hundreds of other users.
But beware!
Cheap shared hosting plans often lead to frequent crashes, slow loading times, and poor customer service. Google measures website loading speed, which directly impacts your ranking. Therefore, it’s important to ensure your site loads quickly.
For WordPress websites, it’s important to keep the core software and plugins updated and secure. WordPress, being open source, is vulnerable to hackers who exploit weaknesses to inject malicious code and links. Nobody wants their website littered with unwanted links!
WordPress regularly releases security patches and updates. It’s vital to stay on top of these to keep your site safe. A reputable host or web designer will take care of this maintenance to ensure your WordPress site remains secure and up to date.
Another handy feature provided by some hosting companies is CDN (Content Delivery Network). This means your website gets duplicated across many servers globally. When a someone visits your site, the copy nearest to their geographical location is loaded automatically, enhancing loading speed. The outcome? Your website loads incredibly quickly!
Services like these might cost a bit more, but when you think about the added security, regular maintenance, automatic backups, and reliable support you get, it’s definitely worth considering.
Speed
A faster website doesn’t just boost your Google ranking; it’s also great for your users. Research indicates that even a one-second delay can disrupt the user’s experience and train of thought. After three seconds, many users will simply leave your site altogether!
