Many website owners choose shared hosting because it is frequently the most affordable and user-friendly. Although this may sound fantastic, but it’s important to know that various hosting arrangements are created for various needs and functionalities. Shared hosting is no different.
If you choose to host your website on a shared server without first understanding how it operates and what kind of website it is intended for, you risk putting your site’s performance at risk. Each shared server has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
How does shared hosting work?
Shared hosting is a type of web hosting in which multiple websites are hosted on the same server. This allows for cost savings due to sharing resources, such as hardware, memory and bandwidth.
Each website on the shared hosting plan has its own domain name and is allocated a certain amount of disk space and bandwidth to use. The web host also provides technical support for any problems that arise with the server or websites hosted on it.
What makes shared hosting different from VPS or dedicated hosting?
To determine if shared hosting is the best choice, it’s critical to consider all available hosting options. Dedicated and virtual private server (VPS) hosting are two additional shared hosting setups. What distinguishes them from one another? Let’s clarify:
When a website has dedicated hosting, it is hosted on a separate server. Customers have total control over their server use, and excellent performance is guaranteed because resources aren’t shared with anyone else. Complete control allows you to tailor the server to your needs and preferences, but it also calls for technical proficiency and a firm understanding of server administration. The intended market for dedicated hosting is large companies with a lot of traffic and access to a technical/development team.
Like shared hosting, VPS hosting allows users exclusive access to a server’s resources without sharing them with other users. One advantage of hosting a website on a virtual private server is root access to the server. Owners of websites with root access have more control over their online presence because they can install their operating systems and software.
What benefits come with shared hosting?
Shared hosting has many benefits if you’re on a tight budget and want to spend only a little time worrying about the technical aspects of managing a website. Here are the four most significant benefits of using shared hosting.
1. Easy to maintain
The fact that shared hosting requires little to no effort from you is one of its most attractive features. Most businesses offer one-click email setup and WordPress installation, and the host takes care of all server administration and technical upkeep.
2. Extremely economical
The cost is yet another significant advantage of shared hosting. Because multiple websites share the costs of using that server, shared hosting is incredibly affordable. This significantly lowers the cost of hosting and frees up more cash for investing in your company and maintaining the appearance of your website.
3. Convenient
Due to the lack of technical expertise or prior experience needed, hosting a website on a shared server is incredibly popular with beginners. Users won’t have to worry about learning the ins and outs of web hosting because it is simple to set up and use.
4. Upgrade-friendly
Although shared hosting is the most affordable and essential web hosting option, there are many ways to upgrade. You can quickly move up to the next level of hosting if your site starts to receive more traffic or if you want to expand it. This can be done as quickly as by emailing your host.
Although shared hosting is occasionally linked to laggy performance and security risks, hosting companies have had to step up their game over time and adjust to users’ high standards. The shared hosting market has dramatically improved, though some questionable providers still exist.
For instance, SiteCare’s managed WordPress hosting service technically falls under cloud-shared hosting. Still, thanks to the software and redundancies we’ve put in place, all of the security, resource, and SEO problems occasionally arise with conventional shared hosting are OK.
If you run a small or medium-sized business, are on a tight budget, or are unfamiliar with web development and management, a trusted shared hosting provider is a great choice.
How to pick the top shared hosting company?
Most likely, the most crucial choice you will make when setting up your website is selecting the best company to host it.
Due to the abundance of providers claiming to be the best of the best and promising unmatched service and speeds, this can be a little intimidating. Only some companies offering shared hosting are the same. Some will be successful, while others won’t. But if you do your homework and heed the advice provided in this manual, you should be able to cut through the clutter and distinguish the trustworthy providers from the dubious ones.
When selecting a hosting company for your website, take into account the following:
1. Look for strong uptime rates
A server’s uptime, or the amount of time your website is accessible, is measured. This may be the most vital metric when choosing a hosting provider because it is generally understood to measure system reliability and maintenance quality.
Even though some websites can tolerate sporadic outages, you need a host with consistent uptime rates if you are managing a website that demands seamless responsiveness. High uptime rates are crucial if you invest time and money in optimization efforts because it also affects SEO.
2. Customer service is crucial
If you’re serious about keeping your website operating effectively and efficiently, having access to responsive customer support is not just nice to have—it’s essential. You want to know that if your website goes down unexpectedly or you experience an error, you can contact customer service and get help quickly. This is crucial if you lack technical knowledge because it ensures you can always get assistance and answers.
3. What safety precautions have been taken?
Security is an important issue you must work on when opening a small bakery or an online store. Your company and reputation are at risk if your website is compromised by malware or hacking. After a security breach, users may not return to a website.
Since shared hosting packages typically come in various flavors, upgrading is simple. A good rule of thumb is to look over the restrictions on the hosting plan you’ve selected, find out what the subsequent tiers are for that plan, and learn about any additional options for upgrades and add-ons.
