Before the website you have been thinking about building can serve up its first webpages, you’ll want to find the best host to provide the necessary infrastructure,  hardware, and software. This article explains what you need to know about website hosting in a digestible step-by-step format, designed for beginners. As a future website owner, seeing the big picture helps you make wiser decisions. And we’ll do it without all the technical jargon. Our objective is to dissect a complex matter into simple terms so that you can understand all the options available, then decide the best options to meet your web hosting requirements.

Websites are stored on webspace which is space on a web server that is allocated to website owners by the web host. These spaces are provided by a wide range of web hosting companies. Your actual website is comprised of files that will be securely housed by a web hosting company. They will assign your website a unique address where visitors will gain access to your files.

Step 1 – Check out the web hosting types available

Compare 6 types of web hosting:

1. Shared hosting is ideal for beginners. Your website will be stored on the same server as numerous other websites. Shared hosting plans often come with many helpful tools such as website builders, WordPress hosting, and the ability to email clients. Shared hosting is the most cost-effective option as sharing resources with others keeps the operational expenses down. Each website owner can easily manage their site through their separate account, but cannot access advanced controls. If your website explodes with traffic, this type of shared hosting may not be able to handle that extra surge, so at that point consider an upgrade. Imagine shared hosting as an apartment building.

2. VPS hosting is virtual private server hosting. This plan is the perfect middle ground between a shared server discussed above and a dedicated server to be considered next. This is perfect for website owners that require more control than allowed for shared hosting but don’t necessarily require a dedicated server. VPS hosting involves dividing a server into various virtual compartments that function independently. Each website is then stored in one of these compartments. This type provides website owners a middle ground between the other two types of servers in terms of pricing and management capabilities. An ideal choice for more advanced users that might desire specific software and package installs. Imagine VPS or virtual private server hosting as a townhouse where space is divided into separate, functional units.

3. Dedicated hosting provides website owners the most control over the server that their website is stored on. The website owner or organization can lease an entire server just for their use. As you can figure out, this type is the most complex and expensive of all the options. Dedicated hosting gives the website owner total control over the server, its software, and security systems. This is the desired choice for most large enterprises because it allows for maximum customization, flexibility, and afore-mentioned security. Imagine dedicated hosting is the stand-alone house where the owner gets to control every aspect of the space.

4. Cloud hosting as you may know has become the recent buzz online. In regards to the web hosting picture, it entails numerous computers working together, running applications using combined computing resources. This is a web hosting option that works via a network and enables companies to consume computing resources like a utility. This allows website owners to employ as many resources as they require without having to build and maintain their own computing infrastructure. Since the resources that are being utilized are spread across several servers, it reduces the chance of downtime due to a server malfunction. Cloud hosting is also scalable to meet your website needs as you grow over time. For a detailed discussion about cloud computing, visit our article, Cloud Hosting Defined.

5. Managed hosting is an option where a third-party provider is responsible for the day to day management, administration, problem-solving, and maintenance of all computing resources and hardware. Normally, the company that provides the managed hosting also provides the servers or the cloud-hosting environment. Managed hosting is ideal for organizations seeking to move into the cloud, but with specific limitations that keep the public cloud from being the right “first” solution. Managed hosting is also a good fit for industries with stringent regulatory or security requirements, such as health care or financial services.

6. Colocation (also known as “colo”) entails renting space for your servers and other computing hardware at a third-party provider’s data center facility. Colocation gives access to higher levels of bandwidth than a normal office server room at a much lower cost. Usually, colocation services include the building in which everything is housed, as well as networking, physical security, emergency power, etc. Organizations that opt for colo get the advantage of eliminating the capital expenditures of building and maintaining their own facilities while retaining ownership and complete control of the physical environment. However, it still requires substantial investment in upfront hardware costs and can accrue increased travel costs for engineers if they need to manually access the equipment.

Step 2 – Explore what website hosting platforms offer.

After you figure out the type of web hosting you require, it’s now time to examine the different platforms on offer. Like shopping for a house, you’re looking for the best fit platform for your website home, it’s important to make a smart decision. All things considered, the web hosting platform you select will play an essential role in representing your business website.

Step 3- Select the best hosting service provider for your needs

Consider what is best for your website according to your unique situation. Be sure to choose the right service provider that can deliver the high-quality service that you expect. Look at the big picture, go beyond just price, evaluate the level of performance. Your decision determines the experience of your website visitors in terms of its performance metrics-load speed, uptime, stability, bandwidth, etc. Of course, consider reviews and recommendations from happy customers.

Step 4 – Choose a web hosting plan

After you have selected the best web hosting provider for your needs, it’s now time to choose the ideal web hosting plan.
Check out the various plans and terms available within your budget. At this particular time, you should be familiar with comparing and contrasting the price and packages factoring in your bandwidth requirements. Also, consider any future needs in terms of upgrades or adding additional features.

Step 5- Buy a domain name if you don’t already have one

Time to get your domain name, that’s how visitors will find your website address online. While certain web hosting providers allow you to publish your site without doing so, registering a domain name can have a significant impact on your website’s perception and exposure. Most web hosting platforms offer domain registrars, which greatly simplifies the process, some service providers might even offer free domains for the first year, as always consider all the terms carefully.

Thanks for reading till the end, now you know if you need shared hosting, a virtual private server, or a dedicated server. Do your homework and make well-thought-out decisions. Best of luck on your online adventure!