The right web hosting makes a significant impact on the performance of your new website. If you plan to make money with an eCommerce site, a reliable website with great site speeds is nonnegotiable.
Web hosting with secure, high-quality servers is of utmost importance. With the right web hosting package, your eCommerce site will be up and running quickly.
Do You Need eCommerce Hosting?
Most eCommerce sites need web hosting. However, users creating websites with Squarespace, Shopify, or Wix do not need web hosting. Web hosting is included for users paying to create sites on these platforms.
Most eCommerce businesses choose WordPress because WooCommerce is a versatile plugin that allows users to create online stores. WordPress also offers a variety of themes and plugins unrivaled by other platforms. If you’re using WordPress for your site, you’ll need web hosting.
You will also need to purchase your own web hosting if you plan to use Magento, Presta Shop, or Open Cart, as these platforms do not include web hosting.
6 Things to Consider When Choosing Web Hosting
1. Uptime Scores & Server Reliability
Every minute matters when you’re selling products online. Internet users need to have access to your site 24/7 to ensure maximum profitability.
When looking at web hosting providers, look for ones that have 99.95% uptime or more. This guarantees that your website’s server will be available 99.95% of the time. Any uptime amount below 99% should be avoided, especially if you plan to sell items online.
2. Upgrade Options
Choose a web hosting service that allows you to upgrade your server in the future. As you get more traffic to your website, your website’s server will need to be able to process more visits to your site.
Shared hosting is a great option when you’re getting started, but your server needs will outgrow that option in the future. It’s important to have a web hosting provider who can offer you upgrades when needed.
3. Reasonable Renewal Price
Like many subscription-based services, you’ll pay a lower promotional price when you sign up. Make sure the renewal price isn’t too high. Even if you get a lower signup price with one hosting service, it’s important to consider your costs down the road.
The information about renewal price should be in the web hosting’s terms of service. Read those terms carefully so you don’t end up stuck with an overpriced web hosting package.
4. Site Backups
Find out if your web hosting provider conducts regular full backups. You don’t want to lose your website’s information due to a virus or hacker, so backups are important.
It’s also important to find out how they restore backup files. Can you access the backup files or will you need customer support to help you with this?
5. Customer Support & Refund Policy
You don’t just need quality servers with a web hosting package. Quality customer support is really important, especially if you experience any issues with your web hosting package. Although you hope to never need customer support, it’s important to look for a hosting provider with a track record of great customer support.
Watch out for refund policies as well. Many providers offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, which protects you. If you don’t like your hosting provider, you can switch to another.
6. Trusted Hosting Websites
With so many web hosting websites out there, it’s important to get hosting from a trusted website. Take time to read reviews and comparisons of different web hosting solutions to find out which one is best for you.
With these six things in mind, you’re ready to find web hosting for your eCommerce site!
