If you are thinking about starting a website you might be a little confused about some of the technical aspects of getting a new website online. One of the most common questions people have is: Why do you need a website host?
In this article, we will answer that exact question and help you understand what a host is, why it’s needed, and what the best way to choose one is.
So, why do you need a website host? Every website on the internet needs a web host because a website host is a server (or computer) that stores your website’s content. The website host allows other users on the internet to call up and access your website information.
Find the Perfect Domain and Save On Hosting Here
In the rest of this article, we will go a little deeper into what a host does, why it’s important to the overall success of your website, and how you can get the best deal on web hosting.
What Type of Websites Need A Host?
Sites that need a web host are called self-hosted sites. An example of this would be a self-hosted WordPress site. These sites are typically recommended for most businesses or digital marketers as you have full autonomy of everything on your website.
A self-hosted website allows you to not only customize a website in any manner you wish, but it also gives you full control over monetization and analytics. Anyone that plans on running a business from their website is highly encouraged to use a self-hosted website.
There are many content management systems that you can use on your self-hosted website, the most common is WordPress.
What Type of Website Doesn’t Need A Web Host?
If you don’t want the flexibility and customization of a self-hosted website, then you could choose to use a website builder like Wix.com or a funnel builder like ClickFunnels or Kartra.
These services typically come with a monthly fee that is far more expensive than hosting your own website. ClickFunnels and Kartra both start at around $99 dollars a month for their starter package. And, while they are powerful pieces of software, they do limit your ability to customize beyond the features included on the software.
What’s The Difference Between A Domain and Host?
We explained earlier that a website host houses your website’s content so other people can access it.
So, what is the domain? A Domain is your websites unique address online. This is how internet users find your content.
As an example, the domain name for this website is NamingGenerator.com. So, when you or anyone clicks on a domain link like the one above anywhere on the internet, or types in the domain name directly into your browser, you will be taken to this same site every single time.
If we keep using our site as an example, our host houses all the content and programming related to NamingGenerator.com.
NamingGenerator.com is a FREE software utility that instantly helps you find the perfect domain name for your new website.
Wow, I just realized this is getting really meta…but, I digress.
One of the hardest parts about starting a new website is finding a great domain name that is actually available. So, we created our domain name generator and availability tool. This free utility instantly gives you available domain name ideas that are ready for the taking.
If you are looking to start a new website, try out our FREE Domain Name Tool Here.
How Can a Host Affect Your Website’s Success? And, How To Choose…
Here are some things you want to keep in mind when picking a website host. There is a lot to choose from and they are not all created equal. One of the great things about our Name Generator is that we’ve also identified some of the biggest names in the hosting industry. So, you can quickly see your hosting options, secure your domain more cheaply, and ensure you are getting a quality hosting provider.
Uptime
There is nothing worse than having a website go down do an unreliable host. Companies can lose a lot of money if a website goes down for even a few minutes. The first thing you want to look for is a reliable hosting company, with at least 99.9% uptime. So, when looking for a host make sure you pick a reliable well-known company.
Speed
Your user experience is really important. Not only to keep your visitors happy and coming back but to keep them on the website when they are there. Google has admitted that speed is so important that they’ve included it in their ranking algorithm. They, know that a slow website will have users bounce off with poor user experience. So, they only want to reward sites that have fast loading times with rankings. So, make sure you pick a hosting company that can deliver your website in a fast and effective manner.
Scalability
You want to pick a host that can grow with your business and website. As traffic increases, the load on your web server will increase. You want to make sure you have a hosting company that can handle spikes in your traffic and allows you to grow as your business dictates.
Cost
Website hosting is something you are going to need for the life of your site. So, if you can secure top quality hosting at affordable cost, then that’s a win. We have accumulated a list of great hosting offers. You can check it out here.
Security
Don’t risk your website or customers’ data by putting it at risk with a less secure server. Not only can this damage your business and website’s reputation. But, it can leave you liable if important information somehow gets compromised. It’s also important for SEO and ranking that your site is secure, or google will limit your rankings.
Are You Ready To Start A New Website?
If you are ready to start a new website then do it the smartest way possible. Try our FREE Name Generator to:
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