You have an idea for a business, or a blog, or an affiliate website. After work ends, you've spent 30 hours of your time planning out the concept — great business name, monetization stream, site layout, etc. On weekends, you go over your plans, you start planning out your financials to move forward your idea. It's time to set your plan into action.
To do this, you're going to need a web host. A web host is hub of domain names that you can purchase and host your website on. It's a necessity. But how to choose the right one? Popular web hosting companies–such as GoDaddy, BlueHost, Web.com, etc. — offer different features that make the purchase worthwhile.
Unlimited Bandwidth
Make sure the web host you choose has unlimited bandwidth! Network bandwidth is the number of requests/data that can be utilized over an internet connection. As you market your website and gain traffic to the domain, you want to make sure that your website will be accessible to hundreds of thousands of internet users. Paying a little extra for unlimited bandwidth through your web host is worth it, especially if this is a serious business venture you look to see through to success.
Drag & Drop Features
Many web hosts offer drag and drop features for your domain, including header formats, Google map plugins, form submissions, etc. Not only does this provide you, the domain builder, an easier way of managing your domain, but it also provides additional features that you can utilize to bring your domain and business to life.
Templates
Many web hosts also offer templates best web hosting for your domain. Like drag & drop features, templates provider more management of your website by you, the owner, saving you money as you no longer need to seek out a third party or consultant to help you build your site, which can be costly. Many web hosts even offer immediate connectivity to content management platforms like WordPress, as well.
Customer Support
This may be farther down the list, but it is important to know whether or not you will have access to support outlets for your domain. Having a defined support outlet provides you with quick access to individuals that can help you manage changes, troubleshoot issues, and verify settings. It is an added level of security that is very helpful to have when that moment comes when you need a hand. I suggest North American support, with preferably 24/7 availability.
Security
The internet is filled with scams and black-hat hackers trying to cause damage to you personally, or your business — we all know this (or should). When picking your web host, look for what security or secure features they provide. Aspects like SSL certificates, HTTPS and CDNs will provide you ways to host your website/business and protect it at the same time.
Final Thoughts
When choosing the right web host, price will certainly also be a factor in which web host you eventually go with. However, don't short-sell the importance of the above web host features when making your choice. An extra $2.00-$3.00 a month for your domain will be worth it if you can maximize the number of features you receive with your purchase. Remember — you're prepared to start your business/site venture. You've put in the research and the planning. Do the same when choosing the right web host and use the features that were mentioned here, as your guide.
Good luck!
Web Hosting Guide 