How to Choose a Web Host (15-Point Checklist) P2

What e-commerce features are included?

All websites have the same basic requirements. However, if you run an e-commerce site, you need some unique features.

For example, you’ll need to back up more often and provide CDNs to customers around the world.

Professional e-commerce website hosting can provide the support your online store needs at a reasonable price. For example, you may need a plan specifically designed for WooCommerce:

Some plans, including our eCommerce plan, have WooCommerce and Storefront themes pre-installed for WordPress retail stores. This configuration allows you to focus on growing your business.

Can I navigate and use the dashboard easily?

You’ll spend a lot of time in your hosting control panel. Easily navigating your account can greatly reduce the complexity of managing your website. In addition, you don’t have to rely heavily on customer service to determine tasks such as billing and updates.

Choosing a host that provides a custom control panel can eliminate many problems in the long run. The DreamHost dashboard is designed to be user-friendly so that you can easily find information on the site, contact support, or edit account information:

You’ll likely be the default website administrator, so you’ll want to find the best fit. To do this, check out the demo or tour in your control panel before you sign up to be a presenter.

Is an SSL certificate included?

Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificates are important for the security of your site and users. This is especially true when dealing with sensitive information such as credit card information.

Adding an SSL certificate to your site usually costs extra. However, some hosting providers include it in their plans at no extra cost. By choosing one of these hosting providers, you can save extra costs while keeping your site secure.

How often do I have to renew my subscription?

Many web hosting companies require customers to subscribe monthly. If the fees are low enough, you may not care how much you have to pay each month. However, this option is not always the most economical.

Other hosts will offer a one-year or even three-year plan. By paying long-term costs up front, you can often save some money. When comparing prices between hosts, you should consider the following:

The domain name must also be renewable. You can find two- and three-year registration options at DreamHost, but it usually happens every year. You can also sign up for an auto-renewal program so you don’t forget to renew your domain.

Does web hosting provide easy site backups?

We all like to think the worst won’t happen to us, but we better be prepared. Accidents and attacks happen, and if your site is damaged, you need a way to restore it.

When you perform a backup, you can restore the site if it is lost. There are several ways to back up a website, but one of the easiest ways is to back it up through a web host. It’s more convenient if the host provides automatic daily site backups and one-click on-demand backups.

Can I get fast access to support services with 24×7?

Your relationship with you and your web hosting service will last. Reliable customer support is essential to a mutually beneficial relationship. Make sure your web host has multiple ways to reach you, and make sure your 24×7 support team can reach you when you need help.

Also, some support for WordPress, e-commerce, or other niches may be helpful. If you choose a host with a knowledgeable team, the site will get the most support.

For example, when you choose DreamPress, a WordPress-only hosting service, you get priority access to an elite team of in-house WordPress experts.

When should I upgrade my hosting plan?

If you already have hosting, you may be wondering if it’s time to upgrade your hosting plan. Based on the pros and cons described in the previous section, you may already be leaning one way or the other.

However, here are some signs to consider when evaluating a new web hosting provider:

There is an issue with site performance.

Speed and performance play a big role in search engine results ranking and user experience. Most users expect the sites they visit to load in less than two seconds. If your site is slower than that, you may need a hosting plan that contains more resources.

You can easily test your site’s performance with Pingdom, GTmetrix, or WebPage tests. You should also make sure that your website is optimized for speed.

There is too much downtime on the site.

The importance of uptime is obvious. If people can’t get to the site, they probably won’t try again. Believe it or not, it’s reasonable to expect about 99% uptime for your site. If you don’t see that, you may be getting more traffic or using more resources than your current hosting plan can handle.

You’re worried about security.

Shared hosting is pretty secure as long as you use a quality hosting company. Regardless of your plan, you should always take steps to protect your site. This means that as your site grows, the advanced security features provided by your private hosting plan can help you sleep a little easier at night.

The current plan doesn’t provide enough space or resources.

When you add more content, attract more traffic and increase user activity, your site takes up extra space and requires more server resources.

If any of the above scenarios are true, it’s worth considering other hosting options. To eliminate these problems and provide the best experience for users, you may need to simply upgrade to a larger, more comprehensive plan.

Find the right web hosting

It’s easy to be overwhelmed when choosing a web hosting plan. There are a number of factors to consider, and your decision can determine the success or failure of your website.

However, if you start your web hosting search with a clear description of what you need, you will finally be able to find the best provider. Asking questions carefully about the quality of service and hosting facilities, additional features and the prices they offer will help you move in the right direction.