by Dan Radak | Negosentro.com |
It goes without saying that, in 2017, every business needs a strong online presence. This means dealing with several issues first, and one of them is the notion of web hosting. While a lot of people believe they know all that there is to know about it, this is seldom the case. So, for those of you who want to learn more about this pressing issue, here are few things both you and your SMB should know about hosting.
Is Free Hosting Really Free?
The first thing everyone wants to know is if the free web hosting really is free. You see, a lot of businesses operate on a tight budget which means that every dollar saved helps. This makes most of them interested in anything with the word free in its name although this is rarely a smart choice. The pros are that you don’t have to pay a dime, and since there is no contract whatsoever you can just walk away whenever you feel like it. On the other hand, you get limited features, cap on your bandwidth and disk space, and are compelled to put up with ads. Sure, this may not seem like such a big deal to you, but your clients will not agree. So, is free hosting really free? It depends on your point of view – can something that loses you money truly be considered free?
What are the Prices?
Next question people often ask is what is the price of quality hosting. Still, this question alone is not that easy to answer. You see, most companies offer different versions of web-hosting, each presenting you with a unique set of features and its own price range. Beginners usually go for the most affordable one – around $15, and are presented with 5GB of web space, 50GB of monthly traffic and about 50 email accounts. On the other hand, these figures seem simply ridiculous for a bigger enterprise which is why they usually go for business or even business plus option. Later on, if you feel like it, you can see with your web hosting company from Australia about any potential upgrade on the package.
What is Green Hosting?
While you are at it, it doesn’t hurt to know that your hosts are giving Mother Earth the respect she deserves. Which brings us to our next question- what is green hosting? You see, while everything about hosting may seem software-related, all these servers run on a real hardware hidden in some storage. Needless to say, this hardware requires power to run; the larger the host – the greater the amount of power necessary. Green hosts are those who either run their servers on renewable energy, or look for ways to reduce the amount of energy consumed by their appliances. Nevertheless, if your company wants to do business in an eco-friendly manner it might be worth your while to check if your host is green as well.
Should You Make Long-Term Contracts?
Finally, one of the mistakes a lot of companies make is committing to one host for longer than they should. Sure, this can significantly bring down the price and give you one less thing to worry about, but it has its drawbacks, as well. Not all hosts are as reliable, and getting stuck with the wrong ones can sometimes mean the end for a small business. In other words, the answer to this question is situational. If you find someone you trust, there is no reason not to, but until you build this relationship it may be better to just take it easy.
Conclusion
While there is much more to learn about the exciting world of web hosting, knowing an answer to just a few of these questions can sometimes make all the difference. First, it can help you run your business in the way you always wanted to and second, it can help you get much better conditions for a much lower price.
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Dan Radak is a marketing professional with ten years of experience. He is currently working with a number of companies in the field of digital marketing, closely collaborating with a couple of e-commerce companies. He is also a coauthor on several technology websites and regular contributor to Technivorz.
