Selecting The Right Web Hosting For Your Business Website
It's crucial to explore different options before making a final decision when it comes to deciding on which web hosting platform to use for your business. Choosing the right web hosting solution helps ensure that your website’s performance, security, and scalability is up to speed. It's also important for maintaining an accessible and smoothly running online presence.
Below we will discuss different types of web hosting, the benefits of various types of web hosting platforms, best practices for a website migration and how Somar Digital can support you in this space.
Different Types of Web Hosting for Websites
When it comes to web hosting for business websites, there are a variety of options you can choose from, each catering to different needs and budgets.
Shared Hosting is the most affordable option, where multiple websites share the same server resources such as CPU, RAM, and storage. It’s ideal for small businesses or personal websites with lower traffic volumes. While it's budget-friendly, performance may be affected if other websites on the server experience high traffic.
VPS Hosting (Virtual Private Server)(external link) offers more control and resources by partitioning a physical server into multiple virtual servers. Each VPS operates independently with its own allocated resources, giving you better performance and flexibility compared to shared hosting. It’s a great choice for growing websites that need more power without the cost of a dedicated server.
Cloud Hosting(external link) uses a network of servers to host your site, offering high scalability and reliability. If one server fails, another takes over, minimising downtime. This makes it a strong choice for eCommerce sites or applications expecting variable or unpredictable traffic.
Dedicated Hosting provides an entire server solely for your website, ensuring maximum performance, security, and control. This option is best suited for large businesses, high-traffic websites, or those requiring specific configurations. With no shared resources, you’ll experience consistent performance but at a higher price point.
Managed Hosting services take care of the technical aspects such as server setup, maintenance, updates, security, and backups. It’s perfect for businesses that don’t have in-house IT expertise or want to save time and focus on content, sales, or growth instead of server management.
Key Benefits of Professional Web Hosting for Your Business
Opting for a professional web hosting service brings numerous benefits that go beyond simply getting your website online. A reliable host plays a key role in your site’s performance, security, and long-term growth.
Reliability and Uptime: A professional hosting provider offers high uptime guarantees often 99.9% or higher ensuring your website remains accessible to users around the clock. Downtime can result in lost revenue, reduced trust, and missed opportunities, so reliability is critical for customer retention and satisfaction.
Enhanced Security Features: Professional hosts typically include firewalls, malware scanning, DDoS protection, SSL certificates, and regular security updates to help safeguard your website and user data against cyber threats.
Scalability: As your website traffic and business grow, professional hosting makes it easy to scale up your resources without compromising performance. Whether you're expanding your product range, adding new features, or experiencing seasonal spikes in traffic, scalable hosting can support your growth seamlessly.
24/7 Technical Support: Having access to expert support at any time of day can be a lifesaver. Whether you're facing a technical issue, server error, or configuration challenge, professional hosts provide quick resolution to minimise disruptions and keep your website running smoothly. At Somar Digital we provide on-going support.
Automated Backup and Recovery: Regular backups are essential for protecting your data from accidental loss, cyberattacks, or server failures. Professional hosting plans often include automated backup and restore options, allowing you to recover your site quickly if anything goes wrong.
Performance Optimisation: Many professional hosting services offer integrated tools like content delivery networks (CDNs), caching solutions, and server-side optimisations. These enhancements improve your site’s loading speed and responsiveness which are key factors in user experience and engagement.
Regulatory Compliance: For businesses in sectors such as healthcare, finance, or eCommerce, compliance with data protection laws is essential. Reputable hosts offer hosting environments that support regulatory compliance and provide the documentation needed for audits and reporting.
SEO Benefits: A fast, secure, and reliable website helps boost your SEO performance. Google considers page speed as a ranking factor, so a high-quality host can indirectly improve your visibility in search results and drive more organic traffic to your site.
What to Search for in a Business Web Hosting Provider
Choosing the best web hosting provider for your business involves considering several factors such as your website goals and needs, and long-term plans. The right provider will support your growth, performance, and security requirements.
Assess Your Website Needs: Begin by identifying the purpose of your website. Are you launching an eCommerce store, a blog, or a complex web application? Consider the volume of expected traffic, types of media you'll use (e.g., images, videos), and whether you’ll need advanced features like email hosting, staging environments, or custom configuration
Understand Hosting Types: Familiarise yourself with the various hosting options such as shared, VPS, dedicated, cloud, and managed hosting. Choose one that matches your technical needs, budget, and expected growth. For example, startups might benefit from shared hosting initially, while established businesses may require the scalability and performance of cloud or dedicated solutions.
Research Hosting Providers: Not all hosting companies are created equal. Look for providers with a proven track record of uptime reliability, fast loading speeds, and responsive customer support. Check third-party review sites and testimonials for honest user experiences.
Evaluate Customer Support: 24/7 technical support can make a huge difference when issues arise. Ensure the provider offers multiple support channels such as live chat, phone, and email, and that their team is known for being helpful and knowledgeable.
Compare Pricing and Value: Pricing can vary widely depending on the features and level of service. Beyond the monthly cost, look at what’s included, such as SSL certificates, backups, storage limits, and bandwidth. Be wary of low introductory prices that increase significantly upon renewal. Choose a provider that offers transparent pricing and fair contract terms.
Check Scalability and Upgrade Options: Your hosting should grow with your business. Make sure the provider offers easy upgrade paths to higher tier plans or additional resources as your traffic and needs expand.
Look for Extras That Add Value: Some hosting companies include bonuses like free domain registration, website builders, performance monitoring tools, or built-in SEO features. While not essential, these can be helpful for small teams or those without in-house technical support.
Benefits of Hosting Your Website on AWS
AWS hosting stands out for its unmatched performance, flexibility, and business-friendly features. Here's why businesses of all sizes are turning to AWS:
Scalability on Demand: Whether you're experiencing a surge in website traffic or planning for future growth, AWS automatically scales resources up or down to meet your needs without disruption.
High Reliability: Built on a global network of data centres, AWS ensures exceptional uptime and fault tolerance, helping your website stay online even during unexpected traffic spikes or server issues.
Robust Security: AWS offers enterprise-level security features, including data encryption, firewalls, DDoS protection, and compliance with major standards. These features help safeguard sensitive information and build customer trust.
Cost-Effective Pricing: The pay-as-you-go model means you only pay for the resources you actually use. No locked-in contracts, no overpayment. This model is especially valuable for businesses with seasonal or fluctuating demands.
Best Practices for Website Migration
Migrating your business website to a new hosting provider requires a strategic approach to minimise downtime, prevent data loss, and ensure a smooth transition. Whether you're upgrading to a more powerful server or switching providers for better support, following best practices is key to maintaining performance.
1. Plan the Migration in Advance
Before you begin, outline the steps and timeline for the migration process. Consider factors like:
- The ideal time to switch (outside of peak traffic hours)
- What content or features will be migrated
- Who is responsible for each stage (internal or external support)
A well-structured migration plan reduces the risk of errors and ensures that everyone involved knows what to expect.
2. Create a Full Backup of Your Website
Before making any changes be sure to perform a complete backup of your website files, databases, and configuration settings. This ensures you have a restore point if anything goes wrong. Use tools like cPanel, backup plugins, or your existing host’s backup features to do this effectively.
3. Prepare and Verify the New Hosting Environment
Set up your new hosting environment before initiating the switch. Check that it meets your technical requirements (PHP versions, databases, CMS compatibility, etc.) and test key components like:
- File permissions
- Database connections
- Server software versions
It’s also wise to install your CMS or framework (eg; Silverstripe, WordPress, etc.) in a staging environment for testing before going live.
4. Use Built-In Migration Tools and Support
Many professional hosting providers offer automated migration tools or hands-on support to assist with transferring your files, databases, and configurations. Using these resources can help avoid common pitfalls and speed up the process.
If your current host doesn’t offer tools, consider hiring technical support for manual migration.
5. Update DNS Settings
Once the site has been successfully copied to the new host, update your DNS records to point your domain to the new server. This step tells browsers where to find your website and is critical to completing the migration successfully.
Keep in mind that DNS changes can take up to 24–48 hours to fully propagate. During this period, some visitors may still see your site on the old server, so avoid making updates to content until propagation is complete.
6. Test Before Going Live
Before switching fully to the new host, thoroughly test your website in a staging or temporary domain environment. Check for broken links, missing images, functionality errors, and performance issues.
Make sure key business features like contact forms, payment gateways, and login areas are working correctly across devices and browsers.
7. Monitor After Migration
After your site is live on the new host, continue monitoring performance, uptime, and error logs for at least a few days. It’s also a good idea to:
- Submit a new sitemap to Google Search Console
- Recheck your analytics tracking
- Verify SSL certificates and redirects are working correctly
A successful migration enhances your website’s performance, security, and reliability. By following these best practices and leveraging support from a trusted hosting provider, you can avoid disruptions and ensure your business stays visible, functional, and competitive during the transition.
Somar Digital as your Web Hosting Partner
Choosing the right web hosting provider is one of the most important decisions for any business. It directly impacts your site's speed, security, reliability, and capacity to grow. At Somar Digital, we understand that hosting isn’t just about putting your website online, it’s about creating a strong, stable foundation for your business.
Reach out to us today! we’d love to see how we can help you.
