Signing up for a web hosting packages is one of the most important steps associated with launching a website. The host company is the one that actually hosts your site and makes it available to those searching for it. A good package from the right company can include some other features too that let you accept and send emails from an account attached to your site and space for all the things you want to add to your site. Before signing up for ecommerce web hosting services, look for these 4 top features.
1. Storage Space
One of the first things to look for when choosing a web hosting company is the amount of storage space that you get. Having more storage space gives you room for sharing videos and photos with your readers or customers. The more space you have, the less the chance is that your site will run out of room as you add new products too. You should also look at the amount of space you get in relation to your email accounts. If you do not have enough space for your email account, you may miss out on important messages from customers.
2. Malware Protection
Security breaches are one of the more serious problems hitting website owners today. Even major companies like Amazon and Target suffered problems in the past that led to customers having their identities and credit card information stolen. A good web hosting company will provide you with all the protection that you need from viruses and other dangers that can cause security breaches. Some even come with built-in support on the email side to keep you from opening potentially dangerous messages that might have a virus attached.
3. Email Access
Having an email account linked to your site makes your business look more professional. If you need to use a generic email to respond to questions from prospective customers, they might see that email address and decide to order from someone else or use a more reputable website. Web hosting companies can create an email address based off the domain name you chose that lets you respond to customers and contact other companies. You may have the option of creating multiple accounts too that you can use for your customer service department and any other departments that you have.
4. Quick Load Time
An important feature to look for in a web hosting company that many forget about or ignore is the average load time. This applies to both the load time you experience as well as the load time that your customers experience. This refers to the total length of time it takes for the page to load. If you have a slower load time, working on your site becomes frustrating. When customers experience a slower load time, they might leave before the page even loads and order from another site. Paying extra for a faster load time makes your site more appealing.
The Bottom Line
While there are hundreds of web hosting companies in the world today, you need to know how to find the right one. This often requires looking at how quickly your page will load and whether you get any protection against malware and viruses. Top companies offer lots of storage space and email access too.
Image Credit: Thomas Morris