If you want your website to bring on success, you need a hosting provider that can get you there, and really wants you to.
The best providers will understand your site needs, offer support and keep everything running smoothly so you don’t need to worry.
With so many providers out there, it can be pretty confusing to find the one for you.
We’re here to help you get started, so let’s take a look.
Determine Your Hosting Needs
Before starting the search for a hosting provider, figure out what you need from it.
Think about website traffic, expected growth, budget, and support.
Do you need shared hosting, VPS hosting, managed WP hosting, or dedicated hosting?
Checking what works best for you and your site can help narrow down your options.
Evaluate Technical Support
A hosting provider’s support team plays a vital role in maintaining and managing your WordPress site.
Look for a provider that offers 24/7 customer support in different ways, like live chat, email, phone, or face-to-face meetings.
Make sure to read their reviews, to gauge their reputation for providing timely and high-quality support.
Quick and reliable tech assistance can save you from potential downtime and resolve issues promptly.
WordPress-Specific Expertise
WordPress has unique requirements and optimisations, so it’s important to choose a hosting provider that specialises in WP hosting.
See if they offer features like one-click WP installation, update management, and seamless integration of plugins and themes.
Look out for providers that have experience in handling WP-specific issues and have a deep understanding of the platform’s quirks:
It will prove invaluable in providing comprehensive support.
Scalability and Performance:
Your site may experience increase traffic as it grows, so see if the provider offers flexible hosting plans that can accommodate your needs.
Look out for providers with a robust server infrastructure, SSD storage and CDN integration to improve performance.
A fast-loading site is essential for UX and SEO: a hosting provider that prioritises performance can contribute to your goals.
Security Measures
Website security is super important when it comes to picking a host for your site.
Ask about their security measures (typically plugins), and whether they have SSL certificates, malware scanning, firewalls, and regular backups.
A reliable hosting provider should prioritise site protection against potential threats.
Good security measures keep your data and your visitor’s information safe.
Uptime Guarantee
Site downtime can lead to a decrease in visitors, revenue and damage your online reputation.
Ask providers if they offer an uptime guarantee.
This will make sure your site remains accessible to users, reducing the chances of interruptions and improving the browsing experience.
Pricing and Value for Money
Cost shouldn’t be the sole determining factor, but it’s still important to think about.
Compare pricing plans and see if they fit your budget and needs.
Here at Toast, we have a variety of support plans (even if you’re not hosted by us), meaning you can choose which best works for you and still get the highest quality support, regardless of the price.
Whoever you choose to go with, make sure they’re transparent about pricing and don’t try to hit you with any hidden costs.
Try and find a provider with flexibility, so you can change your plan when it suits your needs.
Our Professional Opinion
You need choices and flexibility when it comes to finding the best hosting provider.
Every site has different needs, so it’s important to understand what your needs are before seeking anything out.
So if you need an expert opinion, or you’re simply just unsure, drop us a message or phone call and we will be delighted to help.
