How to choose hosting: a reliable foundation for your website

What is website hosting? Imagine that your website is a house that you want to show to the world. As in any other country, it is the foundation on which this house stands. On its reliability depends on whether your site will be available to visitors, whether it will work quickly and smoothly. The right choice of hosting is the key to the success of your online project, because it affects the speed of loading pages, the availability of the site for users and its position in search engines and it is worth considering before you start developing a website for business….

Virtual hosting is like renting a flat in a high-rise building. You get your own space on a server that is simultaneously used by other websites. It is the most common and affordable type of hosting, ideal for small business card sites, blogs or projects at the initial stage of development.

• Savings: Virtual hosting is the cheapest option because the cost of server rental is shared among all users.
• Ease: Most providers offer user-friendly control panels, which makes setting up and managing a website easy even for beginners.
• Limited Resources: Because you share a server with other sites, your resources (CPU time, RAM) are limited.
• Neighbour Problems: If one of the sites on your server is overloaded or is under hacker attack, it can negatively affect your resource.

Free hosting, although it may seem attractive to beginners, is like a free cheese in a mousetrap. It has a number of significant drawbacks: limited features, hosting provider adverts on your site and unreliable operation with possible lack of technical support.

Paid hosting is an investment in the stability and reliability of your website. It provides more resources, including the amount of disc space and traffic, access to additional features (databases, SSL certificates). In addition, paid hosting provides better protection against hacker attacks and viruses, as well as guarantee qualified technical support.

If you’re serious about growing your online project, paid shared hosting is the best choice to get you started. It strikes a balance between cost and quality, allowing your site to run consistently and smoothly. However, if your site is aimed at a larger audience or has specific technical needs, it’s worth considering other types of hosting.

Virtual hosting is just one option for hosting your website online. There are other, more powerful and flexible solutions to suit projects with specific needs:

Cloud hosting is a modern and elastic type of hosting that uses the resources of not one, but a whole network of servers. Imagine that your site is located not in one flat, but in several, and can use the resources of any of them depending on your needs.

• Scalability: You can easily increase or decrease the amount of resources (CPU, memory, disc space) depending on the load on the site. This is especially relevant for projects with peak loads (e.g. online shops during sales periods).
• High Availability: Even if one of the servers in the cloud goes down, your site continues to run on the other servers for maximum uptime.
• Flexible payment system: You pay only for the resources you use, which makes cloud hosting favourable for projects with uneven load.

VPS server (Virtual Private Server) is an intermediate option between shared and dedicated hosting. You get a dedicated virtual server with guaranteed resources (CPU, memory, disc space), which does not depend on the work of other sites. It’s like renting a separate floor in the house, not just a flat.

• More control: You get root access to the server, allowing you to customise it to your needs, install any software and configure the server as you see fit.
• Excellent security: Because your site is hosted on a separate virtual server, the risks associated with the activities of other users are minimised.
• Optimal value for money: VPS hosting is more expensive than virtual hosting, but much cheaper than a dedicated server, which makes it an optimal option for projects with medium to high load levels.

Dedicated Server is like having your own home. You get exclusive use of an entire physical server that provides maximum power, flexibility and security.

• Maximum performance: All server resources (CPU, memory, disc space) are at your disposal, which ensures high speed of the site even under heavy load.
• Full Control: You have full control over the server, including operating system selection, security settings, and installation of any software.
• Highest level of security: The dedicated server provides maximum protection against hacker attacks and viruses, as you are the only user with access to it.

The type of hosting you choose depends on the needs and budget of your project. For small sites, shared hosting will be the optimal choice. For medium to high load projects that require more resources and control, you should consider VPS hosting. If you need maximum power, flexibility and security, a dedicated server is the best solution.

When choosing a hosting service, it is important to pay attention to the key technical aspects that affect the performance and stability of your website. It’s like the foundation of a house: it needs to be strong and reliable to withstand the stresses and ensure the longevity of the entire structure.

Disk space: this is the amount of storage space on the server where your website files (texts, images, videos, databases, etc.) will be stored. Think of disc space as the size of your flat: the bigger it is, the more stuff you can put in it.

• Calculation: Before you buy hosting for a website, estimate how much space you need. A small business card site is enough 1-2 GB, while an online shop with a large number of products and images may need 50 GB or more.
• Expandability: Select a hosting provider that provides the ability to easily expand your disc space when needed. This will allow your site to “grow” without moving to another hosting service.

Traffic: this is the amount of information that is transferred between your website and users as they browse it. The more visitors you have on your site and the more “heavy” content (images, videos) you use, the more traffic you need.

• Limits: Many hosting providers set traffic limits. Exceeding the limit may cause your site to slow down or even be temporarily blocked.
• Unlimited traffic: Some providers offer tariff plans with “unlimited” traffic. However, it is worth checking whether there are hidden conditions and restrictions.

Page load speed: this is the time it takes for your website to fully load in a user’s browser. Loading speed affects visitor behaviour: no one likes to wait a long time for a page to load.

• SEO: Search engines (Google, Bing) take site load speed into account when ranking search results. A fast site has a better chance of getting to the first page of the results.
• Competition: In a highly competitive market, site speed can be the deciding factor in a user’s choice between you and your competitors.

Do not skimp on the technical aspects of hosting. Choose a reliable provider that provides sufficient disc space and traffic, as well as guarantees high page loading speeds. This will be a solid foundation for the successful development of your online project.

Imagine that your website is a house where valuable information is stored: your data, your clients’ data, confidential documents. When choosing hosting, you should take care not only about the “size of the flat” (disc space) and “communication capacity” (traffic), but also about reliable doors, quality locks and alarm system. It is this function that security and additional services offered by hosting providers fulfil.

Domain name: This is the address of your website on the Internet (e.g. duli.online). It should be easy to remember, associated with your brand and reflect the theme of the site.

• Registration: You can register a domain name yourself or through a hosting provider. Many providers offer free domain registration when you order hosting for a year or more. how to choose a domain name.
• Zones: There are different domain zones (com, ua, net, etc.) that have different values and purposes. For example, the .com zone is international and the .ua zone is for sites related to Ukraine.

SSL certificate: is a digital signature that confirms the authentication of the site and protects the data transmitted between the site and the user. A SSL certificate is especially important for sites where users enter personal information (e.g., online shops, payment systems).

• HTTPS: Sites with an SSL certificate installed use the HTTPS protocol instead of HTTP. This encrypts the transmitted data and makes the connection more secure.
• Trust: Having an SSL certificate and HTTPS increases user trust in the site. Browsers often mark sites without an SSL certificate as “insecure”.

Technical support: this is the assistance of hosting provider specialists in case of questions or problems with the operation of the site. Quality technical support is like a reliable emergency service, which is always ready to come to the rescue in a difficult situation.

• Hourly availability: Choose a hosting provider that provides 24/7 technical support. This is especially important if your site runs 24/7 or has visitors from different time zones.
• Communication channels: Pay attention to the available communication channels with technical support (phone, email, online chat). The more communication channels available, the quicker and more efficient the assistance you will receive.

Security and additional services are important aspects that should not be ignored when choosing a hosting service. A careful approach to these issues will help protect your website from threats and ensure its stable and secure operation.

Running a website on reliable hosting is no more difficult than assembling furniture according to the instructions. The main thing is to act consistently and clearly adhere to the plan. Here are detailed instructions that will help you to cope with the task:

Croc 1. Viznacht the consumer of your website:

• Site type: Business card site, blog, online shop, corporate site – each type has its own peculiarities and hosting requirements.
• Expected traffic: How many visitors do you expect on your site daily/monthly? This determines the amount of resources needed (traffic, disc space).
• Technologies: Will your site use databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL), scripting languages (PHP, Python), other specific technologies?

Step 2: Compare hosting providers’ offerings:

• Price and plans: The cheapest option is not always the best. Pay attention to the value for money and the availability of additional services within the tariff plan.
• Reputations and reputation: Read reviews of different hosting providers on specialised websites and forums. Learn about their reputation in the market.
• Technical specifications: Compare the technical specifications of the plans (disc space, traffic, number of sites, databases, etc.).

Step 3. Register a domain name:

• Check Availability: Verify that the domain name you have selected is free to register.
• Choice of domain zone: Choose the domain zone that best matches your site (com, ua, net, etc.).
• Domain Registration: Register your domain name through your hosting provider or a specialised registrar.

Step 4. Transfer the website (if required):

• Data backup: Before you migrate your site, back up all your data.
• Support Message: If you are unsure, contact your new hosting provider’s technical support for assistance in migrating your site.

Step 5: Set up your hosting and domain:

• DNS servers: Specify your hosting provider’s DNS servers in the domain settings.
• Create a database (if necessary): Create a database and database user for your site.

Step 6. Install the CMS or upload the site files:

• CMS (content management system): If your site will be running on a CMS (WordPress, Joomla, Drupal), install it on your hosting.
• File Upload: If you already have ready-made site files, upload them to the hosting using an FTP client.

Step 7. Test the site’s performance and enjoy the result:

• View your site: Open your site in a browser and make sure it is working correctly.
• SEO-optimisation: After launching your website, don’t forget to SEO-optimise it to attract more visitors from search engines.

By following this step-by-step plan, you can easily and quickly launch your website on reliable hosting and start promoting it online.

Hosting is a long-term investment in your online project. But that doesn’t mean you need to overpay. There are many ways to save money on hosting without losing out on quality and reliability. Here are some useful tips:

1. Take advantage of promotional offers:

• Discounted Hosting: Many hosting providers regularly run promotions and offer discounts on their services. Keep an eye on news and special offers on providers’ websites so that you don’t miss out on a favourable offer.
• Free hosting for a month: Some providers give you the opportunity to use hosting for free during a test period (usually 1 month). This will allow you to “test” the provider’s services and decide if it is right for you.
• Hosting with domain as a gift: Often hosting providers offer free domain registration when you order hosting for a certain period (e.g. 1 year).

2. Choose the best tariff plan:

• Needs analysis: Don’t rush to buy the most expensive plan. Carefully analyse the needs of your site (traffic, disk space, additional services) and choose the plan that best meets them.
• Switchability: Note the ability to change your pricing plan when needed. This will allow you to flexibly respond to the changing needs of your site and not overpay for unused resources.

3. Consider relocating the site:

• Comparing prices: Periodically compare hosting prices from different providers. You may be able to find a better deal and save money by moving your site to another provider.
• Migration of a website to another hosting service: Many providers offer free assistance in transferring a website from another provider. This is convenient and avoids unnecessary hassle.

4. Take advantage of a turnkey hosting service:

• Save time and effort: Turnkey hosting provides a full range of website hosting services: from domain registration and hosting setup to CMS installation and website migration. This is ideal for those who value their time and do not want to get into technical details.

5. Choose a Ukrainian hosting provider:

• Ukrainian language support: Ukrainian hosting providers provide technical support in Ukrainian, which makes it much easier to communicate and resolve any issues.
• Local Servers: Placing the site on servers located in Ukraine (e.g. hosting in Kiev, hosting in Kharkov, hosting in Odessa, hosting in Lviv, hosting in Dnipro), provides a high loading speed for Ukrainian visitors.

Remember: saving money on hosting should not come at the expense of quality and reliability. Choose proven providers with a good reputation that offer the best value for money.

Choosing and setting up hosting is not just a technical detail, but a key to the success of your online project. The stability, speed and security of your website depends on the right choice. Remember that the best hosting for a website is the one that perfectly matches your individual needs and tasks.

If you need help in choosing and setting up hosting, contact Duli.online. You can also order a turnkey website just for your business, we will develop it and ensure its reliable and smooth operation.

Resources

https://onestream.live/blog/choosing-best-web-hosting-plan/

https://cloudmellow.com/industry-news/what-to-consider-when-choosing-a-reliable-web-hosting-company

https://betterize.pl/server/how-to-choose-website-hosting