When beginning to build a website from scratch, one of the most important initial steps you must take is finding a reliable host. Sure, you’ve got a sleek design, dynamic content, and an easy to navigate sitemap that indexes well on search engines.
But all things being equal on the SEO front between, being backed up by a hosting site with superior speed and accessibility can often give you the leg up over your competition.
So here’s some general information about your hosting site, and why quality hosting is critical to results.
What is Hosting?
Web hosting is a catchall term for the storing, serving and maintaining of one or more websites. Hosting works by storing files of your site on one or a network of servers. When someone keys in your site, a connection is struck between you and the server, and files are then transferred back to your computer for your viewing pleasure.
Web Hosting Isn’t One Size Fits All
There are many options to choose when selecting your servers. You can take a shared web hosting approach, which is what sites like GoDaddy and HostGator offer. Shared web hosting is usually the most affordable option, as many companies share the servers and prices are cheaper than a dedicated server or a group of servers. You also can opt for cloud hosting or dedicated hosting, which can be more expensive and less reliable in some cases. The point is, you aren’t pigeon-holed into one type of hosting and having options is good because each company has a unique set of needs.
Speed is of the Essence
Customer experience is essential to high-quality SEO. Search Engine’s algorithms can detect maladies like poor conversion and bounce rates when they crawl. Sites with less-than-stellar hosting often take longer to load, which has a direct correlation to how long someone is willing to wait on your site. According to studies, almost half of people surveyed said they wouldn’t wait for 10 seconds for a site to load. More so on commerce sites, nearly 80% of individuals stated that they wouldn’t go back to a site that loads slowly.
So Is Quality
Sites with poor plugin support and accessibility can also frustrate users and cause hangups. No one likes staring at a site that doesn’t fully work, and search engines penalize pages without proper add-ons.
So when the time comes for your business to build a new website, contact us at SteerPoint. We’ve been in business for over a decade helping companies like yours establish a digital footprint and achieve results online through web development, content creation, social media management, SEO and more.