Best E-commerce Website Host in 2022
So you’re planning on opening an e-commerce store but have difficulty choosing the right website host. Your chosen service provider will significantly impact your website’s performance and reliability. The last thing you want is to opt for a cheap service and find yourself migrating to a new website domain later.
This article will discuss what to look for when choosing a hosting provider and the top hosting sites available. That way, you can make an informed decision on which website host you should use for your website.
What should you look for in an e-commerce website host?
Each year, the e-commerce industry loses around $2.5 million in revenue due to slow websites. Knowing what to look for in a hosting provider will not only help you secure sales but also keep your customers satisfied with your website’s experience. Here at Capforge, we focus on these five key aspects that will provide your business with the best website experience possible. These are:
1. Hosting speed
The provider’s hosting speed is the first and most important thing you should consider. A reliable hosting provider will have excellent speeds to load website content quickly. Most website hosts use their own servers for their website, meaning you can check their speeds by going to their home page. If you find their website loads quickly, there’s a good chance they optimize their hardware and software for fast Hosting.
Ideally, the host should have a content delivery network (CDN) to ensure your website loads fast, even under heavy traffic. A proprietary caching technology also helps reuse previously generated data and improve a website’s performance. You can run free tests online using tools such as Bitcatcha to get a general overview of the service provider’s hosting speed.
2. Security
Security should be one of your main priorities when choosing a service provider. A good host possesses these three features:
- Proactive server monitoring
- SSL certification
- Daily data backup
Service providers should have proactive server monitoring to provide their clients with peace of mind. System engineers keep track of your server to ensure it runs smoothly 24/7. You also benefit from enhanced service uptime and performance, which are essential for e-commerce websites.
SSL certification is a standard for website hosts as it encrypts data and protects it from cyber-attacks. Customers are wary of shopping online due to privacy concerns, and one way to boost your website’s credibility is to get an SSL certificate. Some service providers offer SSL certificates for free, while others come at a small cost.
Either way, you must choose a website host that enables SSL integration to keep your customer’s data safe and secure.
3. Reliability
Aside from hosting speed and security, reliability is a strong indicator of a good e-commerce service provider. The host should have 24/7 customer support, live chat features, and a support ticket to address issues efficiently.
Beyond excellent customer service, a reliable host should guarantee a 99% uptime rate. Look for third-party reviews and client feedback to determine the reliability of their servers.
4. Scalability
As your business grows, you want to partner with a service provider that can handle all of your needs. Look for a website host that offers various monthly plans to allow for flexibility and room to grow. Startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will benefit from shared Hosting as it’ll help keep costs low by sharing servers with other websites.
Once your website generates more traffic, you can upgrade your monthly plan to take advantage of cloud solutions, VPS dedicated servers, and more. Your chosen website host should make it easy for you to obtain more bandwidth and storage later down the line.
5. Pricing
As much as you don’t want to cheap out on web hosting, that doesn’t mean you should also choose the most expensive option. Check out the web host’s various plans and see if their prices align with the features you currently need. The last thing you want is to overpay for service and use half of the features listed in their plan.
Also, make sure the monthly subscription cost is something you’re comfortable paying. Most new websites can do with basic plans, but you’ll need to consider your bandwidth requirements as your business grows. If this is the case, spending more is worth it to ensure your website performs optimally.
Which website host should I choose for my e-commerce business?
If you’re looking for a website host that you can trust, don’t worry. We researched to help you make an informed choice. Here are our top picks for the best website host in 2022.
1. InMotion
InMotion is a comprehensive web hosting provider that covers all business essentials. Their basic shared plans come with free SSL certificates and unlimited bandwidth, thus providing great value to subscribers. The one-click install is super convenient for e-commerce apps, and the onboarding process is quick to set up.
InMotion uses solid-state drives (SSD) across all its plans, allowing faster loading speeds. On top of that, InMotion offers free advertising credits of up to $150 to boost your marketing and help generate brand interest. For just a couple of dollars more, their shared Power plan provides unlimited websites, unlimited NVMe storage, and unlimited bandwidth, which delivers on the value proposition.
While the uptime guarantee is average, InMotion’s feature-packed plans are more than enough to meet the needs of every e-commerce business out there.
2. A2 Hosting
While not as feature-packed as the other web-hosting providers, A2 Hosting makes up for its lightning-fast page load speeds. Their Turbo Servers are capable of up 20x faster speeds compared to regular servers, and their SSD storage ensures a swift and reliable website experience.
A2 Hosting is built with e-commerce stores in mind. Even their shared plans come with Turbo options capable of handling serious web traffic. Pair that with excellent customer support and free SSL certificates, and you’re looking at a web host that delivers on the performance while guaranteeing peace of mind.
3. Hostinger
Hostinger is the ideal web hosting provider for startups that are tight on budget but want a feature-rich service. Hostinger tailors its server stack to ensure fast load speeds, while the Cloudflare CDN helps reduce bandwidth usage and maintain performance.
Hostinger’s plans include free SSL certificates, a domain name, regular backups, and even a drag-and-drop builder to make website building a breeze. The simplicity, affordability, and ease of use make Hostinger a good choice for neophyte entrepreneurs who want a service provider that delivers on the essentials.
4. Bluehost
Bluehost is a recognized name in the e-commerce space, and it’s easy to see why. The host offers a complete list of features at a very reasonable price, including website analytics, domain naming, and regular automated backups.
Take a look at their mid-tier plans, and you’ll be impressed with what they offer. Bluehost provides fast, unlimited SSD storage, unlimited domains, and unmetered bandwidth to ensure your business scales as fast as your website. The clean, simple interface makes it easy to create your website, and the included security features give you confidence and peace of mind.
5. Dreamhost
Dreamhost’s powerful site builder sets it apart from the hosting providers mentioned in our list. You can create customized websites that carry the unique feel of your brand, allowing you to stand out from the competition. Its PCI-compliant servers provide utmost data security, and its plans offer free domains with unlimited traffic.
Dreamhost offers free automated WordPress migrations for added convenience, so you never have to worry about its functionality. Daily backups are also available, along with the 100% uptime guarantee. With an intuitive,easy-to-use interface and the option for one-click installation, Dreamhost gets you up and running quickly in building your dream website.
Conclusion
Choosing a website host can feel daunting for first-time business owners. But when armed with the right information, you can make a confident pick on which hosting provider you can entrust to your website. Hopefully, this article covers the important aspects of choosing a website host so that you can benefit from excellent service.
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