We all understand that when we want to achieve the best results in anything we do, we definitely need to have the best tools at our disposal. Online business is no different. This entails from website design to even web hosting services. In web hosting the value for your money will be determined by the services you will require. For a small to medium business website, you don’t require to spend much on web hosting services.
So many people have the idea that investing on expensive services is the best option. Genuinely I can’t blame them after all we are always told that cheap is expensive and that expensive is the best. In web hosting this is not the case, especially if it involves medium to small businesses. You need to understand that you can always find cheap services that work best for you.
There are several web hosting providers out there promising potential customers cheap deals on their services. It is all well and good to grab such deals in order to save some money, however, quality must not be sacrificed on the altar of price.
In a similar vein, that a web hosting package is quite expensive doesn’t necessarily mean that it would provide the needed value. So, how does one go about getting the best web hosting deals that are also cheap? Below we have highlighted some tips on things to look out for and things you should avoid when getting a new web hosting deal.
Things To Consider When Getting a New Web Hosting Package
1. Look for essential features (Free SSL, Customer Support, Sufficient Storage, etc.)
The best cheap web hosting deals must come with essential features such as free SSL certificates. An SSL certificate encrypts data, protecting user information and ensuring a secure connection. It also signals to both visitors to your site as well as the algorithm that your website is genuine. Therefore, if you find a cheap web hosting deal that comes with a free SSL certificate, that is a good sign as it will save you money. You don’t have to pay extra to get that certificate.
Also, a cheap web hosting package must offer sufficient storage capacity for the client’s needs. There must also be a quickly responsive customer support system in place to tackle issues that arise. So, when you come across a cheap web hosting deal, first check and confirm that it has great customer support as well as a sufficient storage capacity before jumping on the deal.
2. Compare different packages
When people are out shopping for clothes, or handbags or even bikinis, they often compare prices before making a final decision. This is also a good tactic for those looking for cheap web hosting deals. Don’t just settle on the first one that you see. Check the different packages offered by different companies, their features and their prices. You can now go for the cheapest one that has all the features that are essential for a web hosting package. For a list of those features, check out this article on factors to consider when choosing the best web host.
3. Look Out for Introductory Prices vs Renewal Rates
Many companies that deal in software products often offer affordable starting prices to entice new customers to patronize them. Subsequently, they may charge exorbitant prices when such new customers want to renew their subscription. Those that are looking for the best cheap web hosting deals should not just look at the starting prices charged by each web host provider. They should also factor in the renewal rates that each web host provider charges. They can then do the math to know the package that will still remain affordable even in the long run.
4. Use Verified Hosting Coupons and Seasonal Discounts
If you come across a really great web hosting package that comes at a price tag that is more than you can afford, you can score a discount by using coupons or other deals/promos made available from the provider. You can also wait for special seasonal sales such as Black Friday sales and then subscribe during that period to enjoy a discount.
5. Choose Reputable Hosting Providers with Proven Uptime
When you come across multiple web hosting deals that are cheap and are confused as to which one to pick, one way of making a choice is to now look at their respective features. One very important feature in this regard is proven uptime. Go for a web host provider with servers that experience as little downtime as possible. If your website is often out of commission when people visit, they would be discouraged from visiting in the future. So, while choosing the best cheap web hosting deal, be sure to go for a provider with proven uptime.
6. Take Advantage of Multi-Year Plans for Bigger Discounts
Most web hosting providers offer different pricing tiers for their services (monthly, yearly, etc.) and most times, the long-term plans have a lower per-month cost than the short-term plans. So, those that want to get cheap web hosting deals can go for a long term plan as in the long run, it is cheaper than the short term plans.
7. Watch for Performance (Speed, Security, and Support)
While searching for the best cheap web hosting deals, emphasis must be placed on speed, security and support. It is important to go for a web host provider with a fast server so that your website will load quickly when people visit. No one likes visiting sluggish websites that take forever to load.
Another important issue is that of security. You want to avoid data breaches and data theft as much as possible. So, go for a web host provider with a secure server that has several security features such as multiple layers of firewall. Also, check to confirm that the provider regularly updates their server as this is one way of ensuring that their server is capable of dealing with any new security threats that may arise.
8. Free Perks
Some web host providers include certain useful free perks in their package such as migration support, staging environment (so that web admins can test changes to their website before deploying it to the page that is accessible to members of the public). Those that want a good but discounted web hosting deal should check for such additional free perks.
Things To Avoid When Getting a New Web Hosting Package
i. Use of Rushed Servers
Some web hosting companies use rushed servers to host your websites, this will lead to slow network speeds and server outages. This can never be good for any online business if you are to make any profit. You should always understand that not all companies are the same; some are out there to steal clients’ money while others are trying to give quality services. The best way to deal with such a case is to make good use of quality web hosting reviews and tracking the uptime server for the specific web hosting company. There are a few websites where you can access database of a company’s web host uptime records.
ii. Being Charged for Unnecessary Software
Most budget hosting companies will try to make money by recommending extra software and add-ons to their clients. Some companies even to exceed by forcing their customers to subscribe on software trials during the signup process. It is recommended that you carefully check your host prior to signup, ensure that the hosting company does not sign you up on unnecessary stuff. Be attentive to avoid clicking blindly. And of course you have to do research on the particular host before any signup.
iii. Black-Holed IP
This simply refers to an IP address that has been listed by the SpamHaus. It is always hard to trust stuff that is often regarded as spam, it is always related to fraud. Before you do any signing you have to request for a list of IP and check. If you find that the IP is listed you will either push the host to white-list it or just request for a change if IP address.
iv. Hidden Cancellation Fees
Some of these budget hosting companies know that their services are low quality so they often trick the client with cheap subscription fee that is so mouth watering that we often ignore the crazy attachments to it. The hidden cancellation fees are usually placed so high that it makes it so costly to cancel your agreement with such companies. Always read the TOS; just visit the host’s TOS page and lookout for words like refund and cancellation. Avoid cancellation policy that seem to be so high no matter how cheap they will be.
v. Limited Usage of MySQL Databases
When you get limitations on usage of MySQL databases, it means you are limited to database storage space which can be very costly for any online business. Before you order any hosting services make sure that the hosting company supports enough number of databases at least 100.
Summary
The above are a few tips you can keep in mind while shopping for the best cheap web hosting deals. Definitely more will depend on your needs but you can always start by doing a Google search of the keyword that suits your needs, you will get numerous options but remember some of these are optimized for search engine. So you will therefore need to do further research, you will always find informative reviews on web hosting companies. Check the pros and cons related to a specific host, and don’t miss to check customer reviews and complaints relating to the hosts. With this simple strategy you will be able to find a cheap web hosting company that best suits your needs.