How important is your web host?
Fast and reliable web hosting is critical. Most businesses are budget-conscious with this aspect of their website, but hosting is not the best place to go for the cheapest option. In other words, there is a high cost to low prices. So when it comes to web hosting, we trust the big names and so should you. We know that every second your website is down you’re losing opportunities and the confidence of your customers, and no business can afford that. The following points will help explain why choosing a web host is a critical decision in establishing your online brand.
Your website is the face of your business, 24/7
From a marketing perspective, your website speaks for your business when you’re not around. It’s the face of your company that talks to a global audience 24/7. So, your website going down is kind of like closing shop on a Tuesday because the receptionist didn’t show up for work. Not good, right?
Furthermore, your website needs to be more than just ‘live’ - it needs to load fast. You have just a few seconds for the page to load on the screen, otherwise you have lost your customers attention. No one wants to wait in line for slow customer service, so choose a web host that’s fast.
Your search engine ranking
If your website doesn’t respond to requests from a Search Engine Spider, the search engine will be less likely to revisit. And if a site is unresponsive several times in a row, there’s a good chance that the search engine will simply remove your website from it’s index. The bottom line is, if your website goes down at the wrong time or for an extended period of time, it will no longer appear in results on search engines like Google and Bing.
Potential for lost revenue
It’s nothing new to say your website going down is bad for business. There is undoubtedly a cost to missed inquiries from potential and existing customers, but what if you sell products on your website? An unresponsive e-commerce store could mean a tangible loss of revenue for every minute your website is down.
Email accounts and data loss
When it comes to hosting, most people think simply of their website existing on the Internet. Some people think “Well, I’m a small business, and if my website goes down for 5 minutes it’s no big deal. 99% up-time is fine by me.” But what about your corporate email? What about the information you collect from customers through your website? Perhaps this section is best explained through an example:
In 2007, a business approach us to take over their web hosting because their currently provider had ‘skipped town’ (unfortunately a common story). This particular business had a brick & mortar presence as well as an e-commerce store. For the three years prior, the company communicated with customers mostly via email to negotiate orders, generate new leads, and provide customer support. Unfortunately, when their web host closed up shop, not only did the company’s website go down, but their email accounts were terminated without notice, and with it three years of critical business information.
This scenario is an extreme case that could have been avoided through better internal procedures, but nonetheless an example to consider.
Web hosting is more than just a place to store your website, it’s a critical communication medium that also includes your corporate email.
Concluding thoughts
We take pride in building some of the best websites in the industry, and those websites deserve top-notch hosting. Your business has a reputation to uphold and your customers trust you. You should put this same level of trust in your web company and hosting provider.
