If you are running an ecommerce site, then choosing the right web host is of paramount importance. Every web host will have different services available. To ensure your site runs smoothly, you should do your best to choose a company that offers a number of ‘must-haves’. Read on to find out what they are in our guide to essential web host services for ecommerce businesses.
The Right Server For Your Needs
Your web host should be able to provide you with the right amount of server space for your business needs. It is vital that your e-commerce site can sell to customers at all times, so plan correctly to ensure this can happen. As an example, let’s say that you have a limited amount of server space on a shared server. Because other websites will be sharing your space, once you have used up your traffic for the month, your web host may stop access to your site. That means no sales and no money. Instead, seek out a cheap dedicated server. That way, your server will be purely for you, and you won’t have to worry about busy, high traffic periods for any other companies.
Flexibility
Your chosen web host should offer a lot of flexibility, particularly if you are just starting out. Look for a service that provides a range of bandwidth and space options, so as your business grows, you can pay for more each month. A flexible plan is also great for seasonal sales. You can increase your bandwidth over Christmas, for example. But you won’t have to pay for it over the course of the next year.
SSL Security
First and foremost you will need a secure website, so ensure the web host you choose has a high Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol. This will help protect your and your customer’s financial information, such as their credit card details. It will also help you increase sales – many people will look elsewhere if you do not have a secure way to pay for goods included in your website.
Customer Support
E-Commerce sites should seek a web host that offers 24/7 customer service. Should your site experience technical issues out of your control, you want to know that someone can fix it as soon as possible. Otherwise, you could miss out on a lot of sales, and cause customers to look elsewhere.
Shopping Cart
There are plenty of web hosts that offer shopping carts for free, but if you are serious about your business, then you should consider paying for one. You will have far more options available to you – and more support should thing go awry. Unfortunately, this could happen more often than you would hope. Also, look for a shopping cart that allows you to take payments from multiple methods – Paypal, for example. This will increase your sales.
As you can see, there is a lot to think about when it comes to choosing a web host. It is essential to understand what your business needs before making your choice. Let us know how you get on.
