If you have a website or an online store, than you have some type of hosting plan. As your business grows online, you will want to look into the various types of hosting options that are available to you, which can ultimately help your business to run smoother and faster. In addition, it frees you to take care of other business avenues.
Free Web Hosting: The first type of hosting is the free web hosting that many companies offer when you open a blog or a simple website. This works well in the beginning as you allow your business to grow without having to pay for the hosting plan. Of course, this will not prove to be enough bandwidth once you begin adding items to your store and have more traffic to your site. However, the free option is always the best way to begin because you are out zero amounts of money and it is a way for you to test the water, so to speak.
Shared Web Hosting: Your next option as your online store begins to sell more products is called the shared web hosting plan, which is very useful because it is cost effective especially when you are just starting out. With the shared hosting, you will have your own domain name for your website or e-commerce business, and then it is hosted on a server that has several other websites that is hosted on the same server.
This is an excellent choice for small businesses and the shared hosting has come a long way in that you do not have to worry about your store on the server becoming mixed with other stores hosted on the same server. Another benefit to the shared option is you will receive support, meaning you are not trying to do everything yourself.
It should be pointed out that even though the server hosting is a good option when starting out, there are some drawbacks with the number one being security. The very fact that the server is hosting numerous websites means there is less security. In addition, you will have some restrictions as far as the support aspect and traffic control.
Virtual Private Hosting: Another option for hosting is the virtual private hosting or the VPS, which means you get extra security but do not have the pay as much for it. With a VPS server, you will have access to the root as well as the various functionalities of the server, but you still share the cost between you and just a few other websites, which of course is a better option than having 100 or more websites stores on the same server.
Dedicated Server: The final server website hosting solutions option is the dedicated server, this is the most expensive, but your website is installed on it very own dedicated server, meaning you are not sharing with anyone else. The main disadvantage to the dedicated server is that you now have to have more technical skills or hire someone that does because you will be supporting it and setting everything up on the server pertinent to your site.
Rapidswitch specialise in dedicated servers, managed servers and colocation services. Servers are available from £45 a month and Rapidswitch pride themselves on the security and reliability of their products. If you think a your business could benefit from a server hosting service, visit the Rapidswitch website for more information.
