6 questions to ask a web hosting provider before buying a WordPress plan
If you are looking to build a website, we are sure that you must have considered hosting your website on WordPress. Anyone in your place would spend enough time selecting a theme, template, design elements etc. to build their WordPress website. But as one moves ahead, they do not put the same amount of effort in selecting the right hosting provider because they feel it is a pure waste of time. By taking this stance, customers face problems later on, only to complain about support issues, server down time etc. To avert such situations in advance, you need to ensure that you have a checklist for choosing the right WordPress hosting provider that partners with you thoroughly.
This article aims to highlight some of the most important questions anyone choosing WordPress hosting must ask their web hosting providers before they buy a WordPress plan. The list may not be completely exhaustive but we trust your judgement in taking the right call. So consider these points as indicators.
- Is the storage space provided scalable?
It is important to know what kind of storage space your web hosting provider is guaranteeing. And also, what scope does the hosting provide to scale the same storage space. Allow us to explain why. Let’s say, your WordPress hosting provider promises you 2GB disk space in a plan and you end up experiencing problems like insufficient disk space or site space beyond normal usage etc. These problems are a result of not enough research on your part.
Ideally, any consumer has the right to know how much leeway of space is given by the hosting provider, if he/she faces storage issues. In addition to this, consumers must also know what should be an immediate plan of action once they face such problems because there is a chance that their business can get affected directly. These situations can be averted if you choose a hosting provider that can guarantee one click storage scaling capabilities.
- What kind of a bandwidth is provided?
Since storage and bandwidth go hand-in-hand, it is essential that your WordPress hosting provider guarantees a bandwidth which is proportionate to the storage space he provides you. For e.g. If your WordPress hosting plan provides 50 GB of disk space and only 5GB bandwidth, it can result in slow loading speed of web pages. This is obvious since the capacity or bandwidth of data does not support the space that is guaranteed. Hence, to be on the safer side, choose a provider that gives unmetered disk space with 5TB of bandwidth. This will take away any problems related to reduced monthly visitors or slow page loading etc.
3. What is the server up-time guaranteed by the provider?
Most of the web hosting providers claim that they provide 100% server uptime. That is too high a promise because every hosting provider needs to maintain their servers and check for discrepancies so that they sustain through their period of service. Moreover, unforeseen circumstances like earthquakes, electricity or power issues etc. affect the servers. Today, there are ways and means by which hosting providers are maintaining business continuity for clients. Especially with the rise of data centers imbibing disaster recovery facilities. But ensure that your hosting provider tells you about the down time in advance since it gives you as a user, space and time to deal with the same and make any changes in your online business plans for those particular days. A healthy uptime rate as per industry standards is 99%. Anything over and above that is a bonus.
4. Does the hosting provider allow you to add Domains and Subdomains?
If you are running an online business chances are that you may want another website which talks largely about the company, catering to a different audience. In such cases you may need more than one IP address. So, if you have thought about this in advance, ask your WordPress hosting provider if he/she allows you to host multiple domains. A common practice is that web hosting providers generally give users an admin panel that allows them to control the hosting to assist them with adding domains and subdomains.
5. Does the provider have a plan for site’s backup?
A complete understanding of your hosting provider’s back up plan will put things in perspective for you right from the beginning. In case of a cyber attack or malware, your website should have a resources to store its data safely. Some hosting providers ensure that they will take your site’s backup with them, but that is a little risky. Today, there are security and data backup addons like CodeGuard which take the whole backup of your website and place it in a secure cloud environment. If your hosting provider knows about such add-ons, then nothing like it.
6. What kind of a security plan does the provider have in place?
Finally, understand the security aspects that are going into your hosting plan. Don’t hesitate to get into the nitty-gritties. Get a complete idea about the security plan your WordPress hosting provider has in mind. Since websites are prone to DDoS attacks, ask your provider if he is aware of Integrations like SiteLock that prevent such attacks and also help to mitigate backdoor hacking. Also, any vulnerabilities or malware is removed instantly once your hosting provider integrates this within your website.
In closing
Do keep a track of other important things such as database support, email accounts and features, tech support, free domain etc. They may not necessarily be important in terms of priority but, do ask your hosting provider about the same because these factors form an important aspect of your hosting plan.
