When you think about website hosting, you probably consider basic things like storage space, bandwidth, and price. But there’s so much more that a good hosting provider can offer to make your website faster, safer, and easier to manage.
Here are seven lesser-known features that can make a big difference for your site.
Related: Best Deals On Website Hosting Services For Beginners
1. Automatic Backups
- What It Is:
- Automatic backups save copies of your website at regular intervals.
- This ensures that you can restore your site if something goes wrong.
- Why It Matters:
- Websites can crash, get hacked, or experience other issues.
- Having automatic backups means you won’t lose important data.
- Statistics:
- According to WPBeginner, 60% of businesses that lose their data will shut down within six months.
2. Content Delivery Network (CDN)
- What It Is:
- A CDN distributes your website’s content across multiple servers worldwide.
- It helps deliver your content to users from the closest server.
- Why It Matters:
- Faster load times for users around the world.
- Improves your site’s performance and user experience.
- Statistics:
- Akamai reports that a 100-millisecond delay in website load time can hurt conversion rates by 7%.
3. SSL Certificates
- What It Is:
- SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates encrypt data transferred between your site and users.
- This keeps information like passwords and credit card numbers safe.
- Why It Matters:
- Increases your site’s security.
- Builds trust with visitors.
- Google uses SSL as a ranking factor.
- Statistics:
- According to GlobalSign, 85% of online shoppers avoid unsecured websites.
4. Website Staging Environment
- What It Is:
- A staging environment is a copy of your website where you can test changes before making them live.
- It allows you to try new updates, designs, or features without affecting your main site.
- Why It Matters:
- Reduces the risk of breaking your live website.
- Helps you catch errors and bugs in a safe space.
- Statistics:
- WPEngine found that 64% of site crashes happen because of untested updates.
5. Built-in Caching
- What It Is:
- Caching stores a version of your site so it loads faster for returning visitors.
- It reduces the load on your server by serving static files.
- Why It Matters:
- Significantly speeds up your website.
- Enhances user experience and can improve SEO rankings.
- Statistics:
- Hosting Tribunal reports that caching can improve website speed by up to 90%.
6. DDoS Protection
- What It Is:
- DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) protection prevents attacks that flood your website with traffic to make it crash.
- It filters out malicious traffic and keeps your site running smoothly.
- Why It Matters:
- Protects your site from downtime and slow performance.
- Keeps your website available to real users.
- Statistics:
- Cloudflare states that there were 5.4 million DDoS attacks in the first half of 2021 alone.
7. 24/7 Customer Support
- What It Is:
- Round-the-clock support from your hosting provider.
- Can include live chat, phone support, and email assistance.
- Why It Matters:
- Quick resolution of issues at any time.
- Peace of mind knowing help is available whenever you need it.
- Statistics:
- According to Forrester, 73% of customers say valuing their time is the most important thing a company can do.
Conclusion
Choosing a web hosting service is about more than just looking at the price and basic features. Understanding and utilizing these advanced features can significantly improve your site’s performance, security, and user experience. When selecting a hosting provider, consider these seven features to ensure your website runs smoothly and efficiently.
By focusing on these often-overlooked aspects, you can give your site an edge over the competition and provide a better experience for your visitors. Always check if your hosting provider offers these features, and don’t be afraid to ask questions to get the best service possible.
