If you want or need to work from home, then starting an online store can be a great way to make money. You can sell products that you know and love, or products that you create yourself. But before you can start selling, you need to set up your store, and one of the most important decisions you’ll make is which web host to choose.
Not all hosts are created equal, and some are better suited for certain types of stores than others. Here are seven tips to help you choose the right host for your online store.
Know What You Need
Before you start looking at web hosts, it’s important to know what you need. Do you need unlimited storage space, or do you need a host that can handle a lot of traffic? Do you need special features like SSL or email hosting? Once you know what you need, you can narrow down your search and save yourself some time.
For instance, if you know you need unlimited storage space, you can eliminate any hosts that don’t offer that feature. Or, if you know you need a lot of traffic, you can look for hosts that specialize in eCommerce and have the infrastructure to handle a high volume of traffic.
Understand the Different Types of Hosting
There are different types of hosting available, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Shared hosting is the most popular and affordable option, but it doesn’t offer the same level of security or performance as other types of hosting. Dedicated hosting can be expensive, but it’s a good option if you have a high-traffic store.
VPS hosting is a happy medium between shared and dedicated hosting, offering more features than shared hosting but at a lower price than dedicated hosting.
However, you can use different types of clouds to host your store. Cloud hosting can be more expensive than other types of hosting, but it’s also more flexible and scalable. You can try hosting WooCommerce on AWS using Nestify which allows you to have full control over your hosting environment while still being able to take advantage of the scalability of the cloud. This can be a great option if you’re not sure how much traffic your store will get, or if you plan on expanding your product line in the future.
Choose a Host That Offers Good Support
When you’re running an online store, things can go wrong. Your site might crash, or you might have a problem with your payment gateway. When something goes wrong, you need to be able to get help fast. That’s why it’s important to choose a web host that offers good support.
Look for a host that has 24/7 support, so you can get help anytime, day or night. You should also look for a host with a knowledge base or FAQs, so you can find answers to common problems without having to wait for a response from customer service.
And finally, make sure the host you choose has a good reputation. Read reviews from other customers to see what their experience has been like.
Compare Prices
Of course, price is always an important consideration, however, it shouldn’t be the only factor you look at. Some hosts offer very low prices, but they don’t offer the features you need or the level of customer service you want. Other hosts may be more expensive, but they offer everything you’re looking for in a web host.
When you’re comparing prices, be sure to look at the features each host offers and whether those features are important to you. If customer service is very important to you, then a more expensive host may be worth it if they offer superior customer service.
Look for a Host That Offers a Money-Back Guarantee
When you’re choosing a web host, you want to be sure you’re making the right decision. After all, it can be a pain to switch hosts if you decide you don’t like the one you’ve chosen. That’s why it’s a good idea to look for a host that offers a money-back guarantee.
This way, if you’re not happy with your host, you can get your money back and try another one. Just be sure to read the fine print before you sign up, so you know what qualifies for a refund and what doesn’t.
Also, have in mind that the best hosts offer an uptime guarantee of 99.9%. This means your site will only be down for a few minutes each month, at most. Anything less than that is not worth your time.
Compatible With WooCommerce
If you’re using WooCommerce to run your store, you need to make sure the host you choose is compatible with WooCommerce. Not all hosts are, so it’s important to check before you sign up.
In general, any host that’s compatible with WordPress will also be compatible with WooCommerce. However, pay attention to the host’s specific requirements, as some hosts may have additional requirements for WooCommerce. For example, some hosts may require you to have a certain version of PHP installed or may limit the number of products you can have in your store.
Offers a Secure Connection
When you’re running an online store, security is always a concern. You need to make sure your customers’ personal and financial information is safe when they’re purchasing from your store. That’s why it’s important to choose a web host that offers a secure connection.
Look for a host that offers an SSL certificate. This will encrypt your customers’ information, so it can’t be intercepted and used by someone else. You should also look for a host that offers malware scanning and removal, to protect your site from malicious attacks.
You may also look at comments on the review websites – especially if a customer has had a bad experience with the customer service of the web host.
When you’re choosing a web host for your online store, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Make sure you choose a host that offers good support, is compatible with WooCommerce, and has a money-back guarantee.
Also, look for a host that offers an SSL certificate and malware scanning and removal. And finally, don’t forget to read reviews from other customers to get an idea of what their experience has been like.
With these tips in mind, you’ll be sure to choose the right web host for your online store.