Web Hosting 101: The Basics for Business

Here's what this post covers in brief:

1. What Web Hosting is (and why you need it)
2. Domain names
3. The different types of hosting
4. Finding the right hosting (and avoiding the wrong)

So if you're already fairly knowledgeable in the above, then you can safely close the tab (or take a look at some other pages on this here website). 

1. What Web Hosting is (and why you need it)

Web hosting can be generally explained as the 'place' where your website sits on the internet. It is the foundation that actually allows your website to be seen by the world.

If your website isn't hosted online, then it can't be found by anyone - in the similar way to how a picture taken on your phone isn't usually visible to anyone online until you've posted it on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter etc. 

If you're not looking for too much technical detail then the above should suffice. If you are, then; web hosting is effectively the server on which your website files are kept. The (IP) 'address' of this server is then combined with a domain name, to form a route to the website that allows your website to be shown on computers, phones and devices with an internet connection & browser. 

2. Domain names

Purchasing a Domain Name(s) is, in a way, completely separate to web hosting - but many hosting providers allow you to buy one when setting up the hosting - for good reason. While a website is technically online and (depending on configuration) visible with just web hosting, people would need to remember an IP address to find it. Something like 192.123.4.65 isn't really memorable, and it's not going to stand out on a business card.

Domain names like, cheeseshops.co.uk or balloonsforsale.com, are pointed to wherever the website files are kept (web hosting). You can buy multiple different domain names and/or variations of different endings such as devetecho.co.uk and devetecho.com. However, you need to pick one 'main' one for your website; you shouldn't have the same website showing for multiple domains as it will hurt your Google rankings, but you can have them all forward to the 'main' one.

3. The different types of hosting

To add some further complication to matters, there are different levels and types of web hosting that you'll need to choose from. The specifics vary on the provider but the general 'tiers' you'll find with most are Shared hosting, Dedicated hosting/server, VPS hosting and Managed hosting. In brief

• Shared hosting; is often the cheapest because it means your website will be kept on a single server that is also used for other websites. You'll get less powerful resources and less space - so basically less speed for your website.
• Dedicated hosting/server; is normally a lot more expensive than shared hosting, but for the cost you get your very own server and all it's resources to yourself. You'll also have more technical control over the server, which can be good if you know what you're doing, but a definite downside if not.
• VPS hosting; is a different type of shared hosting that is meant to be more secure, better for performance and more scalable. Scalability is especially useful for sites expecting sudden increases of traffic. VPS hosting is usually the 'middle child' in terms of cost.
• Managed hosting; is often two-fold in it's meaning. Firstly, it usually means the server you're given is setup to work best with specific software - for example WordPress. Secondly, it means your server is properly looked after by a team of experts, taking away the technical worries of Dedicated hosting.

Ultimately, the type you go for will depend on; the size, the functionality, the expected traffic & security requirements of your website.

4. Finding the right hosting (and avoiding the wrong)

The right hosting for you should be chosen on (at least) these three core factors;

1. Cost
2. Suitability for your specific website
3. Technical support & flexibility

Cost isn't always that easy to gauge; the price you're advertised isn't always the price you end up paying. For starters, many hosting companies reduce the cost of the first month/quarter/year for hosting and maybe throw in a free domain that is only free for a year resulting in a huge increase in cost for the second year. However, even in the first year, you may find unexpected costs if; there's no free SSL included, the technical support is lacking so issues need to be resolved by external help (pricey), you need to scale/add more resources/sites. So research into exactly what you're getting (and not getting) for your money is a must.

Suitability for your specific website is vital if you want to avoid performance and security problems. The best way to find the right option is to talk through with your web developer exactly what the site needs. If that's not possible then aim for a flexible setup that covers multiple bases. Don't go too small, but don't go too big either - there's no need to have a £200/month dedicated server for a single standard website.

Technical support & flexibility will be your safety net for when things go wrong - and they likely will at some point. A good support team can be the difference between 5 minutes on live chat and 2 weeks with a website that won't load so make sure you've checked the reviews and that the contract you're entering into includes the correct level of support. There is also sweet spot to aim for with regards to what you have control over on your web hosting and what you need support from the provider for; think of it like a car - it's going to be frustrating if you have to take the car in every time you want to top-up the screen-wash or change a windscreen wiper, but you also don't want to be left on your own if the engine starts smoking! 

How Devetecho Can Help

A fair few websites have come out of the Devetecho website factory, all of which have needed hosting, so we know a few hosts that work well and few to avoid. While Devetecho doesn't provide hosting like others may, we can provide recommendations and technical help through setup to maintenance of your hosting. 

If you're still a little uncertain on the hosting front, get in touch - a tailored recommendation is only a phonecall/email/chat message away!